diff --git a/documentation/kernel-dev/common.rst b/documentation/kernel-dev/common.rst
index dff8f504fd6f..3c8e0b74e9b5 100644
--- a/documentation/kernel-dev/common.rst
+++ b/documentation/kernel-dev/common.rst
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ append files, you can direct the OpenEmbedded build system to use a
 To specify an "in-tree" ``defconfig`` file, use the following statement
 form::
 
-   KBUILD_DEFCONFIG_KMACHINE ?= "defconfig_file"
+   KBUILD_DEFCONFIG:<machine> ?= "defconfig_file"
 
 Here is an example
 that assigns the :term:`KBUILD_DEFCONFIG` variable based on "raspberrypi2"
diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst b/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
index a36c4c6df962..54da54f71d72 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
@@ -4275,7 +4275,7 @@ system and gives an overview of their function and contents.
       To use the variable, set it in the append file for your kernel recipe
       using the following form::
 
-         KBUILD_DEFCONFIG_KMACHINE ?= defconfig_file
+         KBUILD_DEFCONFIG:<machine> ?= "defconfig_file"
 
       Here is an example from a "raspberrypi2" :term:`KMACHINE` build that uses
       a ``defconfig`` file named "bcm2709_defconfig"::