diff --git a/doc/install-guide/section_nova-controller.xml b/doc/install-guide/section_nova-controller.xml
index d90ca095e2..03abfa7dcb 100644
--- a/doc/install-guide/section_nova-controller.xml
+++ b/doc/install-guide/section_nova-controller.xml
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@
       <screen os="fedora;rhel;centos;opensuse;sles"><prompt>#</prompt> <userinput>openstack-config --set /etc/nova/nova.conf \
   database connection mysql://nova:<replaceable>NOVA_DBPASS</replaceable>@<replaceable>controller</replaceable>/nova</userinput></screen>
       <para os="ubuntu;debian">Edit the <literal>[database]</literal> section
-        in the <filename>/etc/nova/nova.conf</filename> file to modify this
+        in the <filename>/etc/nova/nova.conf</filename> file, adding it if
+       necessary, to modify this
         key:</para>
       <programlisting os="ubuntu;debian" language="ini">
 [database]