diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/legend.py b/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
index 25a57a5e6e98..6821d39566cc 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@ def _update_bbox_to_anchor(self, loc_in_canvas):
 
 
 _legend_kw_doc = '''
-loc : int or string or pair of floats, default: 'upper right'
+loc : int or string or pair of floats, default: :rc:`legend.loc` ('best' for \
+axes, 'upper right' for figures)
     The location of the legend. Possible codes are:
 
         ===============   =============