diff --git a/docs/user-guide/secrets/index.md b/docs/user-guide/secrets/index.md
index 4da56a3cca..75527a2be5 100644
--- a/docs/user-guide/secrets/index.md
+++ b/docs/user-guide/secrets/index.md
@@ -344,6 +344,9 @@ In this case, the file resulting in `/etc/foo/my-group/my-username` will have
 permission value of `0777`. Owing to JSON limitations, you must specify the mode
 in decimal notation.
 
+Note that this permission value might be displayed in decimal notation if you
+read it later.
+
 **Consuming Secret Values from Volumes**
 
 Inside the container that mounts a secret volume, the secret keys appear as