diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 110e8535b111..e10eee47488e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
 1. BEST: Make all of your changes to upstream Linux. If appropriate, backport to the stable releases.
    These patches will be merged automatically in the corresponding common kernels. If the patch is already
    in upstream Linux, post a backport of the patch that conforms to the patch requirements below.
+   - Do not send patches upstream that contain only symbol exports. To be considered for upstream Linux,
+additions of `EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL()` require an in-tree modular driver that uses the symbol -- so include
+the new driver or changes to an existing driver in the same patchset as the export.
+   - When sending patches upstream, the commit message must contain a clear case for why the patch
+is needed and beneficial to the community. Enabling out-of-tree drivers or functionality is not
+not a persuasive case.
 
 2. LESS GOOD: Develop your patches out-of-tree (from an upstream Linux point-of-view). Unless these are
    fixing an Android-specific bug, these are very unlikely to be accepted unless they have been