diff --git a/winlogbeat/config/config.go b/winlogbeat/config/config.go
index 491615da3af0..12f6cc055dc7 100644
--- a/winlogbeat/config/config.go
+++ b/winlogbeat/config/config.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ type Settings struct {
 // Validate validates the Settings data and returns an error describing
 // all problems or nil if there are none.
 func (s Settings) Validate() error {
-	validKeys := []string{"filter", "logging", "output", "shipper", "winlogbeat"}
+	validKeys := []string{"filters", "logging", "output", "shipper", "winlogbeat"}
 	sort.Strings(validKeys)
 
 	// Check for invalid top-level keys.
diff --git a/winlogbeat/config/config_test.go b/winlogbeat/config/config_test.go
index d4b5c7d7aa29..f26d82f23ba4 100644
--- a/winlogbeat/config/config_test.go
+++ b/winlogbeat/config/config_test.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func TestConfigValidate(t *testing.T) {
 				map[string]interface{}{"other": "value"},
 			},
 			"1 error: Invalid top-level key 'other' found. Valid keys are " +
-				"filter, logging, output, shipper, winlogbeat",
+				"filters, logging, output, shipper, winlogbeat",
 		},
 		{
 			WinlogbeatConfig{},