diff --git a/docs/configuration_file_basics.xml b/docs/configuration_file_basics.xml
index f08236e99..83ec204b1 100644
--- a/docs/configuration_file_basics.xml
+++ b/docs/configuration_file_basics.xml
@@ -697,9 +697,9 @@ SHELL cat /etc/shorewall/rules.d/*.rules</programlisting></para>
     </orderedlist>
 
     <note>
-      <para>Only the $VAR and ${VAR} forms of variable expansion are
-      supported. You may not use the more exotic forms supported by the shell
-      (${VAR:=val}, ${VAR:-val}, ...)</para>
+      <para>Within your configuration files, only the $VAR and ${VAR} forms of
+      variable expansion are supported. You may not use the more exotic forms
+      supported by the shell (${VAR:=val}, ${VAR:-val}, ...)</para>
     </note>
   </section>