diff --git a/src/docs/asciidoc/core/core-expressions.adoc b/src/docs/asciidoc/core/core-expressions.adoc
index 0c2e823fc8..5a833d2076 100644
--- a/src/docs/asciidoc/core/core-expressions.adoc
+++ b/src/docs/asciidoc/core/core-expressions.adoc
@@ -1382,8 +1382,20 @@ example shows how to use the `new` operator to invoke constructors:
 === Variables
 
 You can reference variables in the expression by using the `#variableName` syntax. Variables
-are set by using the `setVariable` method on `EvaluationContext` implementations. The
-following example shows how to use variables:
+are set by using the `setVariable` method on `EvaluationContext` implementations.
+
+[NOTE]
+====
+Valid variable names must be composed of one or more of the following supported
+characters.
+
+* letters: `A` to `Z` and `a` to `z`
+* digits: `0` to `9`
+* underscore: `_`
+* dollar sign: `$`
+====
+
+The following example shows how to use variables.
 
 [source,java,indent=0,subs="verbatim,quotes",role="primary"]
 .Java