diff --git a/doc/nano.texi b/doc/nano.texi
index e93ee6a1..c4b7b159 100644
--- a/doc/nano.texi
+++ b/doc/nano.texi
@@ -984,6 +984,8 @@ Each of these eight names may be prefixed with the word
 @code{light} to get a brighter version of that color.
 The word @code{grey} or @code{gray} may be used
 as a synonym for @code{lightblack}.
+On a Linux console, @code{light} does not have
+any effect for a background color.
 
 On terminal emulators that can do at least 256 colors,
 other valid (but unprefixable) color names are:
@@ -1336,6 +1338,8 @@ Each of these eight names may be prefixed with the word
 @code{light} to get a brighter version of that color.
 The word @code{grey} or @code{gray} may be used
 as a synonym for @code{lightblack}.
+On a Linux console, @code{light} does not have
+any effect for a background color.
 
 On terminal emulators that can do at least 256 colors,
 other valid (but unprefixable) color names are:
diff --git a/doc/nanorc.5 b/doc/nanorc.5
index 268223f7..f6fdc565 100644
--- a/doc/nanorc.5
+++ b/doc/nanorc.5
@@ -364,6 +364,8 @@ Each of these eight names may be prefixed with the word \fBlight\fR
 to get a brighter version of that color.
 The word \fBgrey\fR or \fBgray\fR may be used
 as a synonym for \fBlightblack\fR.
+On a Linux console, \fBlight\fR does not have
+any effect for a background color.
 On terminal emulators that can do at least 256 colors,
 other valid (but unprefixable) color names are:
 .BR pink ", " purple ", " mauve ", " lagoon ", " mint ", "
@@ -513,6 +515,8 @@ Each of these eight names may be prefixed with the word \fBlight\fR
 to get a brighter version of that color.
 The word \fBgrey\fR or \fBgray\fR may be used
 as a synonym for \fBlightblack\fR.
+On a Linux console, \fBlight\fR does not have
+any effect for a background color.
 On terminal emulators that can do at least 256 colors,
 other valid (but unprefixable) color names are:
 .BR pink ", " purple ", " mauve ", " lagoon ", " mint ", "