diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py
index 2a4246e34..b130d5b2a 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ def _add_avar(font, axes, mappings, axisTags):
     """
     Add 'avar' table to font.
 
-    axes is an ordered list of the axis tags.
+    axes is an ordered dictionary of AxisDescriptor objects.
     """
 
     assert axes