diff --git a/doc/config_settings.xml b/doc/config_settings.xml
index b4c02983..3cc6f437 100644
--- a/doc/config_settings.xml
+++ b/doc/config_settings.xml
@@ -629,8 +629,8 @@
         </term>
         <listitem>If own_window_transparent no, set a specified
         background colour (defaults to black). Takes either a hex
-        value (#ffffff) or a valid RGB name (see
-        /usr/lib/X11/rgb.txt) 
+        value (e.g. ffffff, note the lack of '#') or a valid RGB 
+        name (see /usr/lib/X11/rgb.txt) 
         <para /></listitem>
     </varlistentry>
     <varlistentry>