diff --git a/reference/errorfunc/functions/error-reporting.xml b/reference/errorfunc/functions/error-reporting.xml
index 691a216c98..a63a442e3c 100644
--- a/reference/errorfunc/functions/error-reporting.xml
+++ b/reference/errorfunc/functions/error-reporting.xml
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@
    <link linkend="ini.error-reporting">error_reporting</link>
    directive at runtime.  PHP has many levels of errors, using
    this function sets that level for the duration (runtime) of
-   your script.
+   your script. If the optional <parameter>level</parameter> is
+   not set, <function>error_reporting</function> will just return
+   the current error reporting level.
   </para>
  </refsect1>
 
@@ -50,7 +52,8 @@
   &reftitle.returnvalues;
   <para>
    Returns the old <link linkend="ini.error-reporting">error_reporting</link>
-   level.
+   level or the current level if no <parameter>level</parameter> parameter is
+   given.
   </para>
  </refsect1>