diff --git a/doc/contributing.texi b/doc/contributing.texi
index 535cfc2a6fd872a78322500cbff61cc560cfb9ab..c6b0ca523dae4b87ae9188e3e8471d3676ffb15e 100644
--- a/doc/contributing.texi
+++ b/doc/contributing.texi
@@ -121,8 +121,9 @@ more information.
 Then, run @command{./configure} as usual.  Make sure to pass
 @code{--localstatedir=@var{directory}} where @var{directory} is the
 @code{localstatedir} value used by your current installation (@pxref{The
-Store}, for information about this).  We recommend to use the value
-@code{/var}.
+Store}, for information about this), usually @file{/var}.  Note that you
+will probably not run @command{make install} at the end (you don't have
+to) but it's still important to pass the right @code{localstatedir}.
 
 Finally, you have to invoke @code{make check} to run tests
 (@pxref{Running the Test Suite}).  If anything