diff --git a/pandas/util/testing.py b/pandas/util/testing.py
index f6b572cdf7179..4b610c505c574 100644
--- a/pandas/util/testing.py
+++ b/pandas/util/testing.py
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ def assert_almost_equal(left, right, check_exact=False,
     ----------
     left : object
     right : object
-    check_exact : bool, default True
+    check_exact : bool, default False
         Whether to compare number exactly.
     check_dtype: bool, default True
         check dtype if both a and b are the same type