diff --git a/docs/templates/config.rst.j2 b/docs/templates/config.rst.j2
index 34b2b849518..5af4f154013 100644
--- a/docs/templates/config.rst.j2
+++ b/docs/templates/config.rst.j2
@@ -127,7 +127,11 @@ you can use the command line utility mentioned above (`ansible-config`) to brows
 :Type: {{config['type']}}
 {%     endif %}
 {%     if 'default' in config %}
+{%       if config['default'] == '' %}
+:Default: {{config['default']}}
+{%       else %}
 :Default: ``{{config['default']}}``
+{%       endif %}
 {%     endif %}
 {%     if config.get('choices', False) %}
 :Choices:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
index 80619558b73..c7fef870068 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
+++ b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ DEFAULT_BECOME_EXE:
   - {key: become_exe, section: privilege_escalation}
 DEFAULT_BECOME_FLAGS:
   name: Set 'become' executable options
-  default: ~
+  default: ''
   description: Flags to pass to the privilege escalation executable.
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_BECOME_FLAGS}]
   ini: