diff --git a/doc/contributing/distribution.md b/doc/contributing/distribution.md
index 4727c03b6924e5..d60f2cebf966e4 100644
--- a/doc/contributing/distribution.md
+++ b/doc/contributing/distribution.md
@@ -25,3 +25,17 @@ only as a semver-major change, unless the related feature or project is
 documented as experimental. In addition, Node.js includes external projects as
 internal dependencies. These may be replaced or removed at any time, provided
 that doing so is not a breaking change.
+
+## Placeholder executables
+
+A placeholder executable is a binary, symlink or script that has a name that
+refers to software that is not distributed with Node.js, but instead would be
+downloaded when the executable is run.
+
+Adding placeholder executables has a high boundary to be included in Node.js as
+it has a strong impact on the security side as well as the problem that it
+provides a strong support for a specific project outside of Node.js, which
+Node.js tries to avoid. Node.js is not going to support any outside project
+without a very strong reason to do so. It therefore requires an affirmative vote
+of the Node.js Technical Steering Committee to include any such placeholder
+executables.