diff --git a/base/path.jl b/base/path.jl
index 37476674d0f24..df03c9def77b5 100644
--- a/base/path.jl
+++ b/base/path.jl
@@ -53,6 +53,11 @@ splitdrive(path::AbstractString)
     homedir() -> AbstractString
 
 Return the current user's home directory.
+
+!!! note
+    `homedir` determines the home directory via `libuv`'s `uv_os_homedir`. For details
+    (for example on how to specify the home directory via environment variables), see the
+    [`uv_os_homedir` documentation](http://docs.libuv.org/en/v1.x/misc.html#c.uv_os_homedir).
 """
 function homedir()
     path_max = 1024