diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/aliases.nix b/pkgs/top-level/aliases.nix
index fdf5872ea8c4..0c927419f42e 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/aliases.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/aliases.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,22 @@
 lib: self: super:
 
+### Deprecated aliases - for backward compatibility
+### Please maintain this list in ASCIIbetical ordering.
+### Hint: the "sections" are delimited by ### <letter> ###
+
+# These aliases should not be used within nixpkgs, but exist to improve
+# backward compatibility in projects outside of nixpkgs. See the
+# documentation for the `allowAliases` option for more background.
+
+# A script to convert old aliases to throws and remove old
+# throws can be found in './maintainers/scripts/remove-old-aliases.py'.
+
+# Add 'preserve, reason: reason why' after the date if the alias should not be removed.
+# Try to keep them to a minimum.
+# valid examples of what to preserve:
+#   distro aliases such as:
+#     debian-package-name -> nixos-package-name
+
 with self;
 
 let
@@ -31,19 +48,6 @@ let
       aliases;
 in
 
-### Deprecated aliases - for backward compatibility
-### Please maintain this list in ASCIIbetical ordering.
-### Hint: the "sections" are delimited by ### <letter> ###
-
-# A script to convert old aliases to throws and remove old
-# throws can be found in './maintainers/scripts/remove-old-aliases.py'.
-
-# Add 'preserve, reason: reason why' after the date if the alias should not be removed.
-# Try to keep them to a minimum.
-# valid examples of what to preserve:
-#   distro aliases such as:
-#     debian-package-name -> nixos-package-name
-
 mapAliases ({
   # Added 2018-07-16 preserve, reason: forceSystem should not be used directly in Nixpkgs.
   forceSystem = system: _: