diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index f3211f84ed..2e4ef56e7c 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -636,10 +636,15 @@
 
         <glossentry id='var-BBLAYERS_NON_REMOVABLE'><glossterm>BBLAYERS_NON_REMOVABLE</glossterm>
             <glossdef>
-Core layer for images cannot be removed
                 <para>Lists core layers that cannot be removed from the
-                    <filename>bblayers.conf</filename> file.
-                    In order for BitBake to build your image, your
+                    <filename>bblayers.conf</filename> file during a build
+                    using the
+                    <ulink url='https://www.yoctoproject.org/tools-resources/projects/hob'>Hob</ulink>.
+                    <note>
+                        When building an image outside of Hob, this variable
+                        is ignored.
+                    </note>
+                    In order for BitBake to build your image using Hob, your
                     <filename>bblayers.conf</filename> file must include the
                     <filename>meta</filename> and <filename>meta-yocto</filename>
                     core layers.