diff --git a/R/board_s3.R b/R/board_s3.R
index a876513ff..76b5c5ee3 100644
--- a/R/board_s3.R
+++ b/R/board_s3.R
@@ -41,13 +41,15 @@
 #'
 #' # Details
 #'
-#' * If you point at a bucket that's not created by pins, some functions
-#'   like `pins_list()` will work, but won't return useful output.
+#' * The functions in pins do not create a new bucket. You can create
+#'   a new bucket from R with [paws][paws.storage::s3_create_bucket].
+#' * Some functions like [pin_list()] will work for an S3 board, but don't
+#'   return useful output.
 #' * You can pass arguments for [paws.storage::s3_put_object] such as `Tagging`
 #'   and `ServerSideEncryption` through the dots of `pin_write()`.
 #'
 #' @inheritParams new_board
-#' @param bucket Bucket name.
+#' @param bucket Bucket name. You can only write to an existing bucket.
 #' @param prefix Prefix within this bucket that this board will occupy.
 #'   You can use this to maintain multiple independent pin boards within
 #'   a single S3 bucket. Will typically end with `/` to take advantage of
diff --git a/man/board_s3.Rd b/man/board_s3.Rd
index 267b7f18b..947e8f149 100644
--- a/man/board_s3.Rd
+++ b/man/board_s3.Rd
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ board_s3(
 )
 }
 \arguments{
-\item{bucket}{Bucket name.}
+\item{bucket}{Bucket name. You can only write to an existing bucket.}
 
 \item{prefix}{Prefix within this bucket that this board will occupy.
 You can use this to maintain multiple independent pin boards within
@@ -81,8 +81,10 @@ authentication.
 
 \section{Details}{
 \itemize{
-\item If you point at a bucket that's not created by pins, some functions
-like \code{pins_list()} will work, but won't return useful output.
+\item The functions in pins do not create a new bucket. You can create
+a new bucket from R with \link[paws.storage:s3_create_bucket]{paws}.
+\item Some functions like \code{\link[=pin_list]{pin_list()}} will work for an S3 board, but don't
+return useful output.
 \item You can pass arguments for \link[paws.storage:s3_put_object]{paws.storage::s3_put_object} such as \code{Tagging}
 and \code{ServerSideEncryption} through the dots of \code{pin_write()}.
 }