diff --git a/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.0.d b/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.0.d
index 312b67b3f6..2b1f0156a3 100644
--- a/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.0.d
+++ b/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.0.d
@@ -4,3 +4,7 @@ Protocols: TLS
 Added: 7.34.0
 ---
 Forces curl to use TLS version 1.0 or later when connecting to a remote TLS server.
+
+In old versions of curl this option was documented to allow _only_ TLS 1.0,
+but behavior was inconsistent depending on the TLS library. Use --tls-max if
+you want to set a maximum TLS version.
diff --git a/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.1.d b/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.1.d
index 8182ac6d5c..405d552bb3 100644
--- a/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.1.d
+++ b/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.1.d
@@ -4,3 +4,7 @@ Protocols: TLS
 Added: 7.34.0
 ---
 Forces curl to use TLS version 1.1 or later when connecting to a remote TLS server.
+
+In old versions of curl this option was documented to allow _only_ TLS 1.1,
+but behavior was inconsistent depending on the TLS library. Use --tls-max if
+you want to set a maximum TLS version.
diff --git a/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.2.d b/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.2.d
index 7ba440225b..bdf1fcf62c 100644
--- a/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.2.d
+++ b/docs/cmdline-opts/tlsv1.2.d
@@ -4,3 +4,7 @@ Protocols: TLS
 Added: 7.34.0
 ---
 Forces curl to use TLS version 1.2 or later when connecting to a remote TLS server.
+
+In old versions of curl this option was documented to allow _only_ TLS 1.2,
+but behavior was inconsistent depending on the TLS library. Use --tls-max if
+you want to set a maximum TLS version.
diff --git a/docs/libcurl/opts/CURLOPT_PROXY_SSLVERSION.3 b/docs/libcurl/opts/CURLOPT_PROXY_SSLVERSION.3
index 9dc69959c5..204a7a997d 100644
--- a/docs/libcurl/opts/CURLOPT_PROXY_SSLVERSION.3
+++ b/docs/libcurl/opts/CURLOPT_PROXY_SSLVERSION.3
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ The flag defines maximum supported TLS version as TLSv1.2.
 The flag defines maximum supported TLS version as TLSv1.3.
 (Added in 7.54.0)
 .RE
+
+In versions of curl prior to 7.54 the CURL_SSLVERSION_TLS options were
+documented to allow \fIonly\fP the specified TLS version, but behavior was
+inconsistent depending on the TLS library.
+
 .SH DEFAULT
 CURL_SSLVERSION_DEFAULT
 .SH PROTOCOLS
diff --git a/docs/libcurl/opts/CURLOPT_SSLVERSION.3 b/docs/libcurl/opts/CURLOPT_SSLVERSION.3
index 42ef20abcc..354b004e63 100644
--- a/docs/libcurl/opts/CURLOPT_SSLVERSION.3
+++ b/docs/libcurl/opts/CURLOPT_SSLVERSION.3
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ The flag defines maximum supported TLS version as TLS v1.2.
 The flag defines maximum supported TLS version as TLS v1.3.
 (Added in 7.54.0)
 .RE
+
+In versions of curl prior to 7.54 the CURL_SSLVERSION_TLS options were
+documented to allow \fIonly\fP the specified TLS version, but behavior was
+inconsistent depending on the TLS library.
+
 .SH DEFAULT
 CURL_SSLVERSION_DEFAULT
 .SH PROTOCOLS