diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/administration/nixos-state.section.md b/nixos/doc/manual/administration/nixos-state.section.md
index 403195faa59d..2443918c9d7c 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/administration/nixos-state.section.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/administration/nixos-state.section.md
@@ -6,8 +6,13 @@ can be linked from the nix store during activation.
 Moreover, `/boot` should also be persistent, as it contains the kernel, initrd,
 and the command-line determining the system environment's path in the nix store.
 
-Lastly, `users.mutableUsers` should be false, *or* the following files under
-`/etc` should all persist:
-- {manpage}`passwd(5)` and {manpage}`group(5)`,
-- {manpage}`shadow(5)` and {manpage}`gshadow(5)`,
-- {manpage}`subuid(5)` and {manpage}`subgid(5)`.
+
+## Users and groups {#sec-state-users}
+
+- `/var/lib/nixos` should persist: it holds state needed to generate stable
+  uids and gids for declaratively-managed users and groups, etc.
+- `users.mutableUsers` should be false, *or* the following files under `/etc`
+  should all persist:
+  - {manpage}`passwd(5)` and {manpage}`group(5)`,
+  - {manpage}`shadow(5)` and {manpage}`gshadow(5)`,
+  - {manpage}`subuid(5)` and {manpage}`subgid(5)`.