diff --git a/doc/config b/doc/config
index f1e9d273..b7980b65 100644
--- a/doc/config
+++ b/doc/config
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@
 ## only if all requested values are available and/or define alternate
 ## value with { }|{ } eg. {%a - %t}|{%f}
 ##
+## Note: Format that is similar to "%a - %t" (i.e. without any additional
+## braces) is equal to "{%a - %t}", so if one of the tags is missing,
+## you'll get nothing.
+##
 ## text can also have different color than the main window has,
 ## eg. if you want length to be green, write $3%l$9
 ##
diff --git a/doc/ncmpcpp.1 b/doc/ncmpcpp.1
index 316023c2..67e2761c 100644
--- a/doc/ncmpcpp.1
+++ b/doc/ncmpcpp.1
@@ -318,6 +318,8 @@ For song format you can use:
 
 You can also put them in { } and then they will be displayed only if all requested values are available and/or define alternate value with { }|{ } e.g. {%a - %t}|{%f} will check if artist and title tags are available and if they are, display them. Otherwise it'll display filename.
 
+\fBNote\fR: Format that is similar to "%a - %t" (i.e. without any additional braces) is equal to "{%a - %t}", so if one of the tags is missing, you'll get nothing.
+
 Text can have different color than the main window, e.g. if you want length to be green, write $3%l$9.
 
 Available values for colors: