diff --git a/lisp/files.el b/lisp/files.el
index b6fb11df765..2f886e09dc7 100644
--- a/lisp/files.el
+++ b/lisp/files.el
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ Some modes set this non-nil in particular buffers.")
   "*Control use of version numbers for backup files.
 t means make numeric backup versions unconditionally.
 nil means make them for files that have some already.
-never means do not make them.")
+`never' means do not make them.")
 
 (defvar dired-kept-versions 2
   "*When cleaning directory, number of versions to keep.")