diff --git a/doc/lispref/files.texi b/doc/lispref/files.texi
index 1064f347a12..97ad7c6b7fa 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/files.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/files.texi
@@ -3227,11 +3227,11 @@ for the sake of dired.  However, the normally equivalent short
 as any other option.
 @end defun
 
-@defvar insert-directory-program
-This variable's value is the program to run to generate a directory listing
-for the function @code{insert-directory}.  It is ignored on systems
-which generate the listing with Lisp code.
-@end defvar
+@defopt insert-directory-program
+This user option specifies the program to run to generate a directory
+listing for the function @code{insert-directory}.  It is ignored on
+systems that generate the listing with Lisp code.
+@end defopt
 
 @node Create/Delete Dirs
 @section Creating, Copying and Deleting Directories
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index ce5290171a1..ef3962db2eb 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -655,6 +655,7 @@ When visiting a script that invokes 'env -S INTERPRETER ARGS...' in
 its shebang line, Emacs will now skip over 'env -S' and deduce the
 major mode based on the interpreter after 'env -S'.
 
++++
 *** 'insert-directory-program' is now a user option.
 On *BSD and macOS systems, this user option now defaults to the "gls"
 executable, if it exists.  This should remove the need to change its