diff --git a/doc/manual/src/language/constructs/lookup-path.md b/doc/manual/src/language/constructs/lookup-path.md
index 11b9fe88c..a2e80280b 100644
--- a/doc/manual/src/language/constructs/lookup-path.md
+++ b/doc/manual/src/language/constructs/lookup-path.md
@@ -4,11 +4,8 @@
 >
 > *lookup-path* = `<` *identifier* [ `/` *identifier* ]... `>`
 
-A lookup path is an identifier with an optional path suffix that resolves to a [path value](@docroot@/language/types.md#type-path) if the identifier matches a search path entry.
-
-The value of a lookup path is determined by [`builtins.nixPath`](@docroot@/language/builtins.md#builtins-nixPath).
-
-See [`builtins.findFile`](@docroot@/language/builtins.md#builtins-findFile) for details on lookup path resolution.
+A lookup path is an identifier with an optional path suffix that resolves to a [path value](@docroot@/language/types.md#type-path) if the identifier matches a search path entry in [`builtins.nixPath`](@docroot@/language/builtins.md#builtins-nixPath).
+The algorithm for lookup path resolution is described in the documentation on [`builtins.findFile`](@docroot@/language/builtins.md#builtins-findFile).
 
 > **Example**
 >
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops.cc b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
index 2de6cbf4b..9de8ff599 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
@@ -4857,7 +4857,10 @@ void EvalState::createBaseEnv()
     addConstant("__nixPath", v, {
         .type = nList,
         .doc = R"(
-          The value of the [`nix-path` configuration setting](@docroot@/command-ref/conf-file.md#conf-nix-path): a list of search path entries used to resolve [lookup paths](@docroot@/language/constructs/lookup-path.md).
+          A list of search path entries used to resolve [lookup paths](@docroot@/language/constructs/lookup-path.md).
+          Its value is primarily determined by the [`nix-path` configuration setting](@docroot@/command-ref/conf-file.md#conf-nix-path), which are
+          - Overridden by the [`NIX_PATH`](@docroot@/command-ref/env-common.md#env-NIX_PATH) environment variable or the `--nix-path` option
+          - Extended by the [`-I` option](@docroot@/command-ref/opt-common.md#opt-I) or `--extra-nix-path`
 
           > **Example**
           >