diff --git a/pygmt/datasets/load_remote_dataset.py b/pygmt/datasets/load_remote_dataset.py
index 0cd68796a7c..3949a2e6f95 100644
--- a/pygmt/datasets/load_remote_dataset.py
+++ b/pygmt/datasets/load_remote_dataset.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ class GMTRemoteDataset(NamedTuple):
     ),
     "earth_dist": GMTRemoteDataset(
         description="GSHHG Earth distance to shoreline",
-        units="km",
+        units="kilometers",
         extra_attributes={"horizontal_datum": "WGS84"},
         resolutions={
             "01d": Resolution("01d"),
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ class GMTRemoteDataset(NamedTuple):
     ),
     "earth_geoid": GMTRemoteDataset(
         description="EGM2008 Earth geoid",
-        units="m",
+        units="meters",
         extra_attributes={"horizontal_datum": "WGS84"},
         resolutions={
             "01d": Resolution("01d"),
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_datasets_earth_dist.py b/pygmt/tests/test_datasets_earth_dist.py
index e0d91d77a84..a5f61a0b5f2 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_datasets_earth_dist.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_datasets_earth_dist.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def test_earth_dist_01d():
     data = load_earth_dist(resolution="01d")
     assert data.name == "z"
     assert data.attrs["description"] == "GSHHG Earth distance to shoreline"
-    assert data.attrs["units"] == "km"
+    assert data.attrs["units"] == "kilometers"
     assert data.attrs["horizontal_datum"] == "WGS84"
     assert data.shape == (181, 361)
     assert data.gmt.registration == 0
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_datasets_earth_geoid.py b/pygmt/tests/test_datasets_earth_geoid.py
index 84bfc5d7bf4..af72969b032 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_datasets_earth_geoid.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_datasets_earth_geoid.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def test_earth_geoid_01d():
     assert data.name == "z"
     assert data.attrs["long_name"] == "geoid (m)"
     assert data.attrs["description"] == "EGM2008 Earth geoid"
-    assert data.attrs["units"] == "m"
+    assert data.attrs["units"] == "meters"
     assert data.attrs["horizontal_datum"] == "WGS84"
     assert data.shape == (181, 361)
     assert data.gmt.registration == 0