diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index 96336babf0..a72c01c614 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -6987,10 +6987,19 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
         <glossentry id='var-SELECTED_OPTIMIZATION'><glossterm>SELECTED_OPTIMIZATION</glossterm>
             <glossdef>
                 <para>
-                    The variable takes the value of
+                    Specifies the optimization flags passed to the C compiler
+                    when building for the target.
+                    The flags are passed through the default
+                    <link linkend='var-TARGET_CFLAGS'><filename>TARGET_CFLAGS</filename></link>
+                    variable.
+                </para>
+
+                <para>
+                    The <filename>SELECTED_OPTIMIZATION</filename> variable
+                    takes the value of
                     <filename><link linkend='var-FULL_OPTIMIZATION'>FULL_OPTIMIZATION</link></filename>
                     unless <filename><link linkend='var-DEBUG_BUILD'>DEBUG_BUILD</link></filename> = "1".
-                    In this case the value of
+                    If that is the case, the value of
                     <filename><link linkend='var-DEBUG_OPTIMIZATION'>DEBUG_OPTIMIZATION</link></filename> is used.
                 </para>
             </glossdef>