diff --git a/rest_framework/checks.py b/rest_framework/checks.py
index 96d6f4237..7ad51c1d4 100644
--- a/rest_framework/checks.py
+++ b/rest_framework/checks.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ def pagination_system_check(app_configs, **kwargs):
     if api_settings.PAGE_SIZE and not api_settings.DEFAULT_PAGINATION_CLASS:
         errors.append(
             Warning(
-                "You have specified a default PAGE_SIZE` pagination rest_framework setting,"
+                "You have specified a default `PAGE_SIZE` pagination rest_framework setting,"
                 "without specifying also a `DEFAULT_PAGINATION_CLASS`.",
                 hint="The prior version of rest_framework defaulted this setting to "
                 "`PageNumberPagination` however pagination defaults to disabled now.  "