diff --git a/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/backends/backend.py b/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/backends/backend.py
index 4eb968fa30e..fb519eb5cf5 100644
--- a/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/backends/backend.py
+++ b/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/backends/backend.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def pickup_tips(self, *channels: List[Optional[Tip]], **backend_kwargs):
     pass
 
   @abstractmethod
-  def discard_tips(self, *channels: List[Optional[Tip]], **backend_kwars):
+  def discard_tips(self, *channels: List[Optional[Tip]], **backend_kwargs):
     """ Discard tips from the specified resource. """
     pass