diff --git a/doc/manual/src/command-ref/env-common.md b/doc/manual/src/command-ref/env-common.md
index 6280fb1c9..a31435578 100644
--- a/doc/manual/src/command-ref/env-common.md
+++ b/doc/manual/src/command-ref/env-common.md
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ Most Nix commands interpret the following environment variables:
     The Nix search path can also be extended using the `-I` option to
     many Nix commands, which takes precedence over `NIX_PATH`.
 
-    If `NIX_PATH` is not set or empty, Nix will look up the following locations for a revision of `nixpkgs`:
+    If `NIX_PATH` environment variable is not set, Nix will fall back to the following list in impure and unrestricted evaluation mode:
 
     1. `$HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels`
     2. `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs`