diff --git a/man3/getnetent.3 b/man3/getnetent.3
index e28931028..d90d11692 100644
--- a/man3/getnetent.3
+++ b/man3/getnetent.3
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ function returns a \fInetent\fP structure
 for the entry from the database
 that matches the network number \fInet\fP of type
 \fItype\fP.
+The
+.I net
+argument must be in host byte order.
 .PP
 The
 .BR setnetent ()