diff --git a/chrony.texi b/chrony.texi
index e4c56e3..c86ba31 100644
--- a/chrony.texi
+++ b/chrony.texi
@@ -2231,7 +2231,7 @@ The @code{maxclockerror} directive sets the maximum assumed frequency
 error of the local clock.  This is a frequency stability of the clock,
 not an absolute frequency error.
 
-By default, the maximum assumed error is set to 10 ppm.
+By default, the maximum assumed error is set to 1 ppm.
 
 The syntax is
 
diff --git a/conf.c b/conf.c
index 2667d2b..187f1e3 100644
--- a/conf.c
+++ b/conf.c
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ static char *drift_file = NULL;
 static char *rtc_file = NULL;
 static unsigned long command_key_id;
 static double max_update_skew = 1000.0;
-static double max_clock_error = 10; /* in ppm */
+static double max_clock_error = 1.0; /* in ppm */
 
 static double reselect_distance = 1e-4;
 static double stratum_weight = 1.0;