diff --git a/doc/man/man8/slapadd.8 b/doc/man/man8/slapadd.8
index 7a2ad092ac..8c4e14845f 100644
--- a/doc/man/man8/slapadd.8
+++ b/doc/man/man8/slapadd.8
@@ -178,9 +178,9 @@ enable dry-run (don't write to backend) mode.
 enable verbose mode.
 .TP
 .BI \-w
-write syncrepl context information.
-After all entries are added, the contextCSN
-will be updated with the greatest CSN in the database.
+(over)write syncrepl context information. After all entries are added, the
+contextCSN will be updated with the greatest CSN in the database. Only use to
+load a fresh seed provider.
 .SH LIMITATIONS
 Your
 .BR slapd (8)