diff --git a/depends/README.md b/depends/README.md
index 869ebe12fd..5225a6d5c4 100644
--- a/depends/README.md
+++ b/depends/README.md
@@ -105,6 +105,10 @@ The following can be set when running make: `make FOO=bar`
 <dd>Don't download/build/cache SQLite</dd>
 <dt>NO_UPNP</dt>
 <dd>Don't download/build/cache packages needed for enabling upnp</dd>
+<dt>ALLOW_HOST_PACKAGES</dt>
+<dd>Packages that are missed in dependencies (due to `NO_*` option or
+build script logic) are searched for among the host system packages using
+`pkg-config`. It allows building with packages of other (newer) versions</dd>
 <dt>MULTIPROCESS</dt>
 <dd>build libmultiprocess (experimental, requires cmake)</dd>
 <dt>DEBUG</dt>