diff --git a/sbin/dump/dump.8 b/sbin/dump/dump.8
index 26df180d98c8..b6dda401f3b6 100644
--- a/sbin/dump/dump.8
+++ b/sbin/dump/dump.8
@@ -439,7 +439,11 @@ rotated out of the dump cycle and fresh tapes brought in.
 .Sh ENVIRONMENT
 .Bl -tag -width ".Ev TAPE"
 .It Ev TAPE
-Device from which to read backup.
+The
+.Ar file
+or device to dump to if the
+.Fl f
+option is not used.
 .It Ev RMT
 Pathname of the remote
 .Xr rmt 8