diff --git a/Documentation/SubmittingPatches b/Documentation/SubmittingPatches
index 1f4e8c8..40b619e 100644
--- a/Documentation/SubmittingPatches
+++ b/Documentation/SubmittingPatches
@@ -725,7 +725,9 @@
 "git pull" operation.  Note, however, that pulling patches from a developer
 requires a higher degree of trust than taking patches from a mailing list.
 As a result, many subsystem maintainers are reluctant to take pull
-requests, especially from new, unknown developers.
+requests, especially from new, unknown developers.  If in doubt you can use
+the pull request as the cover letter for a normal posting of the patch
+series, giving the maintainer the option of using either.
 
 A pull request should have [GIT] or [PULL] in the subject line.  The
 request itself should include the repository name and the branch of