diff --git a/docs/reference/config.rst b/docs/reference/config.rst
index 9b2ee3c78..46eae2d45 100644
--- a/docs/reference/config.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/config.rst
@@ -89,18 +89,26 @@ section header:
     substitutions to avoid causing errors on your operating system. Here are
     some recommended base replacements for Unix-like OSes::
 
-        replace = [\\/\?"]|^\.' _
+        replace = [\\/\?"]|^\. _
                   : -
 
     And, on Windows::
 
-        replace = [\\/\?"]|^\.' _
+        replace = [\\/\?"]|^\. _
                   ["\*<>\|]|^\.|\.$|\s+$ _
                   : -
 
     Note that the above examples are, in fact, the default substitutions used by
     beets.
 
+    To replace space characters, use the ``\s`` (whitespace) entity::
+        
+        replace = \s _
+                  ...
+
+    This will avoid using a literal space and thus confusing beets. (``\s`` also
+    matches tabs and newlines, but that is probably fine.)
+
 ``art_filename``
     When importing album art, the name of the file (without extension) where the
     cover art image should be placed. Defaults to ``cover`` (i.e., images will