diff --git a/doc/cli.markdown b/doc/cli.markdown
index d1d9a6f2..e9a532a4 100644
--- a/doc/cli.markdown
+++ b/doc/cli.markdown
@@ -1302,7 +1302,11 @@ show additional commands
 
 ## version
 
-Display version information for balenaCLI and/or Node.js.
+Display version information for balenaCLI and/or Node.js. Note that the
+balenaCLI executable installers for Windows and macOS, and the standalone
+zip packages, ship with a built-in copy of Node.js.  In this case, the
+reported version of Node.js regards this built-in copy, rather than any
+other `node` engine that may also be available on the command prompt.
 
 The --json option is recommended when scripting the output of this command,
 because the JSON format is less likely to change and it better represents
diff --git a/lib/commands/version.ts b/lib/commands/version.ts
index dfe554c7..da256f26 100644
--- a/lib/commands/version.ts
+++ b/lib/commands/version.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,11 @@ export default class VersionCmd extends Command {
 	public static description = stripIndent`
 		Display version information for balenaCLI and/or Node.js.
 
-		Display version information for balenaCLI and/or Node.js.
+		Display version information for balenaCLI and/or Node.js. Note that the
+		balenaCLI executable installers for Windows and macOS, and the standalone
+		zip packages, ship with a built-in copy of Node.js.  In this case, the
+		reported version of Node.js regards this built-in copy, rather than any
+		other \`node\` engine that may also be available on the command prompt.
 
 		The --json option is recommended when scripting the output of this command,
 		because the JSON format is less likely to change and it better represents