diff --git a/doc/config.rst b/doc/config.rst
index 21ea6729c..8638f81e1 100644
--- a/doc/config.rst
+++ b/doc/config.rst
@@ -460,9 +460,8 @@ Available patches:
   This patch configures Python to start coverage automatically, and will apply
   to processes created with :mod:`subprocess`, :func:`os.system`, or one of the
   :func:`execv <python:os.execl>` or :func:`spawnv <python:os.spawnl>` family
-  of functions.  If an ``exec*e`` or ``spawn*e`` function is used, the new
-  environment must copy over the ``COVERAGE_PROCESS_START`` environment
-  variable.
+  of functions. The ``COVERAGE_PROCESS_START`` value must be copied from the
+  current environment into the new environment or set.
 
   The ``subprocess`` patch sets :ref:`parallel = True <config_run_parallel>`
   and will require combining data files before reporting.  See