diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index cfabb0897f..d42ab01861 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -7830,8 +7830,11 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
                     <link linkend='oe-core'>OpenEmbedded Core</link> project
                     for which a layer is compatible.
                     Using the <filename>LAYERSERIES_COMPAT</filename> variable
-                    makes it clear when a given layer is unmaintained and
-                    untested with new releases of OE-Core.
+                    allows the layer maintainer to indicate which combinations
+                    of the layer and OE-Core can be expected to work.
+                    The variable gives the system a way to detect when a layer
+                    has not been tested with new releases of OE-Core (e.g.
+                    the layer is not maintained).
                 </para>
 
                 <para>
@@ -7850,8 +7853,8 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
                         Setting <filename>LAYERSERIES_COMPAT</filename> is
                         required by the Yocto Project Compatible version 2
                         standard.
-                        The OpenEmbedded build system, however, does not
-                        produce an error if the variable is not set.
+                        The OpenEmbedded build system produces a warning if
+                        the variable is not set for any given layer.
                     </note>
                 </para>