diff --git a/chapter06/glibc-inst.xml b/chapter06/glibc-inst.xml
index 3fc781de8..16f4a7cb0 100644
--- a/chapter06/glibc-inst.xml
+++ b/chapter06/glibc-inst.xml
@@ -49,10 +49,13 @@ file in the glibc-&glibc-version; tree.</para>
 *** Check the INSTALL file for required versions.</screen></blockquote>
 
 <para>The missing msgfmt (from the gettext package which we will install
-later in this chapter) is not fatal. The files msgfmt would create are
-already pre-built, so you won't be missing out on anything. You would
-only need it if you make changes to the Glibc internationalization (i18n)
-files. Since we don't do this by default, we can safely ignore it.</para>
+later in this chapter) won't cause any problems. msgfmt is used to generate
+the binary translation files that are used to make your system talk in a
+different language. Because these translation files have already been
+generated for you, there is no need for msgfmt. You'd only need msgfmt if
+you change the translation source files (the <filename>*.po</filename>
+files in the <filename class="directory">po</filename> subdirectory) which\
+would require you to re-generate the binary files.</para>
 
 </sect2>