diff --git a/reference/mongo/mongocollection/insert.xml b/reference/mongo/mongocollection/insert.xml
index 64115e3f6b..cca455f227 100644
--- a/reference/mongo/mongocollection/insert.xml
+++ b/reference/mongo/mongocollection/insert.xml
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@
    <methodparam><type>array</type><parameter>a</parameter></methodparam>
    <methodparam choice="opt"><type>array</type><parameter>options</parameter><initializer>array()</initializer></methodparam>
   </methodsynopsis>
+  <para>
+   All strings sent to the database must be UTF-8.  If a string is not UTF-8, a 
+   <classname>MongoException</classname> will be thrown.  To insert 
+   (or query for) a non-UTF-8 string, use <classname>MongoBinData</classname>.
+  </para>
  </refsect1>
 
  <refsect1 role="parameters">