diff --git a/changelog.d/7171.doc b/changelog.d/7171.doc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..25a3bd8ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/7171.doc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix a small typo in the `metrics_flags` config option.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/sample_config.yaml b/docs/sample_config.yaml
index 743949945..6a770508f 100644
--- a/docs/sample_config.yaml
+++ b/docs/sample_config.yaml
@@ -1144,7 +1144,7 @@ account_threepid_delegates:
 # enabled by default, either for performance reasons or limited use.
 #
 metrics_flags:
-    # Publish synapse_federation_known_servers, a g auge of the number of
+    # Publish synapse_federation_known_servers, a gauge of the number of
     # servers this homeserver knows about, including itself. May cause
     # performance problems on large homeservers.
     #
diff --git a/synapse/config/metrics.py b/synapse/config/metrics.py
index 22538153e..6f517a71d 100644
--- a/synapse/config/metrics.py
+++ b/synapse/config/metrics.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class MetricsConfig(Config):
         # enabled by default, either for performance reasons or limited use.
         #
         metrics_flags:
-            # Publish synapse_federation_known_servers, a g auge of the number of
+            # Publish synapse_federation_known_servers, a gauge of the number of
             # servers this homeserver knows about, including itself. May cause
             # performance problems on large homeservers.
             #