4 files changed, 10 insertions, 5 deletions

diff --git a/doc/emacs/building.texi b/doc/emacs/building.texi
index b4a99a1c25e..1d40a2dd12d 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/building.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/building.texi
@@ -1549,7 +1549,7 @@ mode are the same as in Emacs Lisp mode.
   At startup, the @file{*scratch*} buffer contains a short message, in
 the form of a Lisp comment, that explains what it is for.  This
 message is controlled by the variable @code{initial-scratch-message},
-which should be either a string, or @code{nil} (which means to
+which should be either a documentation string, or @code{nil} (which means to
 suppress the message).
 
 @findex ielm
diff --git a/doc/lispref/os.texi b/doc/lispref/os.texi
index 64ebb45f23b..bbe87ca6181 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/os.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/os.texi
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ It now exits if the option @code{--batch} was specified.
 
 @item
 If the @file{*scratch*} buffer exists and is empty, it inserts
-@code{initial-scratch-message} into that buffer.
+@code{(substitute-command-keys initial-scratch-message)} into that buffer.
 
 @item
 If @code{initial-buffer-choice} is a string, it visits the file (or
@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@ file will not inhibit the message for someone else.
 
 @defopt initial-scratch-message
 This variable, if non-@code{nil}, should be a string, which is
+treated as documentation to be
 inserted into the @file{*scratch*} buffer when Emacs starts up.  If it
 is @code{nil}, the @file{*scratch*} buffer is empty.
 @end defopt
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index c2828c9db51..3e50943c336 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ so if you want to use it, you can always take a copy from an older Emacs.
 and *Buffer List*.  This makes Emacs convenient to use from the
 command line when `initial-buffer-choice' is non-nil.
 
++++
+** The value of ‘initial-scratch-message’ is now treated as a doc string
+and can contain escape sequences for command keys, quotes, and the like.
+
 
 * Changes in Emacs 25.1
 
diff --git a/lisp/startup.el b/lisp/startup.el
index c152e0122ae..e0249593893 100644
--- a/lisp/startup.el
+++ b/lisp/startup.el
@@ -1390,11 +1390,11 @@ settings will be marked as \"CHANGED outside of Customize\"."
 
 (defcustom initial-scratch-message (purecopy "\
 ;; This buffer is for notes you don't want to save, and for Lisp evaluation.
-;; If you want to create a file, visit that file with C-x C-f,
+;; If you want to create a file, visit that file with \\[find-file],
 ;; then enter the text in that file's own buffer.
 
 ")
-  "Initial message displayed in *scratch* buffer at startup.
+  "Initial documentation displayed in *scratch* buffer at startup.
 If this is nil, no message will be displayed."
   :type '(choice (text :tag "Message")
                  (const :tag "none" nil))
@@ -2430,7 +2430,7 @@ nil default-directory" name)
          (get-buffer "*scratch*")
          (with-current-buffer "*scratch*"
            (when (zerop (buffer-size))
-             (insert initial-scratch-message)
+             (insert (substitute-command-keys initial-scratch-message))
              (set-buffer-modified-p nil))))
 
     ;; Prepend `initial-buffer-choice' to `displayable-buffers'.