diff --git a/docs/maps/search.asciidoc b/docs/maps/search.asciidoc
index a170bcc414d3b..2330bf52abc29 100644
--- a/docs/maps/search.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/maps/search.asciidoc
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ If the map is a dashboard panel with drilldowns, you can apply a phrase filter t
 You can apply a search request to individual layers by setting `Filters` in the layer details panel.
 Click the *Add filter* button to add a filter to a layer.
 
-NOTE: Layer filters are not applied to *term joins*. You can apply a search request to *term joins* by setting the *where* clause in the join definition.
+NOTE: Layer filters are not applied to the right side of *term joins*. You can apply a search request to the right side of *term joins* by setting the *where* clause in the join definition. For example, suppose you have a layer with a term join where the left side is roads and the right side is traffic volume measurements. A layer filter of `roadType is "highway"` is applied to the roads index, but not to the traffic volume measurements index.
 
 [role="screenshot"]
 image::maps/images/layer_search.png[]