diff --git a/compiler/rustc_attr_parsing/src/attributes/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_attr_parsing/src/attributes/mod.rs
index bf18e10e19fd..744f925e6401 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_attr_parsing/src/attributes/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_attr_parsing/src/attributes/mod.rs
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ type AcceptMapping<T> = &'static [(&'static [Symbol], AcceptFn<T>)];
 /// whether it has seen the attribute it has been looking for.
 ///
 /// The state machine is automatically reset to parse attributes on the next item.
+///
+/// For a simpler attribute parsing interface, consider using [`SingleAttributeParser`]
+/// or [`CombineAttributeParser`] instead.
 pub(crate) trait AttributeParser: Default + 'static {
     /// The symbols for the attributes that this parser is interested in.
     ///
@@ -59,6 +62,12 @@ pub(crate) trait AttributeParser: Default + 'static {
 
     /// The parser has gotten a chance to accept the attributes on an item,
     /// here it can produce an attribute.
+    ///
+    /// All finalize methods of all parsers are unconditionally called.
+    /// This means you can't unconditionally return `Some` here,
+    /// that'd be equivalent to unconditionally applying an attribute to
+    /// every single syntax item that could have attributes applied to it.
+    /// Your accept mappings should determine whether this returns something.
     fn finalize(self, cx: &FinalizeContext<'_>) -> Option<AttributeKind>;
 }