diff --git a/documentation/dev-manual/start.rst b/documentation/dev-manual/start.rst
index 386e5f5d2..cfc1be65e 100644
--- a/documentation/dev-manual/start.rst
+++ b/documentation/dev-manual/start.rst
@@ -853,3 +853,14 @@ similar to checking out by branch name except you use tag names.
    ``checkout`` command are a snapshot of the "&DISTRO_NAME_NO_CAP;"
    development branch at the point where Yocto Project &DISTRO; was
    released.
+
+Initializing the Build Environment
+----------------------------------
+
+Before you can use Yocto you need to setup the build environment.
+From within the poky directory, source the oe-init-build-env environment
+setup script to define Yocto Project’s build environment on your build host::
+    
+    $ source oe-init-build-env 
+
+Note, that this step will have to be repeated every time you open a new shell.