diff --git a/reference/stream/functions/stream-get-contents.xml b/reference/stream/functions/stream-get-contents.xml
index 2d169082e8..5ec4598f37 100644
--- a/reference/stream/functions/stream-get-contents.xml
+++ b/reference/stream/functions/stream-get-contents.xml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
    <type>string</type><methodname>stream_get_contents</methodname>
    <methodparam><type>resource</type><parameter>handle</parameter></methodparam>
    <methodparam choice="opt"><type>int</type><parameter>maxlength</parameter><initializer>-1</initializer></methodparam>
-   <methodparam choice="opt"><type>int</type><parameter>offset</parameter><initializer>0</initializer></methodparam>
+   <methodparam choice="opt"><type>int</type><parameter>offset</parameter><initializer>-1</initializer></methodparam>
   </methodsynopsis>
   <para> 
    Identical to <function>file_get_contents</function>, except that
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@
      <term><parameter>offset</parameter> (<type>integer</type>)</term>
      <listitem>
       <para>
-       Seek to the specified offset before reading.
+       Seek to the specified offset before reading. If this number is negative,
+       no seeking will occur and reading will start from the current position.
       </para>
      </listitem>
     </varlistentry>