diff --git a/DOCS/man/input.rst b/DOCS/man/input.rst
index e334d4e5d1..763710d198 100644
--- a/DOCS/man/input.rst
+++ b/DOCS/man/input.rst
@@ -1940,6 +1940,9 @@ If an option is referenced, the property will normally take/return exactly the
 same values as the option. In these cases, properties are merely a way to change
 an option at runtime.
 
+Note that many properties are unavailable at startup. See `Details on the script
+initialization and lifecycle`_.
+
 Property list
 -------------
 
diff --git a/DOCS/man/lua.rst b/DOCS/man/lua.rst
index a5f8923218..95234c3784 100644
--- a/DOCS/man/lua.rst
+++ b/DOCS/man/lua.rst
@@ -86,7 +86,8 @@ own event handlers which you have registered with ``mp.register_event``, or
 timers added with ``mp.add_timeout`` or similar. Note that since the
 script starts execution concurrently with player initialization, some properties
 may not be populated with meaningful values until the relevant subsystems have
-initialized.
+initialized. Rather than retrieving these properties at the top of scripts, you
+should use ``mp.observe_property`` or read them within event handlers.
 
 When the player quits, all scripts will be asked to terminate. This happens via
 a ``shutdown`` event, which by default will make the event loop return. If your