diff --git a/lisp/ChangeLog b/lisp/ChangeLog
index 77c6a8d087c..456eca53a82 100644
--- a/lisp/ChangeLog
+++ b/lisp/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 2012-08-27  Leo Liu  <sdl.web@gmail.com>
 
+	* skeleton.el (skeleton-untabify): Change to nil (bug#12223).
+
 	* progmodes/sh-script.el (sh-indent-comment): Change to t (bug#12267).
 
 2012-08-24  Chong Yidong  <cyd@gnu.org>
diff --git a/lisp/skeleton.el b/lisp/skeleton.el
index 0f28d32293b..efc0a2da84d 100644
--- a/lisp/skeleton.el
+++ b/lisp/skeleton.el
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ The variables `v1' and `v2' are still set when calling this.")
   "Function for transforming a skeleton proxy's aliases' variable value.")
 (defvaralias 'skeleton-filter 'skeleton-filter-function)
 
-(defvar skeleton-untabify t
+(defvar skeleton-untabify nil		; bug#12223
   "When non-nil untabifies when deleting backwards with element -ARG.")
 
 (defvar skeleton-newline-indent-rigidly nil