diff --git a/doc/reference.conf b/doc/reference.conf
index db4ddf29..3a07c994 100755
--- a/doc/reference.conf
+++ b/doc/reference.conf
@@ -272,7 +272,13 @@ class "server" {
 	 */
 	connectfreq = 5 minutes;
 
-	/* max number: the amount of servers to autoconnect to */
+	/* max number: the amount of servers to autoconnect to.  if the number
+	 * of servers in the class is or exceeds this, no more servers in the
+	 * class are autoconnected.  oper initiated connects are unaffected.
+	 * this should usually be set to either 0 or 1.  (autoconnecting from
+	 * hubs to leaves may cause leaves to function as hubs by having
+	 * multiple servers connected to them.)
+	 */
 	max_number = 1;
 
 	/* sendq: servers need a higher sendq as they are sent more data */