diff --git a/docs/usage/self-hosted-configuration.md b/docs/usage/self-hosted-configuration.md
index 9d20a034c38d00..b1f62011d9f533 100644
--- a/docs/usage/self-hosted-configuration.md
+++ b/docs/usage/self-hosted-configuration.md
@@ -5,7 +5,11 @@ description: Self-Hosted configuration usable in config file, CLI or environment
 
 # Self-Hosted configuration options
 
-You can only use these configuration options when you're self-hosting Renovate.
+Only use these configuration options when you _self-host_ Renovate.
+
+Do _not_ put the self-hosted config options listed on this page in your "repository config" file (`renovate.json` for example), because Renovate will ignore those config options, and may also create a config error issue.
+
+The config options below _must_ be configured in the bot/admin config, so in either a environment variable, CLI option, or a special file like `config.js`.
 
 Please also see [Self-Hosted Experimental Options](./self-hosted-experimental.md).