diff --git a/man/systemd.exec.xml b/man/systemd.exec.xml
index bacd539b15..56a029a82e 100644
--- a/man/systemd.exec.xml
+++ b/man/systemd.exec.xml
@@ -972,6 +972,15 @@ CapabilityBoundingSet=~CAP_B CAP_C</programlisting>
         configuration or lifetime guarantees, please consider using
         <citerefentry><refentrytitle>tmpfiles.d</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum></citerefentry>.</para>
 
+        <para>The directories defined by these options are always created under the standard paths used by systemd
+        (<filename>/var</filename>, <filename>/run</filename>, <filename>/etc</filename>, …). If the service needs
+        directories in a different location, a different mechanism has to be used to create them.</para>
+
+        <para><citerefentry><refentrytitle>tmpfiles.d</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum></citerefentry> provides
+        functionality that overlaps with these options. Using these options is recommended, because the lifetime of
+        the directories is tied directly to the lifetime of the unit, and it is not necessary to ensure that the
+        <filename>tmpfiles.d</filename> configuration is executed before the unit is started.</para>
+
         <para>Example: if a system service unit has the following,
         <programlisting>RuntimeDirectory=foo/bar baz</programlisting>
         the service manager creates <filename>/run/foo</filename> (if it does not exist),