diff --git a/conf/example.gitolite.rc b/conf/example.gitolite.rc
index f63a411..0eb7ce6 100644
--- a/conf/example.gitolite.rc
+++ b/conf/example.gitolite.rc
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ $REPO_BASE="repositories";
 # --------------------------------------
 
 # I see no reason anyone may want to change the gitolite admin directory, but
-# feel free to do so
+# feel free to do so.  However, please note that it *must* be an *absolute*
+# path (i.e., starting with a "/" character)
 
 # gitolite admin directory, files, etc
 $GL_ADMINDIR=$ENV{HOME} . "/.gitolite";
diff --git a/doc/3-faq-tips-etc.mkd b/doc/3-faq-tips-etc.mkd
index d7b3994..19ead5e 100644
--- a/doc/3-faq-tips-etc.mkd
+++ b/doc/3-faq-tips-etc.mkd
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ In this document:
   * once in a while, if you're feeling particularly BOFH-ish, take a look at
     `$GL_ADMINDIR/log` :-)
 
+  * if you specify a repo that is not at the top level `$REPO_BASE`, be sure
+    to manually create the intermediate directories first.  For instance if
+    you specify a new repo called "a/b/c" to the config file and "compile",
+    the "compile" script will just `mkdir a/b/c.git`, assuming "a/b" has
+    already been created
+
 ### differences from gitosis
 
 Apart from the big ones listed in the top level README, and subjective ones