diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1709.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1709.xml
index a32f9963d1c..0cd9e957188 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1709.xml
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1709.xml
@@ -196,6 +196,17 @@ rmdir /var/lib/ipfs/.ipfs
       is still UTC.
     </para>
   </listitem>
+  <listitem>
+    <para>
+      Nixpkgs overlays may now be specified with a file as well as a directory. The
+      value of <literal>&lt;nixpkgs-overlays></literal> may be a file, and 
+      <filename>~/.config/nixpkgs/overlays.nix</filename> can be used instead of the
+      <filename>~/.config/nixpkgs/overalys</filename> directory.
+    </para>
+    <para>
+      See the overlays chapter of the Nixpkgs manual for more details.
+    </para>
+  </listitem>
 
 </itemizedlist>