diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/runtime.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/runtime.sgml
index c5c2de00e2f..3645d4c5a92 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/runtime.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/runtime.sgml
@@ -1258,9 +1258,10 @@ default:\
     In Linux 2.4 and later, the default virtual memory behavior is not
     optimal for <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>. Because of the
     way that the kernel implements memory overcommit, the kernel might
-    terminate the <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> server (the
-    master server process) if the memory demands of
-    another process cause the system to run out of virtual memory.
+    terminate the <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> postmaster (the
+    master server process) if the memory demands of either
+    <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> or another process cause the
+    system to run out of virtual memory.
    </para>
 
    <para>
@@ -1287,6 +1288,19 @@ Out of Memory: Killed process 12345 (postgres).
     swap space are exhausted.
    </para>
 
+   <para>
+    If <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> itself is the cause of the
+    system running out of memory, you can avoid the problem by changing
+    your configuration.  In some cases, it may help to lower memory-related
+    configuration parameters, particularly
+    <link linkend="guc-shared-buffers"><varname>shared_buffers</></link>
+    and <link linkend="guc-work-mem"><varname>work_mem</></link>.  In
+    other cases, the problem may be caused by allowing too many connections
+    to the database server itself.  In many cases, it may be better to reduce
+    <link linkend="guc-max-connections"><varname>max_connections</></link>
+    and instead make use of external connection-pooling software.
+   </para>
+
    <para>
     On Linux 2.6 and later, it is possible to modify the
     kernel's behavior so that it will not <quote>overcommit</> memory.