diff --git a/bin/rndc/rndc.rst b/bin/rndc/rndc.rst
index db43974a4b..da9f0710e4 100644
--- a/bin/rndc/rndc.rst
+++ b/bin/rndc/rndc.rst
@@ -440,6 +440,7 @@ Currently supported commands are:
    .. option:: zone [class [view]]
 
    If a zone is specified, this command reloads only the given zone.
+   If no zone is specified, the reloading happens asynchronously.
 
 .. program:: rndc
 
@@ -604,7 +605,8 @@ Currently supported commands are:
    refused. If the zone has changed and the ``ixfr-from-differences``
    option is in use, the journal file is updated to reflect
    changes in the zone. Otherwise, if the zone has changed, any existing
-   journal file is removed.
+   journal file is removed.  If no zone is specified, the reloading happens
+   asynchronously.
 
    See also :option:`rndc freeze`.
 
diff --git a/bin/tests/system/rndc/tests.sh b/bin/tests/system/rndc/tests.sh
index e8abb08e7b..8d6672c1b7 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/rndc/tests.sh
+++ b/bin/tests/system/rndc/tests.sh
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ status=$((status+ret))
 echo_i "rndc thaw"
 $RNDCCMD 10.53.0.2 thaw | sed 's/^/ns2 /' | cat_i
 
+wait_for_log 3 "zone_postload: zone nil/IN: done" ns2/named.run
+
 n=$((n+1))
 echo_i "checking zone now writable ($n)"
 ret=0