diff --git a/doc/administration/incoming_email.md b/doc/administration/incoming_email.md
index 95301ec026a5f35f1b677a0db0040fe47f6a0713..9351a101ee4870cc0ed6ce911f24ead88d3773fb 100644
--- a/doc/administration/incoming_email.md
+++ b/doc/administration/incoming_email.md
@@ -75,11 +75,12 @@ Email is processed correctly when a configured email address is present in one o
 (sorted in the order they are checked):
 
 - `To`
-- `References`
 - `Delivered-To`
 - `Envelope-To` or `X-Envelope-To`
 - `Received`
 
+The `References` header is also accepted, however it is used specifically to relate email responses to existing discussion threads. It is not used for creating issues by email.
+
 In GitLab 14.6 and later, [Service Desk](../user/project/service_desk.md)
 also checks accepted headers.