diff --git a/lib/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js b/lib/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
index e90b65ef..bdf246cb 100644
--- a/lib/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
+++ b/lib/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ exports.getAttribs = function(d) {
     var attribs = [];
 
     if (d.virtual) {
-        attribs.push('virtual');
+        attribs.push('abstract');
     }
 
     if (d.access && d.access !== 'public') {
diff --git a/test/specs/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js b/test/specs/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
index e02c48bd..a0cdf676 100644
--- a/test/specs/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
+++ b/test/specs/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ describe("jsdoc/util/templateHelper", function() {
 
         it('should detect if a doclet is virtual', function() {
             var tests = {
-                'My constant. \n @virtual': 'virtual',
+                'My constant. \n @virtual': 'abstract',
                 'asdf': false
             };
             doTests(tests);