diff --git a/doc/foot.5.scd b/doc/foot.5.scd
index 088df46b..a2394ea4 100644
--- a/doc/foot.5.scd
+++ b/doc/foot.5.scd
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ in this order:
 
 *shell*
 	Executable to launch. Typically a shell. Default: the user's
-	default shell (as specified in _/etc/passwd_).
+	default shell (as specified in _/etc/passwd_). You can also pass
+	arguments. For example "/bin/bash --login".
 
 *term*
 	Value to set the environment variable *TERM* to. Default: _foot_.
diff --git a/footrc b/footrc
index 9a686e5f..966b975f 100644
--- a/footrc
+++ b/footrc
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # font=monospace
 # scrollback=1000
 # geometry=500x300
-# shell=<user's default shell (from /etc/passwd)>
+# shell=<user's default shell (from /etc/passwd)> (you may need to override if you need a login shell)
 # term=foot
 # workers=<number of logical CPUs>