diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-publish.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-publish.md
index 0d25d7d29da8..9eb060a78be2 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-publish.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-publish.md
@@ -132,6 +132,11 @@ If you want your scoped package to be publicly viewable (and installable)
 set `--access=public`. The only valid values for `access` are `public` and
 `restricted`. Unscoped packages _always_ have an access level of `public`.
 
+Note: Using the `--access` flag on the `npm publish` command will only set
+the package access level on the initial publish of the package. Any subsequent `npm publish`
+commands using the `--access` flag will not have an effect to the access level.
+To make changes to the access level after the initial publish use `npm access`.
+
 #### `dry-run`
 
 * Default: false