diff --git a/command/agent/config-test-fixtures/basic.hcl b/command/agent/config-test-fixtures/basic.hcl
index 8b1b10331289..d6ee51e13c9d 100644
--- a/command/agent/config-test-fixtures/basic.hcl
+++ b/command/agent/config-test-fixtures/basic.hcl
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ client {
 	}
   server_join {
     retry_join = [ "1.1.1.1", "2.2.2.2" ]
-      retry_max = 3
-      retry_interval = "15s"
+    retry_max = 3
+    retry_interval = "15s"
   }
 
 	options {
@@ -95,9 +95,8 @@ server {
 	encrypt = "abc"
   server_join {
     retry_join = [ "1.1.1.1", "2.2.2.2" ]
-      start_join = [ "1.1.1.1", "2.2.2.2" ]
-      retry_max = 3
-      retry_interval = "15s"
+    retry_max = 3
+    retry_interval = "15s"
   }
 }
 acl {
diff --git a/command/agent/config.go b/command/agent/config.go
index 0398b5004ece..376ce7b8df68 100644
--- a/command/agent/config.go
+++ b/command/agent/config.go
@@ -366,7 +366,8 @@ type ServerJoin struct {
 	// addresses, then the agent will error and exit.
 	StartJoin []string `mapstructure:"start_join"`
 
-	// RetryJoin is a list of addresses to join with retry enabled.
+	// RetryJoin is a list of addresses to join with retry enabled, or a single
+	// value to find multiple servers using go-discover syntax.
 	RetryJoin []string `mapstructure:"retry_join"`
 
 	// RetryMaxAttempts specifies the maximum number of times to retry joining a
diff --git a/command/agent/config_parse_test.go b/command/agent/config_parse_test.go
index 137d0efd8511..92485cd82b7c 100644
--- a/command/agent/config_parse_test.go
+++ b/command/agent/config_parse_test.go
@@ -113,7 +113,6 @@ func TestConfig_Parse(t *testing.T) {
 					EncryptKey:             "abc",
 					ServerJoin: &ServerJoin{
 						RetryJoin:        []string{"1.1.1.1", "2.2.2.2"},
-						StartJoin:        []string{"1.1.1.1", "2.2.2.2"},
 						RetryInterval:    time.Duration(15) * time.Second,
 						RetryMaxAttempts: 3,
 					},
diff --git a/command/agent/retry_join.go b/command/agent/retry_join.go
index 3600ba7b4884..66b5851df857 100644
--- a/command/agent/retry_join.go
+++ b/command/agent/retry_join.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func (r *retryJoiner) Validate(config *Config) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("server_join and retry_max cannot both be defined; try defining only server_join")
 		}
 		if config.Server.RetryInterval != "0" {
-			return fmt.Errorf("server_join and retry_interval cannot both be defined; try defining only server_join")
+			return fmt.Errorf("server_join and retry_interval cannot both be defined; prefer setting the server_join parameter")
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/client.html.md b/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/client.html.md
index 4cb00e6c0b1f..7cee5601a59f 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/client.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/client.html.md
@@ -91,7 +91,10 @@ client {
   the port. If the port is omitted, the default port of `4647` is used.
 
 - `server_join` <code>([server_join](#server-join): nil)</code> - Specifies
-  configuration which is specific to retry joining Nomad servers.
+  how the Nomad client will connect to Nomad servers. The `start_join` field
+  is not supported on the client. The retry_join fields may directly specify
+  the server address or use go-discover syntax for auto-discovery. See the
+  documentation for more detail.
 
 - `state_dir` `(string: "[data_dir]/client")` - Specifies the directory to use
  to store client state. By default, this is - the top-level
diff --git a/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/server.html.md b/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/server.html.md
index ede0a1677f2e..d1919872d117 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/server.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/server.html.md
@@ -136,7 +136,9 @@ server {
   rejoin the cluster.
 
 - `server_join` <code>([server_join](#server-join): nil)</code> - Specifies
-  configuration for retry joining Nomad servers if the first attempt fails.
+  how the Nomad client will connect to Nomad servers. The retry_join fields may
+  directly specify the server address or use go-discover syntax for
+  auto-discovery. See the documentation for more detail.
 
 - `upgrade_version` `(string: "")` - A custom version of the format X.Y.Z to use
   in place of the Nomad version when custom upgrades are enabled in Autopilot.
diff --git a/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/server_join.html.md b/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/server_join.html.md
index eb65f62fdc24..4fa823e23560 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/server_join.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/agent/configuration/server_join.html.md
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ nomad-01.company.local => nomad-01.company.local:4648
 
 #### Via the go-discover interface
 
-As of Nomad 0.8.4, `retry-join` accepts a unified interface using the
+As of Nomad 0.8.4, `retry_join` accepts a unified interface using the
 [go-discover](https://github.com/hashicorp/go-discover) library for doing
 automated cluster joining using cloud metadata.