diff --git a/docs/reference.md b/docs/reference.md
index 277b3d8..a01c620 100644
--- a/docs/reference.md
+++ b/docs/reference.md
@@ -5678,7 +5678,8 @@
   check_targets [optional]
       A list of labels and label patterns that should be checked when running
       "gn check" or "gn gen --check". If unspecified, all targets will be
-      checked. If it is the empty list, no targets will be checked.
+      checked. If it is the empty list, no targets will be checked. To bypass
+      this list, request an explicit check of targets, for instance "//*".
 
       The format of this list is identical to that of "visibility" so see "gn
       help visibility" for examples.
diff --git a/tools/gn/command_check.cc b/tools/gn/command_check.cc
index 99fbff5..9d9dcbd 100644
--- a/tools/gn/command_check.cc
+++ b/tools/gn/command_check.cc
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@
 
 What gets checked
 
-  The .gn file may specify a list of targets to be checked. Only these targets
-  will be checked if no label_pattern is specified on the command line.
-  Otherwise, the command-line list is used instead. See "gn help dotfile".
+  The .gn file may specify a list of targets to be checked in the list
+  check_targets (see "gn help dotfile"). If a label pattern is specified
+  on the command line, check_targets is not used.
 
   Targets can opt-out from checking with "check_includes = false" (see
   "gn help check_includes").
diff --git a/tools/gn/setup.cc b/tools/gn/setup.cc
index 94f5d79..060f17f 100644
--- a/tools/gn/setup.cc
+++ b/tools/gn/setup.cc
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@
   check_targets [optional]
       A list of labels and label patterns that should be checked when running
       "gn check" or "gn gen --check". If unspecified, all targets will be
-      checked. If it is the empty list, no targets will be checked.
+      checked. If it is the empty list, no targets will be checked. To
+      bypass this list, request an explicit check of targets, like "//*".
 
       The format of this list is identical to that of "visibility" so see "gn
       help visibility" for examples.