diff --git a/library/init/data/repr.lean b/library/init/data/repr.lean
index c739189f80..1229cd56e9 100644
--- a/library/init/data/repr.lean
+++ b/library/init/data/repr.lean
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ instance {α : Type u} [has_repr α] : has_repr (list α) :=
 ⟨list.repr⟩
 
 instance : has_repr unit :=
-⟨λ u, "star"⟩
+⟨λ u, "()"⟩
 
 instance {α : Type u} [has_repr α] : has_repr (option α) :=
 ⟨λ o, match o with | none := "none" | (some a) := "(some " ++ repr a ++ ")" end⟩
diff --git a/library/init/data/to_string.lean b/library/init/data/to_string.lean
index 544f0769ba..04f0c3788b 100644
--- a/library/init/data/to_string.lean
+++ b/library/init/data/to_string.lean
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ instance {α : Type u} [has_to_string α] : has_to_string (list α) :=
 ⟨list.to_string⟩
 
 instance : has_to_string unit :=
-⟨λ u, "star"⟩
+⟨λ u, "()"⟩
 
 instance : has_to_string nat :=
 ⟨λ n, repr n⟩