diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst b/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
index 6cb9ad9c9e..5f6f91146b 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/variables.rst
@@ -3587,6 +3587,12 @@ system and gives an overview of their function and contents.
       :term:`CONFIG_INITRAMFS_SOURCE` kernel
       feature.
 
+      .. note::
+
+         Bundling the initramfs with the kernel conflates the code in the
+         initramfs with the GPLv2 licensed Linux kernel binary. Thus only GPLv2
+         compatible software may be part of a bundled initramfs.
+
       .. note::
 
          Using an extra compilation pass to bundle the initramfs avoids a