diff --git a/README b/README
index e6b48e5c4..a886c24ba 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -1002,12 +1002,12 @@ as `title`, `author`, and `date`) as well as the following:
 `lot`
 :   include list of tables in LaTeX documents
 
+`bibliography`
+:   bibliography to use for resolving references
+
 `biblio-style`
 :   bibliography style in LaTeX, when used with `--natbib`
 
-`biblio-files`
-:   bibliography files to use in LaTeX, with `--natbib` or `--biblatex`
-
 `section`
 :   section number in man pages
 
diff --git a/pandoc.hs b/pandoc.hs
index 9023b2625..949bb17d2 100644
--- a/pandoc.hs
+++ b/pandoc.hs
@@ -751,9 +751,6 @@ options =
                   (\arg opt -> return opt{ optMetadata = addMetadata
                                              "bibliography" (readMetaValue arg)
                                              $ optMetadata opt
-                                         , optVariables =
-                                            ("biblio-files", dropExtension arg) :
-                                            optVariables opt
                                          })
                    "FILE")
                  ""