diff --git a/doc/example.conf.in b/doc/example.conf.in
index f7344bbbe..7f94223ea 100644
--- a/doc/example.conf.in
+++ b/doc/example.conf.in
@@ -569,15 +569,21 @@ activation {
 
     # If volume_list is defined, each LV is only activated if there is a
     # match against the list.
+    #
     #   "vgname" and "vgname/lvname" are matched exactly.
     #   "@tag" matches any tag set in the LV or VG.
     #   "@*" matches if any tag defined on the host is also set in the LV or VG
     #
+    # If any host tags exist but volume_list is not defined, a default
+    # single-entry list containing "@*" is assumed.
+    #
     # volume_list = [ "vg1", "vg2/lvol1", "@tag1", "@*" ]
 
     # If auto_activation_volume_list is defined, each LV that is to be
-    # activated is checked against the list while using the autoactivation
-    # option (--activate ay/-a ay), and if it matches, it is activated.
+    # activated with the autoactivation option (--activate ay/-a ay)
+    # is first checked against the list.  If it does not match, the LV
+    # is not activated.  This list is checked as well as volume_list.
+    #
     #   "vgname" and "vgname/lvname" are matched exactly.
     #   "@tag" matches any tag set in the LV or VG.
     #   "@*" matches if any tag defined on the host is also set in the LV or VG
@@ -588,6 +594,7 @@ activation {
     # is checked against the list, and if it matches, it as activated
     # in read-only mode.  (This overrides '--permission rw' stored in the
     # metadata.)
+    #
     #   "vgname" and "vgname/lvname" are matched exactly.
     #   "@tag" matches any tag set in the LV or VG.
     #   "@*" matches if any tag defined on the host is also set in the LV or VG
diff --git a/man/lvm.conf.5.in b/man/lvm.conf.5.in
index 718cf4ddc..5592f3428 100644
--- a/man/lvm.conf.5.in
+++ b/man/lvm.conf.5.in
@@ -447,6 +447,8 @@ metadata for a match.
 \fBtags\fP above).
 Logical volume and volume groups can also be included in the list
 by name e.g. vg00, vg00/lvol1.
+If this setting is not present but at least one host tag is defined
+then a default single-entry list containing @* is assumed.
 .IP
 \fBauto_activation_volume_list\fP \(em This acts as a filter through
 which all requests to autoactivate a logical volume on this machine