diff --git a/src/core/system.conf.in b/src/core/system.conf.in
index 812531fe8b..fd7e9e4647 100644
--- a/src/core/system.conf.in
+++ b/src/core/system.conf.in
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
 # should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
-# /etc if the original file is shipped in /usr), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
 # /etc/systemd/system.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally recommended.
 # Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main configuration file and
 # all drop-ins located in /etc.
diff --git a/src/core/user.conf.in b/src/core/user.conf.in
index a445dff5d0..14f0eae7f8 100644
--- a/src/core/user.conf.in
+++ b/src/core/user.conf.in
@@ -6,9 +6,13 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the user.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/user.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally recommended.
+# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main configuration file and
+# all drop-ins located in /etc/.
+#
+# Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/user.conf' to display the full config.
 #
 # See systemd-user.conf(5) for details.
 
diff --git a/src/coredump/coredump.conf b/src/coredump/coredump.conf
index 8d52d8ded7..ae341e40d7 100644
--- a/src/coredump/coredump.conf
+++ b/src/coredump/coredump.conf
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the coredump.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/coredump.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally
+# recommended. Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main
+# configuration file and all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/coredump.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/home/homed.conf b/src/home/homed.conf
index d3a685e816..993122ba7b 100644
--- a/src/home/homed.conf
+++ b/src/home/homed.conf
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the homed.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/homed.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally
+# recommended. Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main
+# configuration file and all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/homed.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/journal-remote/journal-remote.conf.in b/src/journal-remote/journal-remote.conf.in
index 297710af13..e517569a6b 100644
--- a/src/journal-remote/journal-remote.conf.in
+++ b/src/journal-remote/journal-remote.conf.in
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the journal-remote.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/journal-remote.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally
+# recommended. Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main
+# configuration file and all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/journal-remote.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/journal-remote/journal-upload.conf.in b/src/journal-remote/journal-upload.conf.in
index dd3743c226..41c53b6310 100644
--- a/src/journal-remote/journal-upload.conf.in
+++ b/src/journal-remote/journal-upload.conf.in
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the journal-upload.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/journal-upload.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally
+# recommended. Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main
+# configuration file and all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/journal-upload.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/journal/journald.conf b/src/journal/journald.conf
index 5a60a9d39c..7b9e23205e 100644
--- a/src/journal/journald.conf
+++ b/src/journal/journald.conf
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the journald.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally
+# recommended. Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main
+# configuration file and all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/journald.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/login/logind.conf.in b/src/login/logind.conf.in
index 0b10df6839..e5fe924681 100644
--- a/src/login/logind.conf.in
+++ b/src/login/logind.conf.in
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the logind.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/logind.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally
+# recommended. Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main
+# configuration file and all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/logind.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/network/networkd.conf b/src/network/networkd.conf
index 2000eac4ab..e5a5e88926 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd.conf
+++ b/src/network/networkd.conf
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the networkd.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/networkd.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally
+# recommended. Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main
+# configuration file and all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/networkd.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/oom/oomd.conf b/src/oom/oomd.conf
index b3a457f887..1c8fa7684d 100644
--- a/src/oom/oomd.conf
+++ b/src/oom/oomd.conf
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the oomd.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/oomd.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally recommended.
+# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main configuration file and
+# all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/oomd.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/pstore/pstore.conf b/src/pstore/pstore.conf
index f43924b0cb..22b18b586f 100644
--- a/src/pstore/pstore.conf
+++ b/src/pstore/pstore.conf
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the pstore.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/pstore.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally
+# recommended. Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main
+# configuration file and all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/pstore.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/resolve/resolved.conf.in b/src/resolve/resolved.conf.in
index f003574ac5..0031b156b1 100644
--- a/src/resolve/resolved.conf.in
+++ b/src/resolve/resolved.conf.in
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the resolved.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally
+# recommended. Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main
+# configuration file and all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/resolved.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/sleep/sleep.conf b/src/sleep/sleep.conf
index 9fa44a4763..8428821b52 100644
--- a/src/sleep/sleep.conf
+++ b/src/sleep/sleep.conf
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the sleep.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/sleep.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally
+# recommended. Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main
+# configuration file and all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/sleep.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/timesync/timesyncd.conf.in b/src/timesync/timesyncd.conf.in
index b110be5920..6ef41cf0c5 100644
--- a/src/timesync/timesyncd.conf.in
+++ b/src/timesync/timesyncd.conf.in
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file, or by creating "drop-ins" in
-# the timesyncd.conf.d/ subdirectory. The latter is generally recommended.
-# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting this file and all drop-ins.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/systemd/timesyncd.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally
+# recommended. Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main
+# configuration file and all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config systemd/timesyncd.conf' to display the full config.
 #
diff --git a/src/udev/iocost/iocost.conf b/src/udev/iocost/iocost.conf
index 394ea349ee..c0eeea3635 100644
--- a/src/udev/iocost/iocost.conf
+++ b/src/udev/iocost/iocost.conf
@@ -6,8 +6,11 @@
 #  any later version.
 #
 # Entries in this file show the compile time defaults. Local configuration
-# should be created by either modifying this file. Defaults can be restored by
-# simply deleting this file.
+# should be created by either modifying this file (or a copy of it placed in
+# /etc/ if the original file is shipped in /usr/), or by creating "drop-ins" in
+# the /etc/udev/iocost.conf.d/ directory. The latter is generally recommended.
+# Defaults can be restored by simply deleting the main configuration file and
+# all drop-ins located in /etc/.
 #
 # Use 'systemd-analyze cat-config udev/iocost.conf' to display the full config.
 #