diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 582d9f2794..fa734987ce 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # ggplot2 (development version)
 
+* The `lwd` alias now correctly replaced by `linewidth` instead of `size` 
+  (@teunbrand based on @clauswilke's suggestion #5051).
+
 # ggplot2 3.4.0
 This is a minor release focusing on tightening up the internals and ironing out
 some inconsistencies in the API. The biggest change is the addition of the 
diff --git a/R/ggplot-global.R b/R/ggplot-global.R
index cd650e3e18..495dc65ae0 100644
--- a/R/ggplot-global.R
+++ b/R/ggplot-global.R
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ ggplot_global$all_aesthetics <- .all_aesthetics
   "pch"   = "shape",
   "cex"   = "size",
   "lty"   = "linetype",
-  "lwd"   = "size",
+  "lwd"   = "linewidth",
   "srt"   = "angle",
   "adj"   = "hjust",
   "bg"    = "fill",