diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9a06510..86fd57e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ The public API of `Downloads` consists of two functions and three types:
 ### download
 
 ```jl
-download(url, [ output = tempfile() ];
+download(url, [ output = tempname() ];
     [ method = "GET", ]
     [ headers = <none>, ]
     [ timeout = <none>, ]
diff --git a/src/Downloads.jl b/src/Downloads.jl
index f1733f7..3eeddaf 100644
--- a/src/Downloads.jl
+++ b/src/Downloads.jl
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ end
 ## download API ##
 
 """
-    download(url, [ output = tempfile() ];
+    download(url, [ output = tempname() ];
         [ method = "GET", ]
         [ headers = <none>, ]
         [ timeout = <none>, ]