diff --git a/man8/ld.so.8 b/man8/ld.so.8
index 75e74e1e4..48e1d7c8c 100644
--- a/man8/ld.so.8
+++ b/man8/ld.so.8
@@ -435,7 +435,8 @@ is ignored in secure-execution mode.
 .TP
 .B LD_TRACE_PRELINKING
 (glibc since 2.4)
-Trace prelinking of the object whose name is assigned to
+If this environment variable is defined (with any value),
+trace prelinking of the object whose name is assigned to
 this environment variable.
 (Use
 .BR ldd (1)