diff --git a/doc/090_participating.rst b/doc/090_participating.rst
index a035af7ca..2a3964cac 100644
--- a/doc/090_participating.rst
+++ b/doc/090_participating.rst
@@ -130,14 +130,17 @@ Backward compatibility for backups is important so that our users are
 always able to restore saved data. Therefore restic follows `Semantic
 Versioning <https://semver.org>`__ to clearly define which versions are
 compatible. The repository and data structures contained therein are
-considered the "Public API" in the sense of Semantic Versioning. This
-goes for all released versions of restic, this may not be the case for
-the master branch.
+considered the "Public API" in the sense of Semantic Versioning.
 
-We guarantee backward compatibility of all repositories within one major
-version; as long as we do not increment the major version, data can be
-read and restored. We strive to be fully backward compatible to all
-prior versions.
+Once version 1.0.0 is released, we guarantee backward compatibility of
+all repositories within one major version; as long as we do not
+increment the major version, data can be read and restored. We strive
+to be fully backward compatible to all prior versions.
+
+During initial development (versions prior to 1.0.0), maintainers and
+developers will do their utmost to keep backwards compatibility and
+stability, although there might be breaking changes without increasing
+the major version.
 
 **********************
 Building documentation