diff --git a/lib/client.js b/lib/client.js
index 3c02e4807..77b477d3e 100644
--- a/lib/client.js
+++ b/lib/client.js
@@ -2872,6 +2872,10 @@ module.exports.CRYPTO_ENABLED = CRYPTO_ENABLED;
 
 /**
  * Fires whenever the SDK receives a new event.
+ * <p>
+ * This is only fired for live events received via /sync - it is not fired for
+ * events received over context, search, or pagination APIs.
+ *
  * @event module:client~MatrixClient#"event"
  * @param {MatrixEvent} event The matrix event which caused this event to fire.
  * @example