diff --git a/doc/api/repl.md b/doc/api/repl.md
index b78a13544add4a..9ff416e004f4b3 100644
--- a/doc/api/repl.md
+++ b/doc/api/repl.md
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ within the action function for commands registered using the
 added: v0.1.91
 -->
 
-* `options` {Object}
+* `options` {Object | String}
   * `prompt` {String} The input prompt to display. Defaults to `> `.
   * `input` {Readable} The Readable stream from which REPL input will be read.
     Defaults to `process.stdin`.
@@ -413,6 +413,15 @@ added: v0.1.91
 
 The `repl.start()` method creates and starts a `repl.REPLServer` instance.
 
+If `options` is a string, then it specifies the input prompt:
+
+```js
+const repl = require('repl');
+
+// a Unix style prompt
+repl.start('$ ');
+```
+
 ## The Node.js REPL
 
 Node.js itself uses the `repl` module to provide its own interactive interface