diff --git a/reference/info/functions/getopt.xml b/reference/info/functions/getopt.xml
index cd3da941f1..d4b2013c17 100644
--- a/reference/info/functions/getopt.xml
+++ b/reference/info/functions/getopt.xml
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@
     <member>Characters followed by a colon (parameter requires value)</member>
     <member>Characters followed by two colons (optional value)</member>
    </simplelist>
-   Option values are the first argument after the string. It does not matter
-   if a value has leading white space or not.
+   Option values are the first argument after the string. If a value is required,
+   it does not matter whether the value has leading white space or not. See note.
    <note>
     <simpara>
      Optional values do not accept <literal>" "</literal> (space) as a separator.