diff --git a/docs/preferences.md b/docs/preferences.md
index 927b66788..b1ae0eda9 100644
--- a/docs/preferences.md
+++ b/docs/preferences.md
@@ -89,7 +89,11 @@ Commands (CLI, MCP, control channel):
   one; `EFFECTCRAFT_GPU_MEMCAP_MB` sets it), keeping room for the upload cache to fill. It
   renders one frame at a time where the memory can't be measured (Metal, WebGPU, GL, or the
   cap turned off) and once frames have had to wait for memory. The render log names the count.
-  `EFFECTCRAFT_GPU_INFLIGHT` overrides it.
+  `EFFECTCRAFT_GPU_INFLIGHT` overrides it. CPU renders have no such setting: they keep one
+  frame per thread in flight, so their memory grows with the core count. Set
+  `EFFECTCRAFT_CPU_INFLIGHT` to a whole number of frames (at least 1) to cap the frames in
+  flight of every render, `effectcraft-cli render` included
+  ([#1615](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft/issues/1615)).
 - `threeD.defaultRenderer`: Default 3D Renderer
 - `labels.N.name` / `labels.N.color`: the 16 label names and colours, used by the Label menu,
   the timeline, project panel, render queue and viewer handles