diff --git a/conf/example.conf.base b/conf/example.conf.base
index e4f476136..5c498998f 100644
--- a/conf/example.conf.base
+++ b/conf/example.conf.base
@@ -4,6 +4,17 @@
 #
 # Refer to 'man lvm.conf' for further information including the file layout.
 #
+# Refer to 'man lvm.conf' for information about how settings configured in
+# this file are combined with built-in values and command line options to
+# arrive at the final values used by LVM.
+#
+# Refer to 'man lvmconfig' for information about displaying the built-in
+# and configured values used by LVM.
+#
+# If a default value is set in this file (not commented out), then a
+# new version of LVM using this file will continue using that value,
+# even if the new version of LVM changes the built-in default value.
+#
 # To put this file in a different directory and override @DEFAULT_SYS_DIR@ set
 # the environment variable LVM_SYSTEM_DIR before running the tools.
 #