diff --git a/lib/elixir/lib/gen_server.ex b/lib/elixir/lib/gen_server.ex
index c5d82638299..24e112d7b91 100644
--- a/lib/elixir/lib/gen_server.ex
+++ b/lib/elixir/lib/gen_server.ex
@@ -153,6 +153,11 @@ defmodule GenServer do
   detailed information. The `@doc` annotation immediately preceding
   `use GenServer` will be attached to the generated `child_spec/1` function.
 
+  When stopping the GenServer, for example by returing a `{:stop, reason, new_state}`
+  tuple from a callback, the exit reason is used by the supervisor to determine
+  whether the GenServer needs to be restarted. See the "Exit reasons and restarts"
+  section in the `Supervisor` module.
+
   ## Name registration
 
   Both `start_link/3` and `start/3` support the `GenServer` to register