diff --git a/sites/all/modules/README.txt b/sites/all/modules/README.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e2cb25efef19a11b054593f1a7ce652beeec15e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sites/all/modules/README.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+// $Id$
+
+This directory should be used to place downloaded and custom modules
+which are common to all sites. This will allow you to more easily
+update Drupal core files.
diff --git a/sites/all/themes/README.txt b/sites/all/themes/README.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..99ced75d0bbfe65411e3debb8a3af1eabdb7c988
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sites/all/themes/README.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+// $Id$
+
+This directory should be used to place downloaded and custom themes
+which are common to all sites. This will allow you to more easily
+update Drupal core files.