diff --git a/Documentation/git-clean.txt b/Documentation/git-clean.txt
index 335c885bb7..a81cb6c280 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-clean.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-clean.txt
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ OPTIONS
 
 -f::
 --force::
-	If the git configuration specifies clean.requireForce as true,
-	'git clean' will refuse to run unless given -f or -n.
+	If the git configuration variable clean.requireForce is not set
+	to false, 'git clean' will refuse to run unless given -f or -n.
 
 -n::
 --dry-run::
diff --git a/builtin-clean.c b/builtin-clean.c
index 3a70fa81bd..fac64e6cd3 100644
--- a/builtin-clean.c
+++ b/builtin-clean.c
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ int cmd_clean(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		die("-x and -X cannot be used together");
 
 	if (!show_only && !force)
-		die("clean.requireForce%s set and -n or -f not given; "
-		    "refusing to clean", config_set ? "" : " not");
+		die("clean.requireForce %s to true and neither -n nor -f given; "
+		    "refusing to clean", config_set ? "set" : "defaults");
 
 	if (force > 1)
 		rm_flags = 0;