diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst b/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
index 11523bb9e7..a3b774b540 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
@@ -1358,6 +1358,13 @@ system and gives an overview of their function and contents.
       speed since the build system skips parsing recipes not compatible
       with the current machine.
 
+      .. note::
+
+         When :term:`COMPATIBLE_MACHINE` is set in a recipe inherits from
+         native, the recipe is always skipped. All native recipes must be
+         entirely target independent and should not rely on :term:`MACHINE`.
+
+
    :term:`COMPLEMENTARY_GLOB`
       Defines wildcards to match when installing a list of complementary
       packages for all the packages explicitly (or implicitly) installed in