diff --git a/man5/host.conf.5 b/man5/host.conf.5
index 69366a064..d4544da66 100644
--- a/man5/host.conf.5
+++ b/man5/host.conf.5
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ This is intended for use with
 local hosts and domains.
 (Related note:
 .I trim
-will not affect hostnames gathered via NIS or the hosts file.
+will not affect hostnames gathered via NIS or the
+.BR hosts (5)
+file.
 Care should be taken to
 ensure that the first hostname for each entry in the hosts file is
 fully qualified or unqualified, as appropriate for the local