diff --git a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/config/MvcDefaultServletHandler.java b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/config/MvcDefaultServletHandler.java
index 01765173a6..b14cfcfe46 100644
--- a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/config/MvcDefaultServletHandler.java
+++ b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/config/MvcDefaultServletHandler.java
@@ -33,6 +33,13 @@ import org.springframework.web.servlet.resource.DefaultServletHttpRequestHandler
  * 	<li>{@link HttpRequestHandlerAdapter} to enable the DispatcherServlet to be
  *     able to invoke the above request handler.
  * </ul>
+ *
+ * This handler will forward all requests to the default Servlet. Therefore 
+ * it is important that it remains last in the order of all other URL 
+ * HandlerMappings. That will be the case if you use the {@link MvcAnnotationDriven} 
+ * feature or alternatively if you are setting up your customized HandlerMapping 
+ * instance be sure to set its "order" property to a value lower than that of 
+ * the DefaultServletHttpRequestHandler, which is Integer.MAX_VALUE. 
  * 
  * @author Rossen Stoyanchev
  * @since 3.1
diff --git a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/resources/org/springframework/web/servlet/config/spring-mvc-3.1.xsd b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/resources/org/springframework/web/servlet/config/spring-mvc-3.1.xsd
index b788c93314..0761dea919 100644
--- a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/resources/org/springframework/web/servlet/config/spring-mvc-3.1.xsd
+++ b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/resources/org/springframework/web/servlet/config/spring-mvc-3.1.xsd
@@ -171,6 +171,10 @@
 	Configures a handler for serving static resources by forwarding to the Servlet container's default Servlet.  Use of this
 	handler allows using a "/" mapping with the DispatcherServlet while still utilizing the Servlet container to serve static
 	resources.
+	This handler will forward all requests to the default Servlet. Therefore it is important that it remains last in the 
+	order of all other URL HandlerMappings. That will be the case if you use the "annotation-driven" element or alternatively 
+	if you are setting up your customized HandlerMapping instance be sure to set its "order" property to a value lower than 
+	that of the DefaultServletHttpRequestHandler, which is Integer.MAX_VALUE. 
 			]]></xsd:documentation>
 		</xsd:annotation>
 		<xsd:complexType>
diff --git a/spring-framework-reference/src/mvc.xml b/spring-framework-reference/src/mvc.xml
index c9e983ce74..6611c231ba 100644
--- a/spring-framework-reference/src/mvc.xml
+++ b/spring-framework-reference/src/mvc.xml
@@ -3509,8 +3509,16 @@ application.version=1.0.0]]>
   		<para>
   			This tag allows for mapping the <code>DispatcherServlet</code> to "/" (thus overriding the mapping of the container's default Servlet), 
   			while still allowing static resource requests to be handled by the container's default Servlet.  It configures a 
-  			<code>DefaultServletHttpRequestHandler</code> with a URL mapping (given a lowest precedence order) of "/**".  This handler will 
-  			forward all requests to the default Servlet.  To enable this feature using the default setup, simply include the tag in the form: 
+  			<code>DefaultServletHttpRequestHandler</code> with a URL mapping of "/**" and the lowest priority relative to other URL mappings.  
+  		</para>
+  		<para>
+  			This handler will forward all requests to the default Servlet. Therefore it is important that it remains last in the order of all
+  			other URL <code>HandlerMappings</code>. That will be the case if you use <code>&lt;mvc:annotation-driven&gt;</code> or alternatively if you 
+  			are setting up your own customized <code>HandlerMapping</code> instance be sure to set its <code>order</code> property to a value lower than 
+  			that of the <code>DefaultServletHttpRequestHandler</code>, which is <code>Integer.MAX_VALUE</code>.
+  		</para>
+  		<para>
+  			To enable the feature using the default setup, simply include the tag in the form:
   		</para>
   		<programlisting language="xml"><![CDATA[
 <mvc:default-servlet-handler/>]]>