diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 74d2448..d282f49 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 Changes Prior to 1.9.0 release
     -   Fix rpm build problem (stray %)
     -   Minor manpage updates
+    -   Change "dirty" status to "active" as it was confusing people.
 
 Changes Prior to 1.8.0 release
     -   Makefile cleanup from  Luca Berra <bluca@comedia.it>
diff --git a/Detail.c b/Detail.c
index 7655668..c8992cc 100644
--- a/Detail.c
+++ b/Detail.c
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ int Detail(char *dev, int brief, int test)
 		atime = array.utime;
 		printf("    Update Time : %.24s\n", ctime(&atime));
 		printf("          State : %s%s%s\n",
-		       (array.state&(1<<MD_SB_CLEAN))?"clean":"dirty",
+		       (array.state&(1<<MD_SB_CLEAN))?"clean":"active",
 		       array.active_disks < array.raid_disks? ", degraded":"",
 		       (!e || e->percent < 0) ? "" :
 		        (e->resync) ? ", resyncing": ", recovering");
diff --git a/Examine.c b/Examine.c
index 749bc7c..79537fa 100644
--- a/Examine.c
+++ b/Examine.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ int Examine(mddev_dev_t devlist, int brief, int scan, int SparcAdjust)
 			atime = super.utime;
 			printf("    Update Time : %.24s\n", ctime(&atime));
 			printf("          State : %s\n",
-			       (super.state&(1<<MD_SB_CLEAN))?"clean":"dirty");
+			       (super.state&(1<<MD_SB_CLEAN))?"clean":"active");
 			printf(" Active Devices : %d\n", super.active_disks);
 			printf("Working Devices : %d\n", super.working_disks);
 			printf(" Failed Devices : %d\n", super.failed_disks);