diff --git a/Documentation/git-fast-import.txt b/Documentation/git-fast-import.txt
index 2be6c4b807..1fe2c1dcf2 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-fast-import.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-fast-import.txt
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ in octal.  Git only supports the following modes:
   of files in most projects use this mode.  If in doubt, this is
   what you want.
 * `100755` or `755`: A normal, but executable, file.
-* `140000`: A symlink, the content of the file will be the link target.
+* `120000`: A symlink, the content of the file will be the link target.
 
 In both formats `<path>` is the complete path of the file to be added
 (if not already existing) or modified (if already existing).
diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index df84e4d87d..c72c5c7a94 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ Format of STDIN stream:
   path_str    ::= path    | '"' quoted(path)    '"' ;
   mode        ::= '100644' | '644'
                 | '100755' | '755'
-                | '140000'
+                | '120000'
                 ;
 
   declen ::= # unsigned 32 bit value, ascii base10 notation;