diff --git a/src/backend/libpq/pg_ident.conf.sample b/src/backend/libpq/pg_ident.conf.sample
index d321461c0c8e2fda5004b1715a31b6edbd0164d5..3f00226f14d40789dfde17ff9ed3a52a87537ab9 100644
--- a/src/backend/libpq/pg_ident.conf.sample
+++ b/src/backend/libpq/pg_ident.conf.sample
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@
 # 	o ident username
 # 	o PostgreSQL username
 # 
+# It is read on postmaster startup and when the postmaster receives a SIGHUP.
+# If you edit the file on a running system, you have to SIGHUP the postmaster
+# for the changes to take effect.
+#
 # For example, the following entry equates user "james" on a remote system
 # to PostgreSQL user "guest" in the map named "phoenix":
 #