diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/sysctl/vm.rst b/Documentation/admin-guide/sysctl/vm.rst
index 45ba1f4dc004..c59889de122b 100644
--- a/Documentation/admin-guide/sysctl/vm.rst
+++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/sysctl/vm.rst
@@ -742,8 +742,8 @@ overcommit_memory
 
 This value contains a flag that enables memory overcommitment.
 
-When this flag is 0, the kernel attempts to estimate the amount
-of free memory left when userspace requests more memory.
+When this flag is 0, the kernel compares the userspace memory request
+size against total memory plus swap and rejects obvious overcommits.
 
 When this flag is 1, the kernel pretends there is always enough
 memory until it actually runs out.
diff --git a/Documentation/mm/overcommit-accounting.rst b/Documentation/mm/overcommit-accounting.rst
index a4895d6fc1c2..e2263477f6d5 100644
--- a/Documentation/mm/overcommit-accounting.rst
+++ b/Documentation/mm/overcommit-accounting.rst
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@ The Linux kernel supports the following overcommit handling modes
 	Heuristic overcommit handling. Obvious overcommits of address
 	space are refused. Used for a typical system. It ensures a
 	seriously wild allocation fails while allowing overcommit to
-	reduce swap usage.  root is allowed to allocate slightly more
-	memory in this mode. This is the default.
+	reduce swap usage. This is the default.
 
 1
 	Always overcommit. Appropriate for some scientific