diff --git a/autoload/vimtex/fold.vim b/autoload/vimtex/fold.vim
index dbc108b..8b01bef 100644
--- a/autoload/vimtex/fold.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimtex/fold.vim
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ function! vimtex#fold#init_options() " {{{1
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_enabled', 0)
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_manual', 0)
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_comments', 0)
-  call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_section_character', '')
+  call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_section_character', '*')
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_preamble', 1)
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_envs', 1)
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_parts',
@@ -236,13 +236,9 @@ function! vimtex#fold#text() " {{{1
   " Initialize
   let line = getline(v:foldstart)
 
-  if empty(g:vimtex_fold_section_character)
-    let fold_character = '*'
-  else
-    let fold_character = g:vimtex_fold_section_character
-  endif
-
-  let level = v:foldlevel > 1 ? repeat('-', v:foldlevel-2) . fold_character : ''
+  let level = v:foldlevel > 1
+        \ ? repeat('-', v:foldlevel-2) . g:vimtex_fold_section_character
+        \ : ''
   let title = 'Not defined'
   let nt = 73
 
diff --git a/doc/vimtex.txt b/doc/vimtex.txt
index e7bad47..a5acad9 100644
--- a/doc/vimtex.txt
+++ b/doc/vimtex.txt
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ Options~
 
   Use custom section symbol for folding.
 
-  Default value: ''
+  Default value: '*'
 
 *g:vimtex_fold_envs*
   Control whether or not to fold environments.