diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index 81c80f3222..210d15099f 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -5734,8 +5734,14 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
         <glossentry id='var-PYTHON_ABI'><glossterm>PYTHON_ABI</glossterm>
             <glossdef>
                 <para>
-                    Denotes the Application Binary Interface (ABI) currently
-                    in use for Python.
+                    When used by recipes that inherit the
+                    <link linkend='ref-classes-distutils3'><filename>distutils3</filename></link>,
+                    <link linkend='ref-classes-setuptools3'><filename>setuptools3</filename></link>,
+                    <link linkend='ref-classes-distutils'><filename>distutils</filename></link>,
+                    or
+                    <link linkend='ref-classes-setuptools'><filename>setuptools</filename></link>
+                    classes, denotes the Application Binary Interface (ABI)
+                    currently in use for Python.
                     By default, the ABI is "m".
                     You do not have to set this variable as the OpenEmbedded
                     build system sets it for you.
@@ -5761,7 +5767,13 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
         <glossentry id='var-PYTHON_PN'><glossterm>PYTHON_PN</glossterm>
             <glossdef>
                 <para>
-                    Specifies the major Python version being built.
+                    When used by recipes that inherit the
+                    <link linkend='ref-classes-distutils3'><filename>distutils3</filename></link>,
+                    <link linkend='ref-classes-setuptools3'><filename>setuptools3</filename></link>,
+                    <link linkend='ref-classes-distutils'><filename>distutils</filename></link>,
+                    or
+                    <link linkend='ref-classes-setuptools'><filename>setuptools</filename></link>
+                    classes, specifies the major Python version being built.
                     For Python 2.x, <filename>PYTHON_PN</filename> would
                     be "python2".  For Python 3.x, the variable would be
                     "python3".