diff --git a/autoload/ale/virtualtext.vim b/autoload/ale/virtualtext.vim
index 72bc8e6f..1f4d1fde 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/virtualtext.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/virtualtext.vim
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ let g:ale_virtualtext_delay = get(g:, 'ale_virtualtext_delay', 10)
 " Controls the positioning of virtualtext
 let g:ale_virtualtext_column = get(g:, 'ale_virtualtext_column', 0)
 let g:ale_virtualtext_maxcolumn = get(g:, 'ale_virtualtext_maxcolumn', 0)
-let g:ale_virtualtext_single = get(g:,'ale_virtualtext_single',0)
+" If 1, only show the first problem with virtualtext.
+let g:ale_virtualtext_single = get(g:, 'ale_virtualtext_single', 1)
 
 let s:cursor_timer = get(s:, 'cursor_timer', -1)
 let s:last_pos = get(s:, 'last_pos', [0, 0, 0])
diff --git a/doc/ale.txt b/doc/ale.txt
index dff7ffa0..2b73337c 100644
--- a/doc/ale.txt
+++ b/doc/ale.txt
@@ -2434,16 +2434,18 @@ g:ale_virtualtext_maxcolumn                       *g:ale_virtualtext_maxcolumn*
 g:ale_virtualtext_single                             *g:ale_virtualtext_single*
                                                      *b:ale_virtualtext_single*
   Type: |Number|
-  Default: `0`
+  Default: `1`
 
   This setting has no effect when |g:ale_use_neovim_diagnostics_api| is `1`.
 
-  Enable or disable concatenation of multiple virtualtext messages on a single
-  line.  By default, if a line has multiple errors or warnings, each will be
+  Enable or disable concatenation of multiple virtual text messages on a single
+  line. By default, if a line has multiple errors or warnings, each will be
   appended in turn.
 
-  With `single` set to a non-zero value, only the first message appears.
-  (No attempt is made to prefer message types such as errors over warnings)
+  With `single` set to a non-zero value, only the first problem on a line will
+  be printed with virtual text. The problem at the left-most position on a
+  line will be printed. If two problems exist at the same position, the most
+  severe problem will be printed.
 
 
 g:ale_virtualenv_dir_names                         *g:ale_virtualenv_dir_names*
diff --git a/test/test_virtualtext.vader b/test/test_virtualtext.vader
index 40a2b749..25965f50 100644
--- a/test/test_virtualtext.vader
+++ b/test/test_virtualtext.vader
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ Before:
   Save g:ale_buffer_info
   Save g:ale_virtualtext_cursor
   Save g:ale_virtualtext_delay
+  Save g:ale_virtualtext_single
   Save g:ale_virtualtext_prefix
   Save b:ale_virtualtext_prefix
   Save g:ale_use_neovim_diagnostics_api
@@ -9,7 +10,9 @@ Before:
   call ale#virtualtext#ResetDataForTests()
 
   let g:setting = ''
+  let g:ale_virtualtext_prefix = '%comment% %type%: '
   let g:ale_virtualtext_delay = 0
+  let g:ale_virtualtext_single = 0
   let g:ale_buffer_info = {
   \ bufnr(''): {
   \   'loclist': [
@@ -167,6 +170,21 @@ Execute(We should set errors across all lines):
     endif
   endif
 
+Execute(We should be able to limit virtual messages to the first one only):
+  let g:ale_virtualtext_single = 1
+
+  if has('patch-9.0.0297') || has('nvim-0.8.0')
+    call ale#virtualtext#SetTexts(bufnr(''), g:ale_buffer_info[bufnr('')].loclist)
+
+    AssertEqual '# W: Line 2 warning 1', ale#virtualtext#GetLastMessageForTests()
+
+    if has('patch-9.0.0297')
+      AssertEqual ['ALEVirtualTextError'], map(prop_list(1), {_, v -> v.type})
+      AssertEqual ['ALEVirtualTextWarning'],
+      \ map(prop_list(2), {_, v -> v.type})
+    endif
+  endif
+
 Execute(We should not set cursor messages when Neovim diagnostics are enabled):
   let g:ale_use_neovim_diagnostics_api = 1