diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index be9e14027..2fd5f8811 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ endif
 ##########
 ## Main ##
 ##########
+# The Makefile automatically bootstraps dependency setup when needed for build and test targets.
+# `make update` is an explicit refresh target and is not required manually for normal builds.
 .PHONY: all test update clean examples deps nimble install-nim install-nimble
 
 # default target
@@ -77,6 +79,8 @@ $(NIMBLEDEPS_STAMP): nimble.lock | waku.nims
 	$(MAKE) rebuild-nat-libs-nimbledeps
 	touch $@
 
+# `update` refreshes the local dependency stamp and lockfile.
+# Most targets already depend on $(NIMBLEDEPS_STAMP) and will update automatically as needed.
 update:
 	rm -f $(NIMBLEDEPS_STAMP)
 	$(MAKE) $(NIMBLEDEPS_STAMP)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8833ae131..6c542324d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,6 +26,13 @@ The standard developer tools, including a C compiler, GNU Make, Bash, and Git. M
 You'll also need an installation of Rust and its toolchain (specifically `rustc` and `cargo`).
 The easiest way to install these, is using `rustup`:
 
+Supported toolchain versions:
+- Nim 2.2.4
+- Nimble 0.22.3
+
+These versions are enforced by the repository configuration and the Makefile.
+
+Rust:
 ```bash
 curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
 ```
@@ -33,8 +40,7 @@ curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
 ### Wakunode
 
 ```bash
-# The first `make` invocation will update all Git submodules.
-# You'll run `make update` after each `git pull` in the future to keep those submodules updated.
+# The first `make` invocation will initialize the local dependency state.
 make wakunode2
 
 # Build with custom compilation flags. Do not use NIM_PARAMS unless you know what you are doing.