diff --git a/Documentation/git-interpret-trailers.txt b/Documentation/git-interpret-trailers.txt
index 956a01d184..6d6197cd0a 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-interpret-trailers.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-interpret-trailers.txt
@@ -60,10 +60,12 @@ non-whitespace lines before a line that starts with '---' (followed by a
 space or the end of the line). Such three minus signs start the patch
 part of the message. See also `--no-divider` below.
 
-When reading trailers, there can be whitespaces after the
-token, the separator and the value. There can also be whitespaces
-inside the token and the value. The value may be split over multiple lines with
-each subsequent line starting with whitespace, like the "folding" in RFC 822.
+When reading trailers, there can be no whitespace before or inside the
+token, but any number of regular space and tab characters are allowed
+between the token and the separator. There can be whitespaces before,
+inside or after the value. The value may be split over multiple lines
+with each subsequent line starting with at least one whitespace, like
+the "folding" in RFC 822.
 
 Note that 'trailers' do not follow and are not intended to follow many
 rules for RFC 822 headers. For example they do not follow