diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index 8c7af49922..cda645f195 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -1113,7 +1113,7 @@ derivations as Scheme objects, along with procedures to create and
 otherwise manipulate derivations.  The lowest-level primitive to create
 a derivation is the @code{derivation} procedure:
 
-@deffn {Scheme Procedure} derivation @var{store} @var{name} @var{builder} @var{args} [#:outputs '("out")] [#:hash #f] [#:hash-algo #f] [#:hash-mode #f] [#:inputs '()] [#:env-vars '()] [#:system (%current-system)] [#:dependency-graphs #f]
+@deffn {Scheme Procedure} derivation @var{store} @var{name} @var{builder} @var{args} [#:outputs '("out")] [#:hash #f] [#:hash-algo #f] [#:hash-mode #f] [#:inputs '()] [#:env-vars '()] [#:system (%current-system)] [#:references-graphs #f]
 Build a derivation with the given arguments.  Return the resulting store
 path and @code{<derivation>} object.
 
@@ -1121,7 +1121,7 @@ When @var{hash}, @var{hash-algo}, and @var{hash-mode} are given, a
 @dfn{fixed-output derivation} is created---i.e., one whose result is
 known in advance, such as a file download.
 
-When @var{dependency-graphs} is true, it must be a list of file
+When @var{references-graphs} is true, it must be a list of file
 name/store path pairs.  In that case, the reference graph of each store
 path is exported in the build environment in the corresponding file, in
 a simple text format.
@@ -1153,7 +1153,7 @@ As can be guessed, this primitive is cumbersome to use directly.  An
 improved variant is @code{build-expression->derivation}, which allows
 the caller to directly pass a Guile expression as the build script:
 
-@deffn {Scheme Procedure} build-expression->derivation @var{store} @var{name} @var{system} @var{exp} @var{inputs} [#:outputs '("out")] [#:hash #f] [#:hash-algo #f] [#:env-vars '()] [#:modules '()] [#:dependency-graphs #f] [#:guile-for-build #f]
+@deffn {Scheme Procedure} build-expression->derivation @var{store} @var{name} @var{system} @var{exp} @var{inputs} [#:outputs '("out")] [#:hash #f] [#:hash-algo #f] [#:env-vars '()] [#:modules '()] [#:references-graphs #f] [#:guile-for-build #f]
 Return a derivation that executes Scheme expression @var{exp} as a
 builder for derivation @var{name}.  @var{inputs} must be a list of
 @code{(name drv-path sub-drv)} tuples; when @var{sub-drv} is omitted,
@@ -1175,7 +1175,7 @@ terminates by passing the result of @var{exp} to @code{exit}; thus, when
 @var{guile-for-build} is omitted or is @code{#f}, the value of the
 @code{%guile-for-build} fluid is used instead.
 
-See the @code{derivation} procedure for the meaning of @var{dependency-graphs}.
+See the @code{derivation} procedure for the meaning of @var{references-graphs}.
 @end deffn
 
 @noindent
diff --git a/guix/derivations.scm b/guix/derivations.scm
index 56a5466d9d..59a3957149 100644
--- a/guix/derivations.scm
+++ b/guix/derivations.scm
@@ -502,13 +502,13 @@ the derivation called NAME with hash HASH."
                      (system (%current-system)) (env-vars '())
                      (inputs '()) (outputs '("out"))
                      hash hash-algo hash-mode
-                     dependency-graphs)
+                     references-graphs)
   "Build a derivation with the given arguments.  Return the resulting
 store path and <derivation> object.  When HASH, HASH-ALGO, and HASH-MODE
 are given, a fixed-output derivation is created---i.e., one whose result is
 known in advance, such as a file download.
 
-When DEPENDENCY-GRAPHS is true, it must be a list of file name/store path
+When REFERENCES-GRAPHS is true, it must be a list of file name/store path
 pairs.  In that case, the reference graph of each store path is exported in
 the build environment in the corresponding file, in a simple text format."
   (define direct-store-path?
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ the build environment in the corresponding file, in a simple text format."
     ;; Some options are passed to the build daemon via the env. vars of
     ;; derivations (urgh!).  We hide that from our API, but here is the place
     ;; where we kludgify those options.
-    (match dependency-graphs
+    (match references-graphs
       (((file . path) ...)
        (let ((value (map (cut string-append <> " " <>)
                          file path)))
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ they can refer to each other."
                                        (env-vars '())
                                        (modules '())
                                        guile-for-build
-                                       dependency-graphs)
+                                       references-graphs)
   "Return a derivation that executes Scheme expression EXP as a builder
 for derivation NAME.  INPUTS must be a list of (NAME DRV-PATH SUB-DRV)
 tuples; when SUB-DRV is omitted, \"out\" is assumed.  MODULES is a list
@@ -763,7 +763,7 @@ EXP returns #f, the build is considered to have failed.
 EXP is built using GUILE-FOR-BUILD (a derivation).  When GUILE-FOR-BUILD is
 omitted or is #f, the value of the `%guile-for-build' fluid is used instead.
 
-See the `derivation' procedure for the meaning of DEPENDENCY-GRAPHS."
+See the `derivation' procedure for the meaning of REFERENCES-GRAPHS."
   (define guile-drv
     (or guile-for-build (%guile-for-build)))
 
@@ -881,4 +881,4 @@ See the `derivation' procedure for the meaning of DEPENDENCY-GRAPHS."
 
                 #:hash hash #:hash-algo hash-algo
                 #:outputs outputs
-                #:dependency-graphs dependency-graphs)))
+                #:references-graphs references-graphs)))
diff --git a/tests/derivations.scm b/tests/derivations.scm
index f9e6c28ec8..9092e3acd6 100644
--- a/tests/derivations.scm
+++ b/tests/derivations.scm
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@
            (and (valid-path? %store p)
                 (equal? '(one two) (call-with-input-file p read)))))))
 
-(test-assert "derivation with #:dependency-graphs"
+(test-assert "derivation with #:references-graphs"
   (let* ((input1  (add-text-to-store %store "foo" "hello"
                                      (list %bash)))
          (input2  (add-text-to-store %store "bar"
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@
                                      (list %mkdir)))
          (drv     (derivation %store "closure-graphs"
                               %bash `(,builder)
-                              #:dependency-graphs
+                              #:references-graphs
                               `(("bash" . ,%bash)
                                 ("input1" . ,input1)
                                 ("input2" . ,input2))
@@ -652,14 +652,14 @@ Deriver: ~a~%"
                    (derivation-path->output-path final2))
          (build-derivations %store (list final1 final2)))))
 
-(test-assert "build-expression->derivation with #:dependency-graphs"
+(test-assert "build-expression->derivation with #:references-graphs"
   (let* ((input   (add-text-to-store %store "foo" "hello"
                                      (list %bash %mkdir)))
          (builder '(copy-file "input" %output))
-         (drv     (build-expression->derivation %store "dependency-graphs"
+         (drv     (build-expression->derivation %store "references-graphs"
                                                 (%current-system)
                                                 builder '()
-                                                #:dependency-graphs
+                                                #:references-graphs
                                                 `(("input" . ,input))))
          (out     (derivation-path->output-path drv)))
     (define (deps path . deps)