diff --git a/website/usage/_processing-pipelines/_custom-components.jade b/website/usage/_processing-pipelines/_custom-components.jade
index 71e88ca3d..333791c14 100644
--- a/website/usage/_processing-pipelines/_custom-components.jade
+++ b/website/usage/_processing-pipelines/_custom-components.jade
@@ -100,7 +100,10 @@ p
         |  Set a default value for an attribute, which can be overwritten
         |  manually at any time. Attribute extensions work like "normal"
         |  variables and are the quickest way to store arbitrary information
-        |  on a #[code Doc], #[code Span] or #[code Token].
+        |  on a #[code Doc], #[code Span] or #[code Token]. Attribute defaults
+        |  behaves just like argument defaults
+        |  #[+a("http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/writing/gotchas/#mutable-default-arguments") in Python functions],
+        |  and should not be used for mutable values like dictionaries or lists.
 
         +code-wrapper
             +code.
diff --git a/website/usage/_processing-pipelines/_extensions.jade b/website/usage/_processing-pipelines/_extensions.jade
index fb46fe330..f0bc4c249 100644
--- a/website/usage/_processing-pipelines/_extensions.jade
+++ b/website/usage/_processing-pipelines/_extensions.jade
@@ -36,6 +36,24 @@ p
                 if token.text in ('apple', 'orange'):
                     token._.set('is_fruit', True)
 
+    +item
+        |  When using #[strong mutable values] like dictionaries or lists as
+        |  the #[code default] argument, keep in mind that they behave just like
+        |  mutable default arguments
+        |  #[+a("http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/writing/gotchas/#mutable-default-arguments") in Python functions].
+        |  This can easily cause unintended results, like the same value being
+        |  set on #[em all] objects instead of only one particular instance.
+        |  In most cases, it's better to use #[strong getters and setters], and
+        |  only set the #[code default] for boolean or string values.
+
+        +code-wrapper
+            +code-new.
+                Doc.set_extension('fruits', getter=get_fruits, setter=set_fruits)
+
+            +code-old.
+                Doc.set_extension('fruits', default={})
+                doc._.fruits['apple'] = u'🍎'  # all docs now have {'apple': u'🍎'}
+
     +item
         |  Always add your custom attributes to the #[strong global] #[code Doc]
         |  #[code Token] or #[code Span] objects, not a particular instance of