diff --git a/misc/vim/readme.txt b/misc/vim/readme.txt
index 1e0aa4883d..cb3a520739 100644
--- a/misc/vim/readme.txt
+++ b/misc/vim/readme.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 Vim plugins for Go (http://golang.org)
 ======================================
 
-To use all the Vim plugins, add these lines to your vimrc.
+To use all the Vim plugins, add these lines to your $HOME/.vimrc.
 
-  set rtp+=$GOROOT/misc/vim
+  " Some Linux distributions set filetype in /etc/vimrc.
+  " Clear filetype flags before changing runtimepath to force Vim to reload them.
+  filetype off
+  filetype plugin indent off
+  set runtimepath+=$GOROOT/misc/vim
   filetype plugin indent on
   syntax on