diff --git a/core/core-dotspacemacs.el b/core/core-dotspacemacs.el
index c6ebd852ef38..c6d8240d2f66 100644
--- a/core/core-dotspacemacs.el
+++ b/core/core-dotspacemacs.el
@@ -220,13 +220,13 @@ will be applied to scale the banner."
   'spacemacs-dotspacemacs-init)
 
 (spacemacs|defc dotspacemacs-startup-buffer-show-version t
-  "If true, show Spacemacs and Emacs version at the top right of the
+  "If non-nil, show Spacemacs and Emacs version at the top right of the
 Spacemacs buffer."
   'boolean
   'spacemacs-dotspacemacs-init)
 
-(spacemacs|defc dotspacemacs-startup-buffer-show-icons t
-  "If true, show file icons for entries and headings on spacemacs buffer.
+(spacemacs|defc dotspacemacs-startup-buffer-show-icons nil
+  "If non-nil, show file icons for entries and headings on spacemacs buffer.
 This has no effect in terminal or if \"all-the-icons\" is not installed."
   'boolean
   'spacemacs-dotspacemacs-init)
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ This has no effect in terminal or if \"all-the-icons\" is not installed."
   'spacemacs-dotspacemacs-init)
 
 (spacemacs|defc dotspacemacs-check-for-update nil
-  "If non nil then spacemacs will check for updates at startup
+  "If non-nil then spacemacs will check for updates at startup
 when the current branch is not `develop'. Note that checking for
 new versions works via git commands, thus it calls GitHub services
 whenever you start Emacs."