diff --git a/templates/default/publish.js b/templates/default/publish.js
index cca01ba8..7f1a6d2b 100644
--- a/templates/default/publish.js
+++ b/templates/default/publish.js
@@ -81,7 +81,9 @@ function addSignatureTypes(f) {
 function addAttribs(f) {
     var attribs = helper.getAttribs(f);
     
-    f.attribs = '<span class="type-signature">'+htmlsafe(attribs.length? '<'+attribs.join(', ')+'> ' : '')+'</span>';
+    f.attribs = '<span class="type-signature">' + htmlsafe(attribs.length ?
+        // we want the template output to say 'abstract', not 'virtual'
+        '<' + attribs.join(', ').replace('virtual', 'abstract') + '> ' : '') + '</span>';
 }
 
 function shortenPaths(files, commonPrefix) {