diff --git a/docs/howto/i18n.txt b/docs/howto/i18n.txt
index 6bec531177..64b33d765f 100644
--- a/docs/howto/i18n.txt
+++ b/docs/howto/i18n.txt
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@ Using internationalization in your own projects
 
 At runtime, Django looks for translations by following this algorithm:
 
-    * First, it looks for a ``locale`` directory in the application directory
-      of the view that's being called. If it finds a translation for the
-      selected language, the translation will be installed.
-    * Next, it looks for a ``locale`` directory in the project directory. If it
-      finds a translation, the translation will be installed.
+    * First, it looks for a ``locale`` directory in the directory containing
+      your settings file.
+    * Second, it looks for a ``locale`` directory in the project directory.
+    * Third, it looks for a ``locale`` directory in each of the installed apps.
+      It does this in the reverse order of INSTALLED_APPS
     * Finally, it checks the Django-provided base translation in
       ``django/conf/locale``.
 
diff --git a/docs/topics/i18n/deployment.txt b/docs/topics/i18n/deployment.txt
index f06227e0f6..4727841f14 100644
--- a/docs/topics/i18n/deployment.txt
+++ b/docs/topics/i18n/deployment.txt
@@ -178,11 +178,11 @@ How Django discovers translations
 As described in :ref:`using-translations-in-your-own-projects`,
 at runtime, Django looks for translations by following this algorithm:
 
-    * First, it looks for a ``locale`` directory in the application directory
-      of the view that's being called. If it finds a translation for the
-      selected language, the translation will be installed.
-    * Next, it looks for a ``locale`` directory in the project directory. If it
-      finds a translation, the translation will be installed.
+    * First, it looks for a ``locale`` directory in the directory containing
+      your settings file.
+    * Second, it looks for a ``locale`` directory in the project directory.
+    * Third, it looks for a ``locale`` directory in each of the installed apps.
+      It does this in the reverse order of INSTALLED_APPS
     * Finally, it checks the Django-provided base translation in
       ``django/conf/locale``.