diff --git a/doc/nano.texi b/doc/nano.texi
index ac77703f..39757f5f 100644
--- a/doc/nano.texi
+++ b/doc/nano.texi
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ Do not use the line below the title bar, leaving it entirely blank.
 
 @item set errorcolor [bold,][italic,]@var{fgcolor},@var{bgcolor}
 Use this color combination for the status bar when an error message is displayed.
-The default value is @t{brightwhite,red}.
+The default value is @t{bold,white,red}.
 @xref{@code{set functioncolor}} for valid color names.
 
 @item set fill @var{number}
diff --git a/doc/nanorc.5 b/doc/nanorc.5
index 15dd4d70..bd58cb86 100644
--- a/doc/nanorc.5
+++ b/doc/nanorc.5
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ Do not use the line below the title bar, leaving it entirely blank.
 .TP
 .B set errorcolor \fR[\fBbold,\fR][\fBitalic,\fR]\fIfgcolor\fB,\fIbgcolor\fR
 Use this color combination for the status bar when an error message is displayed.
-The default value is \fBbrightwhite,red\fR.
+The default value is \fBbold,white,red\fR.
 See \fBset titlecolor\fR for valid color names.
 .TP
 .B set fill \fInumber\fR