diff --git a/doc/install.html b/doc/install.html
index f17dce5bdd..79ae9664c8 100644
--- a/doc/install.html
+++ b/doc/install.html
@@ -106,6 +106,12 @@ variable. You can do this by adding this line to your <code>/etc/profile</code>
 export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin
 </pre>
 
+<p>
+<b>Note</b>: changes made to a <code>profile</code> file may not apply until the
+next time you log into your computer. Alternatively, you can apply them to the
+current shell with a command like <code>source $HOME/.profile</code>.
+</p>
+
 <h4 id="tarball_non_standard">Installing to a custom location</h4>
 
 <p>