diff --git a/docs/manual/adding-packages-generic.txt b/docs/manual/adding-packages-generic.txt
index 0e111e1199..a08283c5a3 100644
--- a/docs/manual/adding-packages-generic.txt
+++ b/docs/manual/adding-packages-generic.txt
@@ -317,11 +317,12 @@ information is (assuming the package name is +libfoo+) :
      the package source code. Buildroot copies the contents of the
      source directory into the package's build directory.
 
-* +LIBFOO_GIT_SUBMODULES+, when +LIBFOO_SITE_METHOD=git+, will create
-  an archive with the git submodules in the repository.
-  Note that we try not to use such git submodules when they contain
-  bundled libraries, in which case we prefer to use those libraries
-  from their own package.
+* +LIBFOO_GIT_SUBMODULES+ can be set to +YES+ to create an archive
+  with the git submodules in the repository.  This is only available
+  for packages downloaded with git (i.e. when
+  +LIBFOO_SITE_METHOD=git+).  Note that we try not to use such git
+  submodules when they contain bundled libraries, in which case we
+  prefer to use those libraries from their own package.
 
 * +LIBFOO_STRIP_COMPONENTS+ is the number of leading components
   (directories) that tar must strip from file names on extraction.