diff --git a/Doc/lib/libuser.tex b/Doc/lib/libuser.tex
index 0d0ecb68091..4e915a22c88 100644
--- a/Doc/lib/libuser.tex
+++ b/Doc/lib/libuser.tex
@@ -48,12 +48,14 @@ level can look for a variable \code{user.spam_verbose}, as follows:
 
 \begin{verbatim}
 import user
-try:
-    verbose = user.spam_verbose  # user's verbosity preference
-except AttributeError:
-    verbose = 0                  # default verbosity
+
+verbose = bool(getattr(user, "spam_verbose", 0))
 \end{verbatim}
 
+(The three-argument form of \function{getattr()} is used in case
+the user has not defined \code{spam_verbose} in their
+\file{.pythonrc.py} file.)
+
 Programs with extensive customization needs are better off reading a
 program-specific customization file.