diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index 34ca4094f5..d592fbe3df 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -4639,6 +4639,24 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
             </glossdef>
         </glossentry>
 
+        <glossentry id='var-REQUIRED_DISTRO_FEATURES'><glossterm>REQUIRED_DISTRO_FEATURES</glossterm>
+            <glossdef>
+                <para>
+                    When a recipe inherits the
+                    <filename>distro_features_check</filename> class, this
+                    variable identifies distribution features that must
+                    exist in the current configuration in order for the
+                    OpenEmbedded build system to build the recipe.
+                    In other words, if the
+                    <filename>REQUIRED_DISTRO_FEATURES</filename> variable
+                    lists a feature that does not appear in
+                    <filename>DISTRO_FEATURES</filename> within the
+                    current configuration, an error occurs and the
+                    build stops.
+                </para>
+            </glossdef>
+        </glossentry>
+
         <glossentry id='var-RM_OLD_IMAGE'><glossterm>RM_OLD_IMAGE</glossterm>
             <glossdef>
                 <para>