diff --git a/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/mod.rs b/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/mod.rs
index 70c6db579b..9103ce8f16 100644
--- a/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/mod.rs
+++ b/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/mod.rs
@@ -1203,13 +1203,19 @@ pub fn try_init() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error + Send + Sync + 'static>> {
 /// Install a global tracing subscriber that listens for events and
 /// filters based on the value of the [`RUST_LOG` environment variable].
 ///
+/// The configuration of the subscriber initialized by this function
+/// depends on what [feature flags](crate#feature-flags) are enabled.
+///
 /// If the `tracing-log` feature is enabled, this will also install
 /// the LogTracer to convert `Log` records into `tracing` `Event`s.
 ///
-/// This is shorthand for
+/// If the `env-filter` feature is enabled, this is shorthand for
 ///
 /// ```rust
-/// tracing_subscriber::fmt().init()
+/// # use tracing_subscriber::EnvFilter;
+/// tracing_subscriber::fmt()
+///     .with_env_filter(EnvFilter::from_default_env())
+///     .init();
 /// ```
 ///
 /// # Panics