diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index dd91c1b2..13bc3192 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -135,6 +135,11 @@ file named .filebrowser.{json, toml, yaml, yml} in the following directories:
 - $HOME/
 - /etc/filebrowser/
 
+**Note:** Only the options listed below can be set via the config file or
+environment variables. Other configuration options live exclusively in the
+database and so they must be set by the "config set" or "config
+import" commands.
+
 The precedence of the configuration values are as follows:
 
 - Flags
diff --git a/www/docs/cli/filebrowser.md b/www/docs/cli/filebrowser.md
index 8383ec97..e2390238 100644
--- a/www/docs/cli/filebrowser.md
+++ b/www/docs/cli/filebrowser.md
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ file named .filebrowser.{json, toml, yaml, yml} in the following directories:
 - $HOME/
 - /etc/filebrowser/
 
+**Note:** Only the options listed below can be set via the config file or
+environment variables. Other configuration options live exclusively in the
+database and so they must be set by the "config set" or "config
+import" commands.
+
 The precedence of the configuration values are as follows:
 
 - Flags