diff --git a/configure b/configure
index ae96868..4b5902b 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1359,7 +1359,7 @@ Optional Packages:
   --with-logdir=DIR       Directory where to write logfiles.
   --with-helpdir=DIR      Directory to install help files.
   --with-moduledir=DIR    Directory to install modules.
-  --with-nicklen=LENGTH   Set the nick length to LENGTH (default 15, max 50)
+  --with-nicklen=LENGTH   Set the nick length to LENGTH (default 31, max 50)
   --with-topiclen=NUMBER  Set the max topic length to NUMBER (default 390, max
                           390)
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b087573..24f3fa4 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ dnl so enable small net unless you really need this much support
 fi
 
 AC_ARG_WITH(nicklen,
-AC_HELP_STRING([--with-nicklen=LENGTH],[Set the nick length to LENGTH (default 15, max 50)]),
+AC_HELP_STRING([--with-nicklen=LENGTH],[Set the nick length to LENGTH (default 31, max 50)]),
 [
   if ! expr "$withval" + 0 >/dev/null 2>&1; then 
 	AC_ERROR([NICKLEN must be a numeric value])