diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c3287a0..217ab7f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -113,14 +113,15 @@ int main()
     const int answer_index = rw_mmap.size() / 2;
     rw_mmap[answer_index] = 42;
 
-    // Don't forget to flush changes to disk, which is NOT done by the destructor for
-    // more explicit control of this potentially expensive operation.
+    // Don't forget to flush changes to disk before unmapping. However, if
+    // `rw_mmap` were to go out of scope at this point, the destructor would also
+    // automatically invoke `sync` before `unmap`.
     rw_mmap.sync(error);
     if (error) { return handle_error(error); }
 
     // We can then remove the mapping, after which rw_mmap will be in a default
-    // constructed state, i.e. this has the same effect as if the destructor had been
-    // invoked.
+    // constructed state, i.e. this and the above call to `sync` have the same
+    // effect as if the destructor had been invoked.
     rw_mmap.unmap();
 
     // Now create the same mapping, but in read-only mode.
diff --git a/include/mio/mmap.hpp b/include/mio/mmap.hpp
index 855fefa..91b2f63 100644
--- a/include/mio/mmap.hpp
+++ b/include/mio/mmap.hpp
@@ -135,7 +135,10 @@ public:
     basic_mmap& operator=(const basic_mmap&) = delete;
     basic_mmap& operator=(basic_mmap&&);
 
-    /** The destructor invokes unmap. */
+    /**
+     * If this is a read-write mapping, the destructor invokes sync. Regardless
+     * of the access mode, unmap is invoked as a final step.
+     */
     ~basic_mmap();
 
     /**
diff --git a/include/mio/shared_mmap.hpp b/include/mio/shared_mmap.hpp
index 7dcf74b..ba7e1e0 100644
--- a/include/mio/shared_mmap.hpp
+++ b/include/mio/shared_mmap.hpp
@@ -110,6 +110,11 @@ public:
         if(error) { throw error; }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * If this is a read-write mapping and the last reference to the mapping,
+     * the destructor invokes sync. Regardless of the access mode, unmap is
+     * invoked as a final step.
+     */
     ~basic_shared_mmap() = default;
 
     /** Returns the underlying `std::shared_ptr` instance that holds the mmap. */
diff --git a/test/example.cpp b/test/example.cpp
index efeb67a..2f08b1b 100644
--- a/test/example.cpp
+++ b/test/example.cpp
@@ -49,14 +49,15 @@ int main()
     const int answer_index = rw_mmap.size() / 2;
     rw_mmap[answer_index] = 42;
 
-    // Don't forget to flush changes to disk, which is NOT done by the destructor for
-    // more explicit control of this potentially expensive operation.
+    // Don't forget to flush changes to disk before unmapping. However, if
+    // `rw_mmap` were to go out of scope at this point, the destructor would also
+    // automatically invoke `sync` before `unmap`.
     rw_mmap.sync(error);
     if (error) { return handle_error(error); }
 
     // We can then remove the mapping, after which rw_mmap will be in a default
-    // constructed state, i.e. this has the same effect as if the destructor had been
-    // invoked.
+    // constructed state, i.e. this and the above call to `sync` have the same
+    // effect as if the destructor had been invoked.
     rw_mmap.unmap();
 
     // Now create the same mapping, but in read-only mode.