diff --git a/doc/emacs/misc.texi b/doc/emacs/misc.texi
index 47f195d0b2..ca3d52c36a 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/misc.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/misc.texi
@@ -846,6 +846,9 @@ Single Shell
 shell-command output.
 @end table

+In case the output buffer is not the current buffer, shell command
+output is appended at the end of this buffer.
+
 @node Interactive Shell
 @subsection Interactive Subshell

diff --git a/lisp/simple.el b/lisp/simple.el
index ab277c4e11..2f0626d96e 100644
--- a/lisp/simple.el
+++ b/lisp/simple.el
@@ -3606,6 +3606,9 @@ shell-command
 interactively when the prefix argument is given), insert the
 output in current buffer after point leaving mark after it.  This
 cannot be done asynchronously.
+If OUTPUT-BUFFER is a buffer or buffer name different from the
+current buffer, append the output in this buffer instead of
+inserting it at point.

 The user option `shell-command-dont-erase-buffer', which see, controls
 whether the output buffer is erased and where to put point after