diff --git a/augur/parse.py b/augur/parse.py
index ef61c7b0a..5b306557d 100644
--- a/augur/parse.py
+++ b/augur/parse.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 from .io import open_file, read_sequences, write_sequences
 
-forbidden_chactacters = str.maketrans(
+forbidden_characters = str.maketrans(
     {' ': None,
      '(': '_',
      ')': '_',
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ def parse_sequence(sequence, fields, strain_key="strain", separator="|", prettif
     sequence_fields = map(str.strip, sequence.description.split(separator))
     metadata = dict(zip(fields, sequence_fields))
 
-    tmp_name = metadata[strain_key].translate(forbidden_chactacters)
+    tmp_name = metadata[strain_key].translate(forbidden_characters)
     sequence.name = sequence.id = tmp_name
     sequence.description = ''