diff --git a/spring-boot-docs/src/main/asciidoc/build-tool-plugins.adoc b/spring-boot-docs/src/main/asciidoc/build-tool-plugins.adoc
index 1ea3d1b872..59dd7a59d2 100644
--- a/spring-boot-docs/src/main/asciidoc/build-tool-plugins.adoc
+++ b/spring-boot-docs/src/main/asciidoc/build-tool-plugins.adoc
@@ -366,12 +366,14 @@ The following configuration options are available:
 want the other Boot features but not this one)
 
 |`mainClass`
-|The main class that should be run. If not specified the `mainClassName` project property
- will be used or, if the no `mainClassName` id defined the archive will be searched for a
- suitable class. "Suitable" means a unique class with a well-formed `main()` method (if
- more than one is found the build will fail). You should also be able to specify the main
- class name via the "run" task (`main` property) and/or the "startScripts"
- (`mainClassName` property) as an alternative to using the "springBoot" configuration.
+|The main class that should be run. If not specified, and you have applied the application
+ plugin, the `mainClassName` project property will be used. If the application plugin has
+ not been applied or no `mainClassName` has been specified, the archive will be searched
+ for a suitable class. "Suitable" means a unique class with a well-formed `main()` method
+ (if more than one is found the build will fail). If you have applied the application
+ plugin, the main class can also be specified via its "run" task (`main` property) and/or
+ its "startScripts" task (`mainClassName` property) as an alternative to using the
+ "springBoot" configuration.
 
 |`classifier`
 |A file name segment (before the extension) to add to the archive, so that the original is