diff --git a/documentation/dev-manual/dev-manual-common-tasks.xml b/documentation/dev-manual/dev-manual-common-tasks.xml
index b533e0d281..67d3ee2f23 100644
--- a/documentation/dev-manual/dev-manual-common-tasks.xml
+++ b/documentation/dev-manual/dev-manual-common-tasks.xml
@@ -3283,7 +3283,14 @@ the details.
                     the <filename>conf/distro</filename> directory of your
                     layer.
                     You need to name it using your distribution name
-                    (e.g. <filename>mydistro.conf</filename>).</para>
+                    (e.g. <filename>mydistro.conf</filename>).
+                    <note>
+                        The
+                        <ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_REF_URL;#var-DISTRO'><filename>DISTRO</filename></ulink>
+                        variable in your
+                        <filename>local.conf</filename> file determines the
+                        name of your distribution.
+                    </note></para>
                     <para>You can split out parts of your configuration file
                     into include files and then "require" them from within
                     your distribution configuration file.