diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index 5425dd7..e378a8b 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+<!--
+Issues are optional. Do not create an issue just to fill out this template.
+Only add `Closes #NN` on its own line when this session was created to close that issue.
+Otherwise, omit the closing line.
+-->
+
 ## What changed
 
 <!-- Plain bullets. -->