diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 27d4d47..3b64ade 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ River can either be run nested in an X11/wayland session or directly
 from a tty using KMS/DRM. Simply run the `river` command.
 
 On startup river will run an executable file at `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/river/init`
-if such an executable exists. If $XDG_CONFIG_HOME is not set, ~/.config/ will
-be used instead.
+if such an executable exists. If `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME` is not set,
+`~/.config/river/init` will be used instead.
 
 Usually this executable is a shell script invoking *riverctl*(1) to create
 mappings, start programs such as a layout generator or status bar, and
diff --git a/doc/river.1.scd b/doc/river.1.scd
index 0ca73bf..24652a3 100644
--- a/doc/river.1.scd
+++ b/doc/river.1.scd
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ utility may be used to communicate with river over these protocols.
 
 # CONFIGURATION
 
-On startup river will run an executable file at `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/river/init`
-if such an executable exists. If $XDG_CONFIG_HOME is not set, ~/.config/ will
-be used instead.
+On startup river will run an executable file at $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/river/init if
+such an executable exists. If $XDG_CONFIG_HOME is not set, ~/.config/river/init
+will be used instead.
 
 The executable init file will be run as a process group leader after river's
 wayland server is initialized but before entering the main loop. On exit,