diff --git a/MANUAL.txt b/MANUAL.txt
index 63147accd..e2bb76cae 100644
--- a/MANUAL.txt
+++ b/MANUAL.txt
@@ -642,7 +642,8 @@ General writer options
 :   Produce output with an appropriate header and footer (e.g. a
     standalone HTML, LaTeX, TEI, or RTF file, not a fragment).  This option
     is set automatically for `pdf`, `epub`, `epub3`, `fb2`, `docx`, and `odt`
-    output.
+    output.  For `native` output, this option causes metadata to
+    be included; otherwise, metadata is suppressed.
 
 `--template=`*FILE*