diff --git a/man/tmpfiles.d.xml b/man/tmpfiles.d.xml
index 38999ec00e..971b7e6a9e 100644
--- a/man/tmpfiles.d.xml
+++ b/man/tmpfiles.d.xml
@@ -574,9 +574,10 @@ w- /proc/sys/vm/swappiness - - - - 10</programlisting></para>
       removed unless applied to a directory. This functionality is particularly useful in conjunction with
       <varname>Z</varname>.</para>
 
-      <para>Optionally, if prefixed with <literal>:</literal>, the configured access mode is only used when
-      creating new inodes. If the inode the line refers to already exists, its access mode is left in place
-      unmodified.</para>
+      <para>By default the access mode of listed inodes is set to the specified mode regardless if it is
+      created anew, or already existed. Optionally, if prefixed with <literal>:</literal>, the configured
+      access mode is only applied when creating new inodes, and if the inode the line refers to
+      already exists, its access mode is left in place unmodified.</para>
     </refsect2>
 
     <refsect2>
@@ -599,9 +600,10 @@ w- /proc/sys/vm/swappiness - - - - 10</programlisting></para>
       Resolvability of User and Group Names</ulink> for more information on requirements on system user/group
       definitions.</para>
 
-      <para>Optionally, if prefixed with <literal>:</literal>, the configured user/group information is only
-      used when creating new inodes. If the inode the line refers to already exists, its user/group is left
-      in place unmodified.</para>
+      <para>By default the ownership of listed inodes is set to the specified user/group regardless if it is
+      created anew, or already existed. Optionally, if prefixed with <literal>:</literal>, the configured
+      user/group information is only applied when creating new inodes, and if the inode the line refers to
+      already exists, its user/group is left in place unmodified.</para>
     </refsect2>
 
     <refsect2>