diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index a90a3a0272..958d2feb15 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -3024,6 +3024,27 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
             </glossdef>
         </glossentry>
 
+        <glossentry id='var-PATCHTOOL'><glossterm>PATCHTOOL</glossterm>
+            <glossdef>
+                <para>
+                    Specifies the utility used to apply patches for a recipe
+                    during <filename>do_patch</filename>.
+                    The default utility used is "quilt" except for the
+                    quilt-native recipe itself.
+                    Because the quilt-native recipe is not available at the
+                    time it is being patched, it uses "patch".
+                </para>
+
+                <para>
+                    If you wish to use an alternative patching tool, set the
+                    variable in the recipe:
+                    <literallayout class='monospaced'>
+     PATCHTOOL = "tool-name"
+                    </literallayout>
+                </para>
+            </glossdef>
+        </glossentry>
+
         <glossentry id='var-PF'><glossterm>PF</glossterm>
             <glossdef>
                 <para>Specifies the recipe or package name and includes all version and revision