diff --git a/pkg/cmd/install.go b/pkg/cmd/install.go
index 832968ff0..8b28f5054 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/install.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/install.go
@@ -127,6 +127,21 @@ supply a version number with the '--version' flag.
 
 To see the list of chart repositories, use 'helm repo list'. To search for
 charts in a repository, use 'helm search'.
+
+RESOURCE OWNERSHIP
+
+When Helm installs a chart, it adds the following metadata to every Kubernetes
+resource it creates:
+
+  - Label:      app.kubernetes.io/managed-by=Helm
+  - Annotation: meta.helm.sh/release-name=<release-name>
+  - Annotation: meta.helm.sh/release-namespace=<release-namespace>
+
+These are used to track ownership. If a resource already exists in the cluster
+without this metadata, or with metadata pointing to a different release or
+namespace, Helm will refuse to install and return an error. To adopt such
+pre-existing resources into the release, use '--take-ownership'. Helm will then
+add the ownership metadata and manage those resources going forward.
 `
 
 func newInstallCmd(cfg *action.Configuration, out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/upgrade.go b/pkg/cmd/upgrade.go
index 9ec4f4ef2..f640f2da9 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/upgrade.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/upgrade.go
@@ -80,6 +80,19 @@ or '--set' flags. Priority is given to new values.
 The --dry-run flag will output all generated chart manifests, including Secrets
 which can contain sensitive values. To hide Kubernetes Secrets use the
 --hide-secret flag. Please carefully consider how and when these flags are used.
+
+RESOURCE OWNERSHIP
+
+Helm tracks ownership of Kubernetes resources using the following metadata:
+
+  - Label:      app.kubernetes.io/managed-by=Helm
+  - Annotation: meta.helm.sh/release-name=<release-name>
+  - Annotation: meta.helm.sh/release-namespace=<release-namespace>
+
+During an upgrade, if a resource exists in the cluster without this metadata
+(or with metadata pointing to a different release or namespace), Helm will
+return an error. To take ownership of such resources and have Helm manage them
+going forward, use '--take-ownership'.
 `
 
 func newUpgradeCmd(cfg *action.Configuration, out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {