diff --git a/src/doc/guide-pointers.md b/src/doc/guide-pointers.md
index cf7ecd7e51f..64b440259cf 100644
--- a/src/doc/guide-pointers.md
+++ b/src/doc/guide-pointers.md
@@ -445,11 +445,32 @@ fn succ(x: &int) -> int { *x + 1 }
 to
 
 ```{rust}
+use std::rc::Rc;
+
 fn box_succ(x: Box<int>) -> int { *x + 1 }
 
-fn rc_succ(x: std::rc::Rc<int>) -> int { *x + 1 }
+fn rc_succ(x: Rc<int>) -> int { *x + 1 }
 ```
 
+Note that the caller of your function will have to modify their calls slightly:
+
+```{rust}
+use std::rc::Rc;
+
+fn succ(x: &int) -> int { *x + 1 }
+
+let ref_x = &5i;
+let box_x = box 5i;
+let rc_x  = Rc::new(5i);
+
+succ(ref_x);
+succ(&*box_x);
+succ(&*rc_x);
+```
+
+The initial `*` dereferences the pointer, and then `&` takes a reference to
+those contents.
+
 # Boxes
 
 `Box<T>` is Rust's 'boxed pointer' type. Boxes provide the simplest form of