diff --git a/reference/configuration/tidb-server/configuration-file.md b/reference/configuration/tidb-server/configuration-file.md
index 9ceedc397304a..852d74aa9ac33 100644
--- a/reference/configuration/tidb-server/configuration-file.md
+++ b/reference/configuration/tidb-server/configuration-file.md
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ Configuration items related to performance.
 
 - The maximum number of statements allowed in a single TiDB transaction.
 - Default value: `5000`
-- If a transaction does not roll back or commit after the number of statements exceeds `stmt-count-limit`, TiDB returns the `statement count 5001 exceeds the transaction limitation, autocommit = false` error.
+- If a transaction does not roll back or commit after the number of statements exceeds `stmt-count-limit`, TiDB returns the `statement count 5001 exceeds the transaction limitation, autocommit = false` error. This configuration takes effect **only** in the retriable optimistic transaction. If you use the pessimistic transaction or have disabled the transaction retry, the number of statements in a transaction is not limited by this configuration.
 
 ### `tcp-keep-alive`