diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index 51429d8964..fdfcdde258 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -13050,7 +13050,7 @@ This is the data type for the NTP service configuration.
 This is the list of servers (host names) with which @command{ntpd} will be
 synchronized.
 
-@item @code{allow-large-adjustment?} (default: @code{#f})
+@item @code{allow-large-adjustment?} (default: @code{#t})
 This determines whether @command{ntpd} is allowed to make an initial
 adjustment of more than 1,000 seconds.
 
diff --git a/gnu/services/networking.scm b/gnu/services/networking.scm
index 376b4ccc4e..e149fe0b69 100644
--- a/gnu/services/networking.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/networking.scm
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ Protocol (DHCP) client, on all the non-loopback network interfaces."
   (servers  ntp-configuration-servers
             (default %ntp-servers))
   (allow-large-adjustment? ntp-allow-large-adjustment?
-                           (default #f)))
+                           (default #t))) ;as recommended in the ntpd manual
 
 (define ntp-shepherd-service
   (match-lambda