diff --git a/doc/lispref/keymaps.texi b/doc/lispref/keymaps.texi
index a67d8da244e..a207b0cbb9d 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/keymaps.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/keymaps.texi
@@ -3243,7 +3243,8 @@ contents are given by @var{menu}.
 
 If @var{symbol} is non-@code{nil}, it should be a symbol; then this
 macro defines @var{symbol} as a function for popping up the menu
-(@pxref{Pop-Up Menus}), with @var{doc} as its documentation string.
+(@pxref{Pop-Up Menus}), with @var{doc} as its documentation string.  It
+also defines @var{symbol} as a variable whose value is the menu.
 @var{symbol} should not be quoted.
 
 Regardless of the value of @var{symbol}, if @var{maps} is a keymap,
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/easymenu.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/easymenu.el
index 6740c2af58d..0a273ef0f7c 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/easymenu.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/easymenu.el
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@
 (defmacro easy-menu-define (symbol maps doc menu)
   "Define a pop-up menu and/or menu bar menu specified by MENU.
 If SYMBOL is non-nil, define SYMBOL as a function to pop up the
-submenu defined by MENU, with DOC as its doc string.
+submenu defined by MENU, with DOC as its doc string.  Also define
+SYMBOL as a variable whose value is the menu.
 
 MAPS, if non-nil, should be a keymap or a list of keymaps; add
 the submenu defined by MENU to the keymap or each of the keymaps,