diff --git a/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp b/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
--- a/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
@@ -912,6 +912,10 @@
             "getbalance ( \"account\" minconf include_watchonly )\n"
             "\nIf account is not specified, returns the server's total "
             "available balance.\n"
+            "The available balance is what the wallet considers currently "
+            "spendable,\n"
+            "and is thus affected by options which limit spendability such as "
+            "-spendzeroconfchange.\n"
             "If account is specified (DEPRECATED), returns the balance in the "
             "account.\n"
             "Note that the account \"\" is not the same as leaving the "