diff --git a/man/systemd-nspawn.xml b/man/systemd-nspawn.xml
index 950558fee..cb0605bcd 100644
--- a/man/systemd-nspawn.xml
+++ b/man/systemd-nspawn.xml
@@ -644,6 +644,49 @@
of the container OS itself.
+
+ =MODE
+
+ Boots the container in
+ volatile (ephemeral) mode. When no
+ mode parameter is passed or when mode
+ is specified as yes
+ full volatile mode is enabled. This
+ means the root directory is mounted as
+ mostly unpopulated
+ tmpfs instance, and
+ /usr from the OS
+ tree is mounted into it, read-only
+ (the system thus starts up with
+ read-only OS resources, but pristine
+ state and configuration, any changes
+ to the either are lost on
+ shutdown). When the mode parameter is
+ specified as state
+ the OS tree is mounted read-only, but
+ /var is mounted
+ as tmpfs instance
+ into it (the system thus starts up
+ with read-only OS resources and
+ configuration, but prestine state, any
+ changes to the latter are lost on
+ shutdown). When the mode parameter is
+ specified as no
+ (the default) the whole OS tree is made
+ available writable.
+
+ Note that setting this to
+ yes or
+ state will only
+ work correctly with operating systems
+ in the container that can boot up with
+ only /usr
+ mounted, and are able to populate
+ /var
+ automatically, as
+ needed.
+
+