diff --git a/lisp/calc/calc.el b/lisp/calc/calc.el
index f93c2e899b5..a0bd5aaff11 100644
--- a/lisp/calc/calc.el
+++ b/lisp/calc/calc.el
@@ -206,8 +206,8 @@
 (require 'calc-macs)
 
 ;;;###autoload
-(defvar calc-settings-file user-init-file
-  "*File in which to record permanent settings; default is `user-init-file'.")
+(defvar calc-settings-file (convert-standard-filename "~/.calc.el")
+  "*File in which to record permanent settings.")
 
 (defvar calc-bug-address "belanger@truman.edu"
   "Address of the author of Calc, for use by `report-calc-bug'.")