diff --git a/documentation/poky-ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/poky-ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index 50e3400ae5..163d1c02c9 100644
--- a/documentation/poky-ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/poky-ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -1420,8 +1420,8 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
                     <filename>local.conf</filename> file found in the 
                     <ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#build-directory'>Build Directory</ulink>.
                     By default, <filename>MACHINE</filename> is set to 
-                    "qemux86", which is a basic x86 architecture to be run on 
-                    the emulator (QEMU):
+                    "qemux86", which is an x86-based architecture machine to  
+                    be emulated using QEMU:
                     <literallayout class='monospaced'>
      MACHINE ?= "qemux86"
                     </literallayout> 
@@ -1435,9 +1435,8 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
                 </para>
                     
                 <para>
-                    The possible settings for <filename>MACHINE</filename> that ship with 
-                    the Yocto Project as defined in the <filename>local.conf</filename>
-                    include the following:
+                    The list of machines supported by the Yocto Project as 
+                    shipped include the following:
                     <literallayout class='monospaced'>
      MACHINE ?= "qemuarm"
      MACHINE ?= "qemumips"
@@ -1449,8 +1448,12 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
      MACHINE ?= "mpc8315e-rdb"
      MACHINE ?= "routerstationpro"
                     </literallayout>
-                    The last four are target machines for hardware boards used 
-                    for demonstration.
+                    The last four are Yocto Project reference hardware boards, which
+                    are provided in the <filename>meta-yocto-bsp</filename> layer.
+                    <note>Adding additional Board Support Package (BSP) layers 
+                        to your configuration adds new possible settings for
+                        <filename>MACHINE</filename>.
+                    </note>                    
                 </para>
             </glossdef>
          </glossentry>