diff --git a/cpp/doxygen/main_page.md b/cpp/doxygen/main_page.md
index a3659e7460..22bab7c861 100644
--- a/cpp/doxygen/main_page.md
+++ b/cpp/doxygen/main_page.md
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ When KvikIO is running in compatibility mode, it doesn't load `libcufile.so`. In
 The environment variable `KVIKIO_COMPAT_MODE` has three options (case-insensitive):
   - `ON` (aliases: `TRUE`, `YES`, `1`): Enable the compatibility mode.
   - `OFF` (aliases: `FALSE`, `NO`, `0`): Disable the compatibility mode, and enforce cuFile I/O. GDS will be activated if the system requirements for cuFile are met and cuFile is properly configured. However, if the system is not suited for cuFile, I/O operations under the `OFF` option may error out, crash or hang.
-  - `AUTO` (default; alias: `WHATEVER`): Try cuFile I/O first, and fall back to POSIX I/O if the system requirements for cuFile are not met.
+  - `AUTO`: Try cuFile I/O first, and fall back to POSIX I/O if the system requirements for cuFile are not met.
 
 Under `AUTO`, KvikIO falls back to the compatibility mode:
   - when `libcufile.so` cannot be found.
diff --git a/cpp/include/kvikio/defaults.hpp b/cpp/include/kvikio/defaults.hpp
index a1efa6bc27..ab80bd258e 100644
--- a/cpp/include/kvikio/defaults.hpp
+++ b/cpp/include/kvikio/defaults.hpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ namespace detail {
  * include:
  *   - `ON` (alias: `TRUE`, `YES`, `1`)
  *   - `OFF` (alias: `FALSE`, `NO`, `0`)
- *   - `AUTO` (alias: `WHATEVER`)
+ *   - `AUTO`
  * @return A CompatMode enum.
  */
 inline CompatMode parse_compat_mode_str(std::string_view compat_mode_str)
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ inline CompatMode parse_compat_mode_str(std::string_view compat_mode_str)
     res = CompatMode::ON;
   } else if (tmp == "off" || tmp == "false" || tmp == "no" || tmp == "0") {
     res = CompatMode::OFF;
-  } else if (tmp == "auto" || tmp == "whatever") {
+  } else if (tmp == "auto") {
     res = CompatMode::AUTO;
   } else {
     throw std::invalid_argument("Unknown compatibility mode: " + std::string{tmp});
diff --git a/docs/source/runtime_settings.rst b/docs/source/runtime_settings.rst
index 678ef899ec..be5508741e 100644
--- a/docs/source/runtime_settings.rst
+++ b/docs/source/runtime_settings.rst
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ The environment variable ``KVIKIO_COMPAT_MODE`` has three options (case-insensit
 
   * ``ON`` (aliases: ``TRUE``, ``YES``, ``1``): Enable the compatibility mode.
   * ``OFF`` (aliases: ``FALSE``, ``NO``, ``0``): Disable the compatibility mode, and enforce cuFile I/O. GDS will be activated if the system requirements for cuFile are met and cuFile is properly configured. However, if the system is not suited for cuFile, I/O operations under the ``OFF`` option may error out, crash or hang.
-  * ``AUTO`` (default; alias: ``WHATEVER``): Try cuFile I/O first, and fall back to POSIX I/O if the system requirements for cuFile are not met.
+  * ``AUTO``: Try cuFile I/O first, and fall back to POSIX I/O if the system requirements for cuFile are not met.
 
 Under ``AUTO``, KvikIO falls back to the compatibility mode: