diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8abaa5819..5089cfc94 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -907,7 +907,7 @@ class { 'apache':
 
 Sets the default [`DocumentRoot`][] location. Default: Determined by your operating system.
 
-- **Debian**: `/var/www`
+- **Debian**: `/var/www/html`
 - **FreeBSD**: `/usr/local/www/apache22/data`
 - **Gentoo**: `/var/www/localhost/htdocs`
 - **Red Hat**: `/var/www/html`
diff --git a/manifests/params.pp b/manifests/params.pp
index a2ab7382c..36d2815fa 100644
--- a/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/manifests/params.pp
@@ -223,7 +223,11 @@
     $fastcgi_lib_path       = '/var/lib/apache2/fastcgi'
     $mime_support_package = 'mime-support'
     $mime_types_config    = '/etc/mime.types'
-    $docroot              = '/var/www'
+    if ($::operatingsystem == 'Ubuntu' and versioncmp($::operatingsystemrelease, '13.10') >= 0) or ($::operatingsystem == 'Debian' and versioncmp($::operatingsystemrelease, '8') >= 0) {
+      $docroot              = '/var/www/html'
+    } else {
+      $docroot              = '/var/www'
+    }
     $cas_cookie_path      = '/var/cache/apache2/mod_auth_cas/'
     $mellon_lock_file     = undef
     $mellon_cache_size    = undef