diff --git a/doc/contributing/distribution.md b/doc/contributing/distribution.md
index 4727c03b6924e5..cb103117032c49 100644
--- a/doc/contributing/distribution.md
+++ b/doc/contributing/distribution.md
@@ -25,3 +25,11 @@ only as a semver-major change, unless the related feature or project is
 documented as experimental. In addition, Node.js includes external projects as
 internal dependencies. These may be replaced or removed at any time, provided
 that doing so is not a breaking change.
+
+## Executables
+
+The Node.js distribution includes only executables whose names refer to software
+that is vendored within the Node.js distribution. For example, Node.js includes
+an executable `npm` to run the npm software included within the Node.js
+distribution; Node.js does not include a `foo` executable which would download
+software named Foo.