diff --git a/packages/model/addon/-private/attr.js b/packages/model/addon/-private/attr.js
index b0af18dda68..30e00be13fb 100644
--- a/packages/model/addon/-private/attr.js
+++ b/packages/model/addon/-private/attr.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ function hasValue(internalModel, key) {
   supported options are:
 
   - `defaultValue`: Pass a string or a function to be called to set the attribute
-  to a default value if none is supplied.
+  to a default value if and only if the key is absent from the payload response.
 
   Example