diff --git a/packages/flutter/lib/src/widgets/automatic_keep_alive.dart b/packages/flutter/lib/src/widgets/automatic_keep_alive.dart
index e5573db4a98..dd729d8cfc8 100644
--- a/packages/flutter/lib/src/widgets/automatic_keep_alive.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter/lib/src/widgets/automatic_keep_alive.dart
@@ -400,6 +400,10 @@ mixin AutomaticKeepAliveClientMixin<T extends StatefulWidget> on State<T> {
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
     if (wantKeepAlive && _keepAliveHandle == null) {
       _ensureKeepAlive();
+      // Whenever wantKeepAlive's value changes (or might change), the
+      // subclass should call [updateKeepAlive].
+      // That will ensure that the keepalive is disabled (or enabled)
+      // without requiring a rebuild.
     }
     return const _NullWidget();
   }