diff --git a/reference/svn/functions/svn-commit.xml b/reference/svn/functions/svn-commit.xml
index 6f33801a6c..33c8c3d2fa 100644
--- a/reference/svn/functions/svn-commit.xml
+++ b/reference/svn/functions/svn-commit.xml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
    <type>array</type><methodname>svn_commit</methodname>
    <methodparam><type>string</type><parameter>log</parameter></methodparam>
    <methodparam><type>array</type><parameter>targets</parameter></methodparam>
-   <methodparam choice="opt"><type>bool</type><parameter>dontrecurse</parameter></methodparam>
+   <methodparam choice="opt"><type>bool</type><parameter>dontrecurse</parameter><initializer>false</initializer></methodparam>
   </methodsynopsis>
   <para>
    Commits changes made in the local working copy files enumerated in