diff --git a/Documentation/diff-options.txt b/Documentation/diff-options.txt
index f12082e134..da1cc60e97 100644
--- a/Documentation/diff-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/diff-options.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@
 --numstat::
 	Similar to \--stat, but shows number of added and
 	deleted lines in decimal notation and pathname without
-	abbreviation, to make it more machine friendly.
+	abbreviation, to make it more machine friendly.  For
+	binary files, outputs two `-` instead of saying
+	`0 0`.
 
 --shortstat::
 	Output only the last line of the --stat format containing total
diff --git a/Documentation/git-apply.txt b/Documentation/git-apply.txt
index 2cc32d1c5e..33b93db508 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-apply.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-apply.txt
@@ -33,8 +33,9 @@ OPTIONS
 --numstat::
 	Similar to \--stat, but shows number of added and
 	deleted lines in decimal notation and pathname without
-	abbreviation, to make it more machine friendly.  Turns
-	off "apply".
+	abbreviation, to make it more machine friendly.  For
+	binary files, outputs two `-` instead of saying
+	`0 0`.  Turns off "apply".
 
 --summary::
 	Instead of applying the patch, output a condensed