diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/runtime.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/runtime.sgml
index 937bb2e8ac..8cfc266799 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/runtime.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/runtime.sgml
@@ -8,6 +8,21 @@
   and its interactions with the operating system.
  </para>
 
+ <para>
+  The discussions in this chapter assume that you are working with
+  an unmodified version of <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>,
+  for example one that you built from source according to the directions
+  in the preceding chapters.  If you are working with a pre-packaged
+  version of <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>, it is likely that
+  the packager has made special provisions for installing and starting
+  the database server according to your system's conventions.
+  For example, there may be special scripts for creating a database
+  cluster.  There almost certainly will be a mechanism for starting
+  the server, which you should prefer over constructing your own start
+  script as described in <xref linkend="server-start"/>.
+  Consult the package-level documentation for details.
+ </para>
+
  <sect1 id="postgres-user">
   <title>The <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> User Account</title>