diff --git a/docs/FAQ.md b/docs/FAQ.md
index db89526138..a8c530678e 100644
--- a/docs/FAQ.md
+++ b/docs/FAQ.md
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@ cd $(brew --repository)
 hub pull someone_else
 ```
 
+## Why should I install Homebrew in the default location?
+
+Homebrew's pre-built binary packages (known as [bottles](Bottles.md)) of many packages can only be used if you install in the default installation prefix, otherwise they have to be built from source. Building from source takes a long time, is prone to fail, and is not supported. Do yourself a favour and install to the default prefix so that you can use our pre-built binary packages. The default prefix is `/usr/local` for macOS on Intel, `/opt/homebrew` for macOS on ARM, and `/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew` for Linux. *Pick another prefix at your peril!*
+
 ## Why does Homebrew prefer I install to `/usr/local`?
 
 1.  **It’s easier**<br>`/usr/local/bin` is already in your
@@ -105,6 +109,10 @@ hub pull someone_else
 
 It is not always straightforward to tell `gem` to look in non-standard directories for headers and libraries. If you choose `/usr/local`, many things will "just work".
 
+## Why is the default installation prefix `/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew` on Linux?
+
+The prefix `/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew` was chosen so that users without admin access can ask an admin to create a `linuxbrew` role account and still benefit from precompiled binaries. If you do not yourself have admin privileges, consider asking your admin staff to create a `linuxbrew` role account for you with home directory `/home/linuxbrew`.
+
 ## Why does Homebrew say sudo is bad?
 **tl;dr** Sudo is dangerous, and you installed TextMate.app without sudo
 anyway.
diff --git a/docs/Homebrew-on-Linux.md b/docs/Homebrew-on-Linux.md
index 6dccb444eb..a5b3fac027 100644
--- a/docs/Homebrew-on-Linux.md
+++ b/docs/Homebrew-on-Linux.md
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ Instructions for a supported install of Homebrew on Linux are on the [homepage](
 
 The installation script installs Homebrew to `/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew` using *sudo* if possible and in your home directory at `~/.linuxbrew` otherwise. Homebrew does not use *sudo* after installation. Using `/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew` allows the use of more binary packages (bottles) than installing in your personal home directory.
 
+The prefix `/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew` was chosen so that users without admin access can ask an admin to create a `linuxbrew` role account and still benefit from precompiled binaries. If you do not yourself have admin privileges, consider asking your admin staff to create a `linuxbrew` role account for you with home directory `/home/linuxbrew`.
+
 Follow the *Next steps* instructions to add Homebrew to your `PATH` and to your bash shell profile script, either `~/.profile` on Debian/Ubuntu or `~/.bash_profile` on CentOS/Fedora/Red Hat.
 
 ```sh