diff --git a/doc/manual/src/command-ref/env-common.md b/doc/manual/src/command-ref/env-common.md
index 4846f3a10..c592233e4 100644
--- a/doc/manual/src/command-ref/env-common.md
+++ b/doc/manual/src/command-ref/env-common.md
@@ -50,9 +50,10 @@ Most Nix commands interpret the following environment variables:
       2. `nixpkgs=/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs`
       3. `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels`
 
-    If `NIX_PATH` is set to an empty string the above fallback will not happen and building will fail with:
+    If `NIX_PATH` is set to an empty string, resolving search paths will always fail.
+    For example, attempting to use `<nixpkgs>` will produce:
 
-      `error: file 'nixpkgs' was not found in the Nix search path`
+        error: file 'nixpkgs' was not found in the Nix search path
 
   - [`NIX_IGNORE_SYMLINK_STORE`]{#env-NIX_IGNORE_SYMLINK_STORE}\
     Normally, the Nix store directory (typically `/nix/store`) is not