diff --git a/installer/data/mysql/atomicupdate/bug_31391_-_update_UseRecalls_syspref.pl b/installer/data/mysql/atomicupdate/bug_31391_-_update_UseRecalls_syspref.pl
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..74887002ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/installer/data/mysql/atomicupdate/bug_31391_-_update_UseRecalls_syspref.pl
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+use Modern::Perl;
+use Koha::Installer::Output qw(say_warning say_failure say_success say_info);
+
+return {
+    bug_number  => "31391",
+    description => "Staff-side recalls",
+    up          => sub {
+        my ($args) = @_;
+        my ( $dbh, $out ) = @$args{qw(dbh out)};
+        try {
+            $dbh->do(q{UPDATE systempreferences SET value = "off" WHERE variable = "UseRecalls" AND value = "0"});
+            $dbh->do(q{UPDATE systempreferences SET value = "opac" WHERE variable = "UseRecalls" AND value = "1"});
+            say_success( $out, "Updated system preference 'UseRecalls' to describe interface choice instead of YesNo" );
+        } catch {
+            say_failure( $out, "Database modification failed with errors: $_" );
+        };
+    },
+};
diff --git a/installer/data/mysql/mandatory/sysprefs.sql b/installer/data/mysql/mandatory/sysprefs.sql
index d513d59912..4bdc353f6a 100644
--- a/installer/data/mysql/mandatory/sysprefs.sql
+++ b/installer/data/mysql/mandatory/sysprefs.sql
@@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ INSERT INTO systempreferences ( `variable`, `value` ) VALUES
 ('UseLibraryFloatLimits', '0'),
 ('UseLocationAsAQInSIP', '0'),
 ('UseOCLCEncodingLevels','0'),
-('UseRecalls','0'),
+('UseRecalls','off'),
 ('UseTransportCostMatrix','0'),
 ('UseWYSIWYGinSystemPreferences','0'),
 ('viewISBD','1'),
diff --git a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/admin/preferences/circulation.pref b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/admin/preferences/circulation.pref
index 3ad9402d48..b8e32d335d 100644
--- a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/admin/preferences/circulation.pref
+++ b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/admin/preferences/circulation.pref
@@ -1587,11 +1587,14 @@ Circulation:
               class: integer
             - days.
         -
+            - Recalls
             - pref: UseRecalls
               choices:
-                  1: Use
-                  0: "Don't use"
-            - recalls. Make sure you configure <a href="/cgi-bin/koha/admin/smart-rules.pl">circulation and fine rules</a> for recalls once enabled.
+                  off: are disabled
+                  opac: can be placed through the OPAC only
+                  staff: can be placed through the staff interface only
+                  opac_and_staff: can be placed through both the OPAC and staff interface
+            - . Make sure you configure <a href="/cgi-bin/koha/admin/smart-rules.pl">circulation and fine rules</a> for recalls once enabled.
 
     SIP2:
         -