diff --git a/gio/gsettings-tool.c b/gio/gsettings-tool.c
index 63c5a4477..d74b6dd9e 100644
--- a/gio/gsettings-tool.c
+++ b/gio/gsettings-tool.c
@@ -275,6 +275,8 @@ gsettings_description (void)
 {
   const gchar *description;
   description = g_settings_schema_key_get_description (global_schema_key);
+  if (description == NULL)
+    description = g_settings_schema_key_get_summary (global_schema_key);
   g_print ("%s\n", description);
 }