diff --git a/lisp/net/ange-ftp.el b/lisp/net/ange-ftp.el
index 04ea809127..3f3a3df8e5 100644
--- a/lisp/net/ange-ftp.el
+++ b/lisp/net/ange-ftp.el
@@ -949,7 +949,11 @@ ange-ftp-gateway-ftp-program-name
   :type 'string)
 
 (defcustom ange-ftp-ftp-program-args '("-i" "-n" "-g" "-v")
-  "A list of arguments passed to the FTP program when started."
+  ;; Clients that use the BSD editline instead of the GNU readline
+  ;; library may need to disable command line editing. (Bug#48494)
+  "A list of arguments passed to the FTP program when started.
+Some FTP clients may also require the \"-e\" argument, which disables
+command line editing."
   :group 'ange-ftp
   :type '(repeat string))