diff --git a/man/fi_domain.3.md b/man/fi_domain.3.md
index 0e9d2c6452c..bb977e13252 100644
--- a/man/fi_domain.3.md
+++ b/man/fi_domain.3.md
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ int fi_set_ops(struct fid *domain, const char *name, uint64_t flags,
 
 *info*
 : Fabric information, including domain capabilities and attributes.
+  The struct fi_info must have been obtained using either fi_getinfo()
+  or fi_dupinfo().
 
 *domain*
 : An opened access domain.
diff --git a/man/fi_endpoint.3.md b/man/fi_endpoint.3.md
index d4905c19b23..101a9880943 100644
--- a/man/fi_endpoint.3.md
+++ b/man/fi_endpoint.3.md
@@ -124,8 +124,9 @@ DEPRECATED ssize_t fi_tx_size_left(struct fid_ep *ep);
   associated resource.
 
 *info*
-: Details about the fabric interface endpoint to be opened, obtained
-  from fi_getinfo.
+: Details about the fabric interface endpoint to be opened.
+  The struct fi_info must have been obtained using either fi_getinfo()
+  or fi_dupinfo().
 
 *ep*
 : A fabric endpoint.
diff --git a/man/fi_getinfo.3.md b/man/fi_getinfo.3.md
index bd10f91c853..64ac17fdd08 100644
--- a/man/fi_getinfo.3.md
+++ b/man/fi_getinfo.3.md
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ struct fi_info *fi_dupinfo(const struct fi_info *info);
 
 *hints*
 : Reference to an fi_info structure that specifies criteria for
-  selecting the returned fabric information.
+  selecting the returned fabric information.  The fi_info hints
+  structure must be allocated using either fi_allocinfo() or fi_dupinfo().
 
 *info*
 : A pointer to a linked list of fi_info structures containing response
@@ -688,6 +689,12 @@ via fi_freeinfo().
 
 # NOTES
 
+Various libfabric calls, including fi_getinfo, take a struct fi_info as
+input.  Applications must use libfabric allocated fi_info structures.
+A zeroed struct fi_info can be allocated using fi_allocinfo, which may
+then be initialized by the user.  A struct fi_info may be copied for
+modification using the fi_dupinfo() call.
+
 If hints are provided, the operation will be controlled by the values
 that are supplied in the various fields (see section on _fi_info_).
 Applications that require specific communication interfaces, domains,