diff --git a/include/nuttx/wdog.h b/include/nuttx/wdog.h
index 47fce235600..c3ac6b18bc4 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/wdog.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/wdog.h
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ int wd_start(FAR struct wdog_s *wdog, sclock_t delay,
              wdentry_t wdentry, wdparm_t arg);
 
 /****************************************************************************
- * Name: wd_start_absolute
+ * Name: wd_start_abstick
  *
  * Description:
  *   This function adds a watchdog timer to the active timer queue.  The
@@ -173,8 +173,8 @@ int wd_start(FAR struct wdog_s *wdog, sclock_t delay,
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int wd_start_absolute(FAR struct wdog_s *wdog, clock_t ticks,
-                      wdentry_t wdentry, wdparm_t arg);
+int wd_start_abstick(FAR struct wdog_s *wdog, clock_t ticks,
+                     wdentry_t wdentry, wdparm_t arg);
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: wd_cancel
diff --git a/sched/timer/timer_settime.c b/sched/timer/timer_settime.c
index dd08d129560..04937c2404e 100644
--- a/sched/timer/timer_settime.c
+++ b/sched/timer/timer_settime.c
@@ -120,8 +120,8 @@ static inline void timer_restart(FAR struct posix_timer_s *timer,
           timer->pt_overrun++;
         }
 
-      wd_start_absolute(&timer->pt_wdog, timer->pt_expected,
-                        timer_timeout, itimer);
+      wd_start_abstick(&timer->pt_wdog, timer->pt_expected,
+                       timer_timeout, itimer);
     }
 }
 
@@ -322,8 +322,8 @@ int timer_settime(timer_t timerid, int flags,
 
   /* Then start the watchdog */
 
-  ret = wd_start_absolute(&timer->pt_wdog, timer->pt_expected,
-                          timer_timeout, (wdparm_t)timer);
+  ret = wd_start_abstick(&timer->pt_wdog, timer->pt_expected,
+                         timer_timeout, (wdparm_t)timer);
 
   if (ret < 0)
     {
diff --git a/sched/wdog/wd_start.c b/sched/wdog/wd_start.c
index 4d5c964eaa5..fd703e6c976 100644
--- a/sched/wdog/wd_start.c
+++ b/sched/wdog/wd_start.c
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ void wd_insert(FAR struct wdog_s *wdog, clock_t expired,
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 /****************************************************************************
- * Name: wd_start_absolute
+ * Name: wd_start_abstick
  *
  * Description:
  *   This function adds a watchdog timer to the active timer queue.  The
@@ -247,8 +247,8 @@ void wd_insert(FAR struct wdog_s *wdog, clock_t expired,
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int wd_start_absolute(FAR struct wdog_s *wdog, clock_t ticks,
-                      wdentry_t wdentry, wdparm_t arg)
+int wd_start_abstick(FAR struct wdog_s *wdog, clock_t ticks,
+                     wdentry_t wdentry, wdparm_t arg)
 {
   irqstate_t flags;
   bool reassess = false;
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ int wd_start_absolute(FAR struct wdog_s *wdog, clock_t ticks,
   ticks++;
 
   /* NOTE:  There is a race condition here... the caller may receive
-   * the watchdog between the time that wd_start_absolute is called and
+   * the watchdog between the time that wd_start_abstick is called and
    * the critical section is established.
    */
 
@@ -368,8 +368,8 @@ int wd_start(FAR struct wdog_s *wdog, sclock_t delay,
       return -EINVAL;
     }
 
-  return wd_start_absolute(wdog, clock_systime_ticks() + delay,
-                           wdentry, arg);
+  return wd_start_abstick(wdog, clock_systime_ticks() + delay,
+                          wdentry, arg);
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************