diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ea5ec97..06b1ef0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ Below is an example of how **yadm** can be used to manage SSH configurations. Th
 
     ------
 
-    yadm status -uno
+    yadm status
 
     Changes to be committed:
       (use "git rm --cached <file>..." to unstage)
diff --git a/yadm b/yadm
index 774547f..11e6c34 100755
--- a/yadm
+++ b/yadm
@@ -390,6 +390,9 @@ function configure_repo() {
   #; set the worktree for the yadm repo
   git config core.worktree "$YADM_WORK"
 
+  #; by default, do not show untracked files and directories
+  git config status.showUntrackedFiles no
+
   #; possibly used later to ensure we're working on the yadm repo
   git config yadm.managed 'true'
 
diff --git a/yadm.1 b/yadm.1
index f794b21..621cc38 100644
--- a/yadm.1
+++ b/yadm.1
@@ -156,11 +156,14 @@ already uses the
 command to manage its own configurations,
 this command is provided as a way to change configurations of the repository managed by
 .BR yadm .
-One particularly useful case may be to configure the repository so untracked files are hidden from status commands:
+One useful case might be to configure the repository so untracked files are shown in status commands.
+.B yadm
+initially configures its repository so that untracked files are not shown.
+If you wish use the default git behavior (to show untracked files and directories), you can remove this configuration.
 
 .RS
 .RS
-yadm gitconfig status.showUntrackedFiles no
+yadm gitconfig --unset status.showUntrackedFiles
 .RE
 .RE
 .TP