diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index 1f766fc13b..46d9e77fe6 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -3795,7 +3795,7 @@ does not have any effect on what the G-expression does.
 content is directly passed as a string.
 
 @deffn {Scheme Procedure} local-file @var{file} [@var{name}] @
-   [#:recursive? #t]
+   [#:recursive? #f]
 Return an object representing local file @var{file} to add to the store; this
 object can be used in a gexp.  If @var{file} is a relative file name, it is looked
 up relative to the source file where this form appears.  @var{file} will be added to