diff --git a/source/classes.tex b/source/classes.tex
index bfb2b24787..b25dc2424e 100644
--- a/source/classes.tex
+++ b/source/classes.tex
@@ -2098,9 +2098,10 @@
 A prospective destructor can be
 declared \keyword{virtual}\iref{class.virtual}
 and with a \grammarterm{pure-specifier}\iref{class.abstract}.
-If the destructor of a class is virtual and
-any objects of that class or any derived class are created in the program,
-the destructor shall be defined.
+\begin{note}
+Since a pure virtual destructor will be invoked by the destructor of
+a derived class, it must still be defined in most cases; see~\ref{basic.def.odr}.
+\end{note}
 
 \pnum
 \begin{note}