diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/ScalaSettings.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/ScalaSettings.scala
index 72f09cc4fe29..2c3f88c1ce5c 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/ScalaSettings.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/ScalaSettings.scala
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ class ScalaSettings extends Settings.SettingGroup {
     "-siteroot",
     "site root",
     "A directory containing static files from which to generate documentation.",
-    sys.props("user.dir")
+    "./docs"
   )
 
 
diff --git a/doc-tool/src/dotty/tools/dottydoc/DocDriver.scala b/doc-tool/src/dotty/tools/dottydoc/DocDriver.scala
index 9055fab81a80..f94dadf13027 100644
--- a/doc-tool/src/dotty/tools/dottydoc/DocDriver.scala
+++ b/doc-tool/src/dotty/tools/dottydoc/DocDriver.scala
@@ -56,8 +56,10 @@ class DocDriver extends Driver {
 
     if (projectName.isEmpty)
       report.error(s"Site project name not set. Use `-project <title>` to set the project name")
-    else if (!siteRoot.exists || !siteRoot.isDirectory)
-      report.error(s"Site root does not exist: $siteRoot")
+    else if (!siteRoot.exists)
+      report.echo(s"Site root (`-siteroot`) does not exist: $siteRoot, no documentation will be generated.")
+    else if (!siteRoot.isDirectory)
+      report.error(s"Site root (`-siteroot`) is not a directory: $siteRoot")
     else {
       def generateSite(outDir: File, baseUrl: String) =
         Site(siteRoot, outDir, projectName, projectVersion, projectUrl, projectLogo, ctx.docbase.packages, baseUrl)