diff --git a/doc/lispref/debugging.texi b/doc/lispref/debugging.texi
index 8d498608da4..48f3c3f8257 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/debugging.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/debugging.texi
@@ -638,11 +638,9 @@ debugger, etc.), and fills it with information about the stack of Lisp
 function calls.  It then enters a recursive edit, showing the
 backtrace buffer in Debugger mode.  In batch mode (more generally,
 when @code{noninteractive} is non-@code{nil}, @pxref{Batch Mode}),
-this function shows the Lisp backtrace on the standard error stream,
-and then kills Emacs, causing it to exit with a non-zero exit code
-(@pxref{Killing Emacs}).  Binding
-@code{backtrace-on-error-noninteractive} to @code{nil} suppresses the
-backtrace in batch mode, see below.
+this function shows the Lisp backtrace on the standard error stream.
+Binding @code{backtrace-on-error-noninteractive} to @code{nil}
+suppresses the backtrace in batch mode, see below.
 
 The Debugger mode @kbd{c}, @kbd{d}, @kbd{j}, and @kbd{r} commands exit
 the recursive edit; then @code{debug} switches back to the previous
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index acc156ea80e..95bc966d47d 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -4222,6 +4222,11 @@ suggestions.  So the 'M-?' command now works without a tags table.  And
 the 'M-.' will show a message describing the several built-in options
 that will provide an Xref backend when used.
 
++++
+** Calling 'debug' in batch sessions no longer kills Emacs.
+If you want Emacs to exit, your program will now have to call
+'kill-emacs' explicitly.
+
 
 * Lisp Changes in Emacs 31.1