diff --git a/docs/configuration.rst b/docs/configuration.rst
index c1f27c5d4..117748734 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ PAPERLESS_LOGROTATE_MAX_BACKUPS=<num>
 
     Defaults to 20.
 
+.. _hosting-and-security:
+
 Hosting & Security
 ##################
 
diff --git a/docs/setup.rst b/docs/setup.rst
index 72d18c785..f72299d58 100644
--- a/docs/setup.rst
+++ b/docs/setup.rst
@@ -784,4 +784,6 @@ the following configuration is required for paperless to operate:
         }
     }
 
+The ``PAPERLESS_URL`` configuration variable is also required when using a reverse proxy. Please refer to the :ref:`hosting-and-security` docs.
+
 Also read `this <https://channels.readthedocs.io/en/stable/deploying.html#nginx-supervisor-ubuntu>`__, towards the end of the section.