diff --git a/devel/ftoption.h b/devel/ftoption.h
index a29e46420..b742ed88f 100644
--- a/devel/ftoption.h
+++ b/devel/ftoption.h
@@ -522,7 +522,21 @@ FT_BEGIN_HEADER
   /*   code will be used.                                                  */
   /*                                                                       */
   /*   Setting this macro is needed for systems that prohibit address      */
-  /*   fixups, such as BREW.                                               */
+  /*   fixups, such as BREW.  [Note that standard compilers like gcc or    */
+  /*   clang handle PIC generation automatically; you don't have to set    */
+  /*   FT_CONFIG_OPTION_PIC, which is only necessary for very special      */
+  /*   compilers.]                                                         */
+  /*                                                                       */
+  /*   Note that FT_CONFIG_OPTION_PIC support is not available for all     */
+  /*   modules (see `modules.cfg' for a complete list).  For building with */
+  /*   FT_CONFIG_OPTION_PIC support, do the following.                     */
+  /*                                                                       */
+  /*     0. Clone the repository.                                          */
+  /*     1. Define FT_CONFIG_OPTION_PIC.                                   */
+  /*     2. Remove all subdirectories in `src' that don't have             */
+  /*        FT_CONFIG_OPTION_PIC support.                                  */
+  /*     3. Comment out the corresponding modules in `modules.cfg'.        */
+  /*     4. Compile.                                                       */
   /*                                                                       */
 /* #define FT_CONFIG_OPTION_PIC */