diff --git a/functions/imap.xml b/functions/imap.xml
index 178c1fb7d8..b72517d15d 100644
--- a/functions/imap.xml
+++ b/functions/imap.xml
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ fetchsubject (subject line formatted to fit <parameter>subjectlength</parameter>
      server, in the form: {imap_server:imap_port}, and
      <parameter>pattern</parameter> specifies where in the mailbox
      hierarchy to start searching. If you want all mailboxes, pass
-     <parameter>pattern</parameter> as an empty string.
+     '*' for <parameter>pattern</parameter>.
     </para>
     <para>
      There are two special characters you can pass as part of the