diff --git a/doc/api/cli.md b/doc/api/cli.md
index 06270219db01b0..b6e42a5bc8100d 100644
--- a/doc/api/cli.md
+++ b/doc/api/cli.md
@@ -525,6 +525,9 @@ malformed, but any errors are otherwise ignored.
 Note that neither the well known nor extra certificates are used when the `ca`
 options property is explicitly specified for a TLS or HTTPS client or server.
 
+This environment variable is ignored when `node` runs as setuid root or
+has Linux file capabilities set.
+
 ### `NODE_ICU_DATA=file`
 <!-- YAML
 added: v0.11.15
diff --git a/doc/node.1 b/doc/node.1
index ad46d58d1f39fd..4c97240ee716a6 100644
--- a/doc/node.1
+++ b/doc/node.1
@@ -302,6 +302,9 @@ If
 is missing or misformatted, a message will be emitted once using
 .Sy process.emitWarning() ,
 but any errors are otherwise ignored.
+.Pp
+This environment variable is ignored when `node` runs as setuid root or
+has Linux file capabilities set.
 .
 .It Ev NODE_ICU_DATA Ar file
 Data path for ICU (Intl object) data.