diff --git a/doc/emacs/misc.texi b/doc/emacs/misc.texi
index ae6f9446f28..cfc689e4641 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/misc.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/misc.texi
@@ -2434,6 +2434,11 @@ To disable this, set @code{desktop-restore-frames} to @code{nil}.
 (See that variable's documentation for some related options
 that you can customize to fine-tune this behavior.)
 
+@vindex desktop-files-not-to-save
+Information about buffers visiting remote files is not saved by
+default.  Customize the variable @code{desktop-files-not-to-save} to
+change this.
+
 @vindex frameset-filter-alist
    When the desktop restores the frame and window configuration, it
 uses the recorded values of frame parameters, disregarding any
diff --git a/lisp/desktop.el b/lisp/desktop.el
index 069d273d1d1..b98319bdcf5 100644
--- a/lisp/desktop.el
+++ b/lisp/desktop.el
@@ -393,7 +393,8 @@ or `desktop-modes-not-to-save'."
 ;; Skip tramp and ange-ftp files
 (defcustom desktop-files-not-to-save
   "\\(^/[^/:]*:\\|(ftp)$\\)"
-  "Regexp identifying files whose buffers are to be excluded from saving."
+  "Regexp identifying files whose buffers are to be excluded from saving.
+The default value excludes buffers visiting remote files."
   :type '(choice (const :tag "None" nil)
 		 regexp)
   :group 'desktop)