diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/main.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/main.contribution.ts
index f0aa683d4806c8849966d820a44827b5f1cd7389..9bc0cb7be627ee27a2d53be85a86bccc66fb2a38 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/main.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/main.contribution.ts
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ configurationRegistry.registerConfiguration({
 		},
 		'workbench.editor.showIcons': {
 			'type': 'boolean',
-			'description': nls.localize('showIcons', "Controls if opened editors should show with an icon or not."),
+			'description': nls.localize('showIcons', "Controls if opened editors should show with an icon or not. This requires an icon theme to be enabled as well."),
 			'default': true
 		},
 		'workbench.editor.enablePreview': {