diff --git a/Documentation/s390/driver-model.txt b/Documentation/s390/driver-model.txt
index 77bf450ec39..e938c442277 100644
--- a/Documentation/s390/driver-model.txt
+++ b/Documentation/s390/driver-model.txt
@@ -18,11 +18,18 @@ devices/
 	   - 0.0.0002/
 	   - 0.1.0000/0.1.1234/
 	   ...
+	   - defunct/
 
 In this example, device 0815 is accessed via subchannel 0 in subchannel set 0,
 device 4711 via subchannel 1 in subchannel set 0, and subchannel 2 is a non-I/O
 subchannel. Device 1234 is accessed via subchannel 0 in subchannel set 1.
 
+The subchannel named 'defunct' does not represent any real subchannel on the
+system; it is a pseudo subchannel where disconnnected ccw devices are moved to
+if they are displaced by another ccw device becoming operational on their
+former subchannel. The ccw devices will be moved again to a proper subchannel
+if they become operational again on that subchannel.
+
 You should address a ccw device via its bus id (e.g. 0.0.4711); the device can
 be found under bus/ccw/devices/.