diff --git a/doc/lispref/compile.texi b/doc/lispref/compile.texi
index 65442dd8d19..69a9aa5f31c 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/compile.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/compile.texi
@@ -927,6 +927,14 @@ compilation subprocesses in parallel, under the control of
 Variables}).
 @end defun
 
+@defun native-compile-directory directory
+This function compiles into native code all the @file{*.el} files in the
+specified @var{directory} and, recursively, in all of its
+subdirectories, if a corresponding @file{.eln} file could not be found
+in any of the directories mentioned in the
+@code{native-comp-eln-load-path} list (@pxref{Library Search}).
+@end defun
+
 @deffn Command emacs-lisp-native-compile
 This command compiles the file visited by the current buffer into
 native code, if the file was changed since the last time it was
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index 5b7868e8720..f7ad41b1b9f 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -646,8 +646,8 @@ sup-mouse.el, terminal.el, vi.el, vip.el, ws-mode.el, and yow.el.
 
 ---
 ** New function 'native-compile-directory'.
-This function native compiles all Lisp files in a directory and in its
-sub-directories (if they are not already native compiled).
+This function natively-compiles all Lisp files in a directory and in its
+sub-directories, recursively, which were not already natively-compiled.
 
 +++
 ** The 'defcustom' ':local' keyword can now be 'permanent-only'.
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/comp.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/comp.el
index 8866f47aa66..96341b0a39f 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/comp.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/comp.el
@@ -3665,9 +3665,9 @@ the compilation was successful return the compiled function."
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun native-compile-directory (directory)
   "Native compile if necessary all the .el files present in DIRECTORY.
-Each .el file is native compiled if the corresponding .eln file is not
-found inside the current `native-comp-eln-load-path'. The search within
-DIRECTORY is perfomed recursively."
+Each .el file is native-compiled if the corresponding .eln file is not
+found in any directory mentioned in `native-comp-eln-load-path'.
+The search within DIRECTORY is perfomed recursively."
   (mapc (lambda (file)
 	  (unless (comp-lookup-eln file)
 	    (native-compile file)))