diff --git a/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py b/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py
index c92dac752..f490d8984 100644
--- a/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py
+++ b/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def run_configuration(config_filename, config, arguments):
 
     local_path = location.get('local_path', 'borg')
     remote_path = location.get('remote_path')
-    retries = storage.get('retries',1)
+    retries = storage.get('retries', 0)
     borg_environment.initialize(storage)
     encountered_error = None
     error_repository = ''
diff --git a/borgmatic/config/schema.yaml b/borgmatic/config/schema.yaml
index eb8bea604..fc043f224 100644
--- a/borgmatic/config/schema.yaml
+++ b/borgmatic/config/schema.yaml
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ properties:
                 type: integer
                 description: |
                     Number of times to retry a backup before failing. Defaults
-                    to 1.
+                    to 0 (i.e. does not attempt retry).
                 example: 3
             temporary_directory:
                 type: string