diff --git a/doc/lispref/modes.texi b/doc/lispref/modes.texi
index bd94aeadf153561119f764f1835ba37a3ee81404..1a601baee869d9e2f620965dbb044211771239d1 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/modes.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/modes.texi
@@ -313,6 +313,11 @@ The major mode command should set the variable @code{mode-name} to the
 Data}, for other possible forms).  The name of the mode appears
 in the mode line.
 
+@item
+Calling the major mode command twice in direct succession should not
+fail and should do the same thing as calling the command only once.
+In other words, the major mode command should be idempotent.
+
 @item
 @cindex functions in modes
 Since all global names are in the same name space, all the global
@@ -1412,6 +1417,10 @@ a minor mode in a mode hook is a little uglier:
 @noindent
 However, this is not very commonly done.
 
+  Enabling or disabling a minor mode twice in direct succession should
+not fail and should do the same thing as enabling or disabling it only
+once.  In other words, the minor mode command should be idempotent.
+
 @item
 Add an element to @code{minor-mode-alist} for each minor mode
 (@pxref{Definition of minor-mode-alist}), if you want to indicate the