diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index faad3ad6bb..94d4d8f92d 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -10031,12 +10031,12 @@ well as in the @var{groups} field of the @var{operating-system} record.
 @end example
 @end deffn
 
-@deffn {Scheme Procedure} urandom-seed-service
+@defvr {Scheme Variable} urandom-seed-service-type
 Save some entropy in @var{%random-seed-file} to seed @file{/dev/urandom}
 when rebooting.  It also tries to seed @file{/dev/urandom} from
 @file{/dev/hwrng} while booting, if @file{/dev/hwrng} exists and is
 readable.
-@end deffn
+@end defvr
 
 @defvr {Scheme Variable} %random-seed-file
 This is the name of the file where some random bytes are saved by
diff --git a/gnu/services/base.scm b/gnu/services/base.scm
index 26525714a5..acc5c33f58 100644
--- a/gnu/services/base.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/base.scm
@@ -597,12 +597,13 @@ in KNOWN-MOUNT-POINTS when it is stopped."
                        ;; start until we have seeded the PRNG.
                        (service-extension user-processes-service-type
                                           (const '(urandom-seed)))))
+                (default-value #f)
                 (description
                  "Seed the @file{/dev/urandom} pseudo-random number
 generator (RNG) with the value recorded when the system was last shut
 down.")))
 
-(define (urandom-seed-service)
+(define (urandom-seed-service)                    ;deprecated
   (service urandom-seed-service-type #f))
 
 
@@ -1984,7 +1985,7 @@ This service is not part of @var{%base-services}."
                                           (ip "127.0.0.1")
                                           (provision '(loopback)))))
         (syslog-service)
-        (urandom-seed-service)
+        (service urandom-seed-service-type)
         (guix-service)
         (nscd-service)