diff --git a/doc/ssl/SSL_CTX_set_mode.pod b/doc/ssl/SSL_CTX_set_mode.pod
index 0bcf5d2afc..2a5aaa555e 100644
--- a/doc/ssl/SSL_CTX_set_mode.pod
+++ b/doc/ssl/SSL_CTX_set_mode.pod
@@ -71,12 +71,16 @@ SSL_CTX->freelist_max_len, which defaults to 32.  Using this flag can
 save around 34k per idle SSL connection.
 This flag has no effect on SSL v2 connections, or on DTLS connections.
 
-=item SSL_MODE_FALLBACK_SCSV
+=item SSL_MODE_SEND_FALLBACK_SCSV
 
 Send TLS_FALLBACK_SCSV in the ClientHello.
-To be set by applications that reconnect with a downgraded protocol
+To be set only by applications that reconnect with a downgraded protocol
 version; see draft-ietf-tls-downgrade-scsv-00 for details.
 
+DO NOT ENABLE THIS if your application attempts a normal handshake.
+Only use this in explicit fallback retries, following the guidance
+in draft-ietf-tls-downgrade-scsv-00.
+
 =back
 
 =head1 RETURN VALUES
diff --git a/ssl/ssl.h b/ssl/ssl.h
index 70aff9dcc3..d7efc5cbc3 100644
--- a/ssl/ssl.h
+++ b/ssl/ssl.h
@@ -606,8 +606,13 @@ typedef struct ssl_session_st
  * or just freed (depending on the context's setting for freelist_max_len). */
 #define SSL_MODE_RELEASE_BUFFERS 0x00000010L
 /* Send TLS_FALLBACK_SCSV in the ClientHello.
- * To be set by applications that reconnect with a downgraded protocol
- * version; see draft-ietf-tls-downgrade-scsv-00 for details. */
+ * To be set only by applications that reconnect with a downgraded protocol
+ * version; see draft-ietf-tls-downgrade-scsv-00 for details.
+ *
+ * DO NOT ENABLE THIS if your application attempts a normal handshake.
+ * Only use this in explicit fallback retries, following the guidance
+ * in draft-ietf-tls-downgrade-scsv-00.
+ */
 #define SSL_MODE_SEND_FALLBACK_SCSV 0x00000080L
 
 /* Note: SSL[_CTX]_set_{options,mode} use |= op on the previous value,