diff --git a/docs/manual/OptionalTasks/dotnet.html b/docs/manual/OptionalTasks/dotnet.html
index 2122d2eb6..66b7653ad 100644
--- a/docs/manual/OptionalTasks/dotnet.html
+++ b/docs/manual/OptionalTasks/dotnet.html
@@ -117,9 +117,8 @@ Also, dependency checking only works if destfile is set.
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <td valign="top">includeDefaultReferences</td>
-    <td valign="top">Flag which when true automatically includes
-    the common assemblies in dotnet, and tells the compiler to link in
-    mscore.dll
+    <td valign="top">Controls csc's /nostdlib argument,
+    &quot;true&quot;(default) implies /nostdlib-.
     </td>
     <td valign="top">&quot;true&quot;(default) or &quot;false&quot;</td>
   </tr>
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/dotnet/DotnetCompile.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/dotnet/DotnetCompile.java
index c8a88745c..a9636828f 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/dotnet/DotnetCompile.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/dotnet/DotnetCompile.java
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ public abstract class DotnetCompile
     /**
      *  flag to enable automatic reference inclusion
      */
-    private boolean includeDefaultReferences;
+    private boolean includeDefaultReferences = true;
 
     /**
      *  icon for incorporation into apps
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ public abstract class DotnetCompile
      * in dotnet, and tells the compiler to link in mscore.dll.
      *
      *  set the automatic reference inclusion flag on or off this flag controls
-     *  the string of references and the /nostdlib option in CSC
+     *  the /nostdlib option in CSC
      *
      *@param  f  on/off flag
      */