diff --git a/jupyterhub/apihandlers/auth.py b/jupyterhub/apihandlers/auth.py
index e0c9fb4f..aa395edd 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/apihandlers/auth.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/apihandlers/auth.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class TokenAPIHandler(APIHandler):
 
         note = (data or {}).get('note')
         if not note:
-            note = "via api"
+            note = "Requested via deprecated api"
             if requester is not user:
                 kind = 'user' if isinstance(user, User) else 'service'
                 note += " by %s %s" % (kind, requester.name)
diff --git a/jupyterhub/apihandlers/users.py b/jupyterhub/apihandlers/users.py
index 79234c36..6d15f954 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/apihandlers/users.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/apihandlers/users.py
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ class UserTokenListAPIHandler(APIHandler):
             kind = 'user' if isinstance(requester, User) else 'service'
         note = (body or {}).get('note')
         if not note:
-            note = "via api"
+            note = "Requested via api"
             if requester is not user:
                 note += " by %s %s" % (kind, requester.name)
 
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py b/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py
index ab874f16..dcab20af 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py
@@ -1219,7 +1219,7 @@ def test_get_new_token(app, headers, status, note):
     if note:
         assert reply['note'] == note
     else:
-        assert reply['note'] == 'via api'
+        assert reply['note'] == 'Requested via api'
     token_id = reply['id']
     initial = normalize_token(reply)
     # pop token for later comparison