diff --git a/doom-modeline-core.el b/doom-modeline-core.el
index 108884dc..24d25604 100644
--- a/doom-modeline-core.el
+++ b/doom-modeline-core.el
@@ -501,7 +501,13 @@ Non-nil to display in the mode-line."
 (defcustom doom-modeline-github nil
   "Whether display the GitHub notifications.
 
-It requires `ghub' and `async' packages."
+It requires `ghub' and `async' packages. Additionally, your GitHub personal
+access token must have `notifications' permissions.
+
+If you use `pass' to manage your secrets, you also need to add this hook:
+
+`(add-hook 'doom-modeline-before-github-fetch-notification-hook
+	   #'auth-source-pass-enable)'"
   :type 'boolean
   :group 'doom-modeline)