diff --git a/p2p/dial.go b/p2p/dial.go
index d36d6655019a..83ced3cb3280 100644
--- a/p2p/dial.go
+++ b/p2p/dial.go
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ var (
 	errAlreadyDialing   = errors.New("already dialing")
 	errAlreadyConnected = errors.New("already connected")
 	errRecentlyDialed   = errors.New("recently dialed")
-	errNotWhitelisted   = errors.New("not contained in netrestrict whitelist")
+	errNetRestrict      = errors.New("not contained in netrestrict list")
 	errNoPort           = errors.New("node does not provide TCP port")
 )
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ type dialConfig struct {
 	self           enode.ID         // our own ID
 	maxDialPeers   int              // maximum number of dialed peers
 	maxActiveDials int              // maximum number of active dials
-	netRestrict    *netutil.Netlist // IP whitelist, disabled if nil
+	netRestrict    *netutil.Netlist // IP netrestrict list, disabled if nil
 	resolver       nodeResolver
 	dialer         NodeDialer
 	log            log.Logger
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ func (d *dialScheduler) checkDial(n *enode.Node) error {
 		return errAlreadyConnected
 	}
 	if d.netRestrict != nil && !d.netRestrict.Contains(n.IP()) {
-		return errNotWhitelisted
+		return errNetRestrict
 	}
 	if d.history.contains(string(n.ID().Bytes())) {
 		return errRecentlyDialed
diff --git a/p2p/discover/common.go b/p2p/discover/common.go
index 3708bfb72c4b..e389821fda8b 100644
--- a/p2p/discover/common.go
+++ b/p2p/discover/common.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	PrivateKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey
 
 	// These settings are optional:
-	NetRestrict  *netutil.Netlist   // network whitelist
+	NetRestrict  *netutil.Netlist   // list of allowed IP networks
 	Bootnodes    []*enode.Node      // list of bootstrap nodes
 	Unhandled    chan<- ReadPacket  // unhandled packets are sent on this channel
 	Log          log.Logger         // if set, log messages go here
diff --git a/p2p/discover/v4_udp.go b/p2p/discover/v4_udp.go
index 2b3eb48391b2..334716aebed0 100644
--- a/p2p/discover/v4_udp.go
+++ b/p2p/discover/v4_udp.go
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ func (t *UDPv4) nodeFromRPC(sender *net.UDPAddr, rn v4wire.Node) (*node, error)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	if t.netrestrict != nil && !t.netrestrict.Contains(rn.IP) {
-		return nil, errors.New("not contained in netrestrict whitelist")
+		return nil, errors.New("not contained in netrestrict list")
 	}
 	key, err := v4wire.DecodePubkey(crypto.S256(), rn.ID)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/p2p/server.go b/p2p/server.go
index 04fdecaec1a4..bcfc1bd10bd7 100644
--- a/p2p/server.go
+++ b/p2p/server.go
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ func (srv *Server) RemovePeer(node *enode.Node) {
 	}
 }
 
-// AddTrustedPeer adds the given node to a reserved whitelist which allows the
+// AddTrustedPeer adds the given node to a reserved trusted list which allows the
 // node to always connect, even if the slot are full.
 func (srv *Server) AddTrustedPeer(node *enode.Node) {
 	select {
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ func (srv *Server) checkInboundConn(remoteIP net.IP) error {
 	}
 	// Reject connections that do not match NetRestrict.
 	if srv.NetRestrict != nil && !srv.NetRestrict.Contains(remoteIP) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("not whitelisted in NetRestrict")
+		return fmt.Errorf("not in netrestrict list")
 	}
 	// Reject Internet peers that try too often.
 	now := srv.clock.Now()