diff --git a/doc/stdenv.xml b/doc/stdenv.xml
index 9ed9a448c614..e1e8090dcb89 100644
--- a/doc/stdenv.xml
+++ b/doc/stdenv.xml
@@ -2421,12 +2421,31 @@ addEnvHooks "$hostOffset" myBashFunction
       <para>
        This is a special setup hook which helps in packaging proprietary
        software in that it automatically tries to find missing shared library
-       dependencies of ELF files. All packages within the
-       <envar>runtimeDependencies</envar> environment variable are
-       unconditionally added to executables, which is useful for programs that
-       use <citerefentry>
-       <refentrytitle>dlopen</refentrytitle>
-       <manvolnum>3</manvolnum> </citerefentry> to load libraries at runtime.
+       dependencies of ELF files based on the given
+       <varname>buildInputs</varname> and <varname>nativeBuildInputs</varname>.
+      </para>
+      <para>
+       You can also specify a <envar>runtimeDependencies</envar> environment
+       variable which lists dependencies that are unconditionally added to all
+       executables.
+      </para>
+      <para>
+       This is useful for programs that use <citerefentry>
+        <refentrytitle>dlopen</refentrytitle>
+        <manvolnum>3</manvolnum>
+       </citerefentry> to load libraries at runtime.
+      </para>
+      <para>
+        In certain situations you may want to run the main command
+        (<command>autoPatchelf</command>) of the setup hook on a file or a set
+        of directories instead of unconditionally patching all outputs. This
+        can be done by setting the <envar>dontAutoPatchelf</envar> environment
+        variable to a non-empty value.
+      </para>
+      <para>
+        The <command>autoPatchelf</command> command also recognizes a
+        <parameter class="command">--no-recurse</parameter> command line flag,
+        which prevents it from recursing into subdirectories.
       </para>
      </listitem>
     </varlistentry>