diff --git a/lib/stdlib/src/erl_tar.erl b/lib/stdlib/src/erl_tar.erl
index 84ee08846fdf..2105fff7e198 100644
--- a/lib/stdlib/src/erl_tar.erl
+++ b/lib/stdlib/src/erl_tar.erl
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ Here `Fd` was specified to function [`init/3`](`init/3`) as:
 
 ```erlang
 {ok,Fd} = file:open(Name, ...).
-{ok,TarDesc} = erl_tar:init(Fd, [write], ExampleFun),
+{ok,TarDesc} = erl_tar:init(Fd, write, ExampleFun),
 ```
 
 `TarDesc` is then used: