diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java
index 27e973ba7af..409d274d2dc 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java
@@ -1754,7 +1754,16 @@ public class HBaseAdmin implements Abortable, Closeable {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Special method, only used by hbck.
+   * Offline specified region from master's in-memory state. It will not attempt to reassign the
+   * region as in unassign. This API can be used when a region not served by any region server and
+   * still online as per Master's in memory state. If this API is incorrectly used on active region
+   * then master will loose track of that region.
+   * 
+   * This is a special method that should be used by experts or hbck.
+   * 
+   * @param regionName
+   *          Region to offline.
+   * @throws IOException
    */
   public void offline(final byte [] regionName)
   throws IOException {