diff --git a/src/main/docbkx/book.xml b/src/main/docbkx/book.xml
index cdfe5b2ca47..0234f85774c 100644
--- a/src/main/docbkx/book.xml
+++ b/src/main/docbkx/book.xml
@@ -2671,6 +2671,21 @@ ctime = Sat Jun 23 11:13:40 PDT 2012
             </section>
           </section>
         </section>
+        <section xml:id="wal.disable">
+          <title>Disabling the WAL</title>
+          <para>It is possible to disable the WAL, to improve performace in certain specific
+            situations. However, disabling the WAL puts your data at risk. The only situation where
+            this is recommended is during a bulk load. This is because, in the event of a problem,
+            the bulk load can be re-run with no risk of data loss.</para>
+          <para>The WAL is disabled by calling the HBase client field
+              <code>Mutation.writeToWAL(false)</code>. Use the
+              <code>Mutation.setDurability(Durability.SKIP_WAL)</code> and Mutation.getDurability()
+            methods to set and get the field's value. There is no way to disable the WAL for only a
+            specific table.</para>
+          <warning>
+            <para>If you disable the WAL for anything other than bulk loads, your data is at
+              risk.</para></warning>
+        </section>
       </section>
 
     </section>  <!--  regionserver -->
diff --git a/src/main/docbkx/performance.xml b/src/main/docbkx/performance.xml
index 47b67be7621..57c866ad3a5 100644
--- a/src/main/docbkx/performance.xml
+++ b/src/main/docbkx/performance.xml
@@ -564,16 +564,17 @@ admin.createTable(table, splits);
     <section
       xml:id="perf.hbase.client.putwal">
       <title>HBase Client: Turn off WAL on Puts</title>
-      <para>A frequently discussed option for increasing throughput on <classname>Put</classname>s
-        is to call <code>writeToWAL(false)</code>. Turning this off means that the RegionServer will
-          <emphasis>not</emphasis> write the <classname>Put</classname> to the Write Ahead Log, only
-        into the memstore, HOWEVER the consequence is that if there is a RegionServer failure
-          <emphasis>there will be data loss</emphasis>. If <code>writeToWAL(false)</code> is used,
-        do so with extreme caution. You may find in actuality that it makes little difference if
-        your load is well distributed across the cluster. </para>
+      <para>A frequent request is to disable the WAL to increase performance of Puts. This is only
+        appropriate for bulk loads, as it puts your data at risk by removing the protection of the
+        WAL in the event of a region server crash. Bulk loads can be re-run in the event of a crash,
+        with little risk of data loss.</para>
+      <warning>
+        <para>If you disable the WAL for anything other than bulk loads, your data is at
+          risk.</para></warning>
       <para>In general, it is best to use WAL for Puts, and where loading throughput is a concern to
-        use <link
-          linkend="perf.batch.loading">bulk loading</link> techniques instead. </para>
+        use <link linkend="perf.batch.loading">bulk loading</link> techniques instead. For normal
+        Puts, you are not likely to see a performance improvement which would outweigh the risk. To
+        disable the WAL, see <xref linkend="wal.disable"/>.</para>
     </section>
     <section
       xml:id="perf.hbase.client.regiongroup">