diff --git a/core/sdk-core/src/main/java/software/amazon/awssdk/core/exception/SdkException.java b/core/sdk-core/src/main/java/software/amazon/awssdk/core/exception/SdkException.java
index 782a7b86adb2..e7891c02c62b 100644
--- a/core/sdk-core/src/main/java/software/amazon/awssdk/core/exception/SdkException.java
+++ b/core/sdk-core/src/main/java/software/amazon/awssdk/core/exception/SdkException.java
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@
 import software.amazon.awssdk.utils.builder.Buildable;
 
 /**
- * Base class for all exceptions thrown by the SDK.
+ * Base class for SDK-specific exceptions. Note that network operations may throw
+ * UncheckedIOException or propagate other RuntimeExceptions directly rather than wrapping
+ * them in SdkException.
  *
  * @see SdkServiceException
  * @see SdkClientException