diff --git a/src/fileio.c b/src/fileio.c
index 52bbaa61fc2..40c870331b8 100644
--- a/src/fileio.c
+++ b/src/fileio.c
@@ -4031,10 +4031,9 @@ because (1) it preserves some marker positions (in unchanged portions
 undo list.  When REPLACE is non-nil, the second return value is the
 number of characters that replace previous buffer contents.
 
-If REPLACE is the symbol `if-regular', then eschew preserving marker
-positions or the undo list if REPLACE is nil if FILENAME is not a
-regular file.  Otherwise, signal an error if REPLACE is non-nil and
-FILENAME is not a regular file.
+If REPLACE is non-nil and FILENAME is not a regular file, act as if
+REPLACE were nil if REPLACE is the symbol `if-regular' and signal an
+error otherwise.
 
 This function does code conversion according to the value of
 `coding-system-for-read' or `file-coding-system-alist', and sets the