diff --git a/docs/reference/elasticsearch/configuration-reference/node-settings.md b/docs/reference/elasticsearch/configuration-reference/node-settings.md
index 3a9634a37fc6b..47f8fa18ff453 100644
--- a/docs/reference/elasticsearch/configuration-reference/node-settings.md
+++ b/docs/reference/elasticsearch/configuration-reference/node-settings.md
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ 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](docs-content://deploy-manage/distributed-architecture/clusters-nodes-shards/node-roles.md#coordinating-only-node-role).
+$$$coordinating-only-node$$$If If you set `node.roles` to an empty array (`node.roles: [ ]`), then the node is considered to be a [coordinating only node](docs-content://deploy-manage/distributed-architecture/clusters-nodes-shards/node-roles.md#coordinating-only-node-role).
 
 ::::{important}
 If you set `node.roles`, ensure you specify every node role your cluster needs. Every cluster requires the following node roles: