diff --git a/docs/reference/modules/node.asciidoc b/docs/reference/modules/node.asciidoc
index f0cb3eecdf390..a8b6b3c535c74 100644
--- a/docs/reference/modules/node.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/reference/modules/node.asciidoc
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ The following additional roles are available:
 
 * `voting_only`
 
-[[coordinating-only-node]]If you leave `node.roles` unset, then the node is considered to be a <<coordinating-only-node-role,coordinating only node>>.
+[[coordinating-only-node]]If you set `node.roles` to an empty array (`node.roles: [ ]`),
+then the node is considered to be a <<coordinating-only-node-role,coordinating only node>>.
 
 [IMPORTANT]
 ====
@@ -155,4 +156,4 @@ including:
 
 * <<cluster-name,`cluster.name`>>
 * <<node-name,`node.name`>>
-* <<modules-network,network settings>>
\ No newline at end of file
+* <<modules-network,network settings>>