diff --git a/compiler/rustc_errors/src/json.rs b/compiler/rustc_errors/src/json.rs
index 8511b51e3bffa..3753ca580e708 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_errors/src/json.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_errors/src/json.rs
@@ -335,6 +335,10 @@ struct FutureIncompatReport {
     future_incompat_report: Vec<FutureBreakageItem>,
 }
 
+// NOTE: Keep this in sync with the equivalent structs in rustdoc's
+// doctest component (as well as cargo).
+// We could unify this struct the one in rustdoc but they have different
+// ownership semantics, so doing so would create wasteful allocations.
 #[derive(Encodable)]
 struct UnusedExterns<'a, 'b, 'c> {
     /// The severity level of the unused dependencies lint
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/doctest.rs b/src/librustdoc/doctest.rs
index 116b3aad61eb4..f7a6ccfc7d1fd 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/doctest.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/doctest.rs
@@ -278,6 +278,10 @@ impl DirState {
     }
 }
 
+// NOTE: Keep this in sync with the equivalent structs in rustc
+// and cargo.
+// We could unify this struct the one in rustc but they have different
+// ownership semantics, so doing so would create wasteful allocations.
 #[derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
 struct UnusedExterns {
     /// Lint level of the unused_crate_dependencies lint