diff --git a/src/search.c b/src/search.c
index d44ade3b610..3fc3faeda98 100644
--- a/src/search.c
+++ b/src/search.c
@@ -2165,7 +2165,7 @@ DEFUN ("search-forward", Fsearch_forward, Ssearch_forward, 1, 4, "MSearch: ",
        doc: /* Search forward from point for STRING.
 Set point to the end of the occurrence found, and return point.
 An optional second argument bounds the search; it is a buffer position.
-The match found must not extend after that position.  If nil, it is
+The match found must not extend after that position.  A value of nil is
   equivalent to (point-max).
 Optional third argument, if t, means if fail just return nil (no error).
   If not nil and not t, move to limit of search and return nil.