diff --git a/module/ice-9/boot-9.scm b/module/ice-9/boot-9.scm
index cf8252a4a..d679f6eaf 100644
--- a/module/ice-9/boot-9.scm
+++ b/module/ice-9/boot-9.scm
@@ -2850,8 +2850,11 @@ module '(ice-9 q) '(make-q q-length))}."
                 (lambda (option)
                   (apply (lambda (name value documentation)
                            (display name)
-                           (if (< (string-length (symbol->string name)) 8)
-                               (display #\tab))
+                           (let ((len (string-length (symbol->string name))))
+                             (when (< len 16)
+                               (display #\tab)
+                               (when (< len 8)
+                                 (display #\tab))))
                            (display #\tab)
                            (display value)
                            (display #\tab)