diff --git a/README.cloud b/README.cloud
index 61d98d13e8..26a3966432 100644
--- a/README.cloud
+++ b/README.cloud
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ Setting up a new persistent cloud host:
     source /srv/private/ansible/files/openstack/novarc
     nova floating-ip-list
 
+Note that an "available floating IP" is one that has only a "-" in the Fixed IP
+column of the above `nova` command.
+
 2) Add that IP addr to dns (typically as foo.cloud.fedoraproject.org)
 
 3) Create persistent storage disk for the instance (if necessary.. you might not