diff --git a/src/doc/trpl/ffi.md b/src/doc/trpl/ffi.md
index 640f9cc388ef0..5375a8aa46b30 100644
--- a/src/doc/trpl/ffi.md
+++ b/src/doc/trpl/ffi.md
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ fn main() {
 ```
 
 Alternatively, you may need to alter global state provided by a foreign
-interface. To do this, statics can be declared with `mut` so rust can mutate
+interface. To do this, statics can be declared with `mut` so we can mutate
 them.
 
 ```no_run
@@ -436,12 +436,19 @@ extern {
 
 fn main() {
     let prompt = CString::from_slice(b"[my-awesome-shell] $");
-    unsafe { rl_prompt = prompt.as_ptr(); }
-    // get a line, process it
-    unsafe { rl_prompt = ptr::null(); }
+    unsafe { 
+        rl_prompt = prompt.as_ptr();
+
+        println!("{}", rl_prompt);
+
+        rl_prompt = ptr::null();
+    }
 }
 ```
 
+Note that all interaction with a `static mut` is unsafe, both reading and
+writing. Dealing with global mutable state requires a great deal of care.
+
 # Foreign calling conventions
 
 Most foreign code exposes a C ABI, and Rust uses the platform's C calling convention by default when