diff --git a/webapp/components/channel_info_modal.jsx b/webapp/components/channel_info_modal.jsx
index fce4b75db9..4829d1dd9d 100644
--- a/webapp/components/channel_info_modal.jsx
+++ b/webapp/components/channel_info_modal.jsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // See License.txt for license information.
 
 import * as Utils from 'utils/utils.jsx';
+import Constants from 'utils/constants.jsx';
 
 import {FormattedMessage} from 'react-intl';
 import {Modal} from 'react-bootstrap';
@@ -47,9 +48,21 @@ export default class ChannelInfoModal extends React.Component {
 
         const channelURL = TeamStore.getCurrentTeamUrl() + '/channels/' + channel.name;
 
-        let channelPurpose = null;
+        let channelPurpose;
         if (channel.purpose) {
+            channelPurpose = channel.purpose;
+        } else if (channel.name === Constants.DEFAULT_CHANNEL) {
             channelPurpose = (
+                <FormattedMessage
+                    id='default_channel.purpose'
+                    defaultMessage='Post messages here that you want everyone to see. Everyone automatically becomes a permanent member of this channel when they join the team.'
+                />
+            );
+        }
+
+        let channelPurposeElement;
+        if (channelPurpose) {
+            channelPurposeElement = (
                 <div className='form-group'>
                     <div className='info__label'>
                         <FormattedMessage
@@ -57,7 +70,7 @@ export default class ChannelInfoModal extends React.Component {
                             defaultMessage='Purpose:'
                         />
                     </div>
-                    <div className='info__value'>{channel.purpose}</div>
+                    <div className='info__value'>{channelPurpose}</div>
                 </div>
             );
         }
@@ -97,7 +110,7 @@ export default class ChannelInfoModal extends React.Component {
                     </Modal.Title>
                 </Modal.Header>
                 <Modal.Body ref='modalBody'>
-                    {channelPurpose}
+                    {channelPurposeElement}
                     {channelHeader}
                     <div className='form-group'>
                         <div className='info__label'>
diff --git a/webapp/i18n/en.json b/webapp/i18n/en.json
index 68b898e7ea..07cccd65c9 100755
--- a/webapp/i18n/en.json
+++ b/webapp/i18n/en.json
@@ -1227,6 +1227,7 @@
   "custom_emoji.empty": "No custom emoji found",
   "custom_emoji.header": "Custom Emoji",
   "custom_emoji.search": "Search Custom Emoji",
+  "default_channel.purpose": "Post messages here that you want everyone to see. Everyone automatically becomes a permanent member of this channel when they join the team.",
   "delete_channel.cancel": "Cancel",
   "delete_channel.channel": "channel",
   "delete_channel.confirm": "Confirm DELETE Channel",
@@ -1528,7 +1529,7 @@
   "intro_messages.beginning": "Beginning of {name}",
   "intro_messages.channel": "channel",
   "intro_messages.creator": "This is the start of the {name} {type}, created by {creator} on {date}.",
-  "intro_messages.default": "<h4 class='channel-intro__title'>Beginning of {display_name}</h4><p class='channel-intro__content'><strong>Welcome to {display_name}!</strong><br/><br/>This is the first channel teammates see when they sign up - use it for posting updates everyone needs to know.</p>",
+  "intro_messages.default": "<h4 class='channel-intro__title'>Beginning of {display_name}</h4><p class='channel-intro__content'><strong>Welcome to {display_name}!</strong><br/><br/>Post messages here that you want everyone to see. Everyone automatically becomes a permanent member of this channel when they join the team.</p>",
   "intro_messages.group": "private group",
   "intro_messages.invite": "Invite others to this {type}",
   "intro_messages.inviteOthers": "Invite others to this team",