diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/instrument_context.py b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/instrument_context.py
index d8fa276c8ff..2f3c4f4b0da 100644
--- a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/instrument_context.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/instrument_context.py
@@ -1802,22 +1802,28 @@ def configure_nozzle_layout(
 
         .. note::
             When picking up fewer than 96 tips at once, the tip rack *must not* be
-            placed in a tip rack adapter in the deck. If you try to perform partial tip
-            pickup on a tip rack that is in an adapter, the API will raise an error.
+            placed in a tip rack adapter in the deck. If you try to pick up fewer than 96
+            tips from a tip rack that is in an adapter, the API will raise an error.
 
         :param style: The shape of the nozzle layout.
 
             - ``COLUMN`` sets the pipette to use 8 nozzles, aligned from front to back
               with respect to the deck. This corresponds to a column of wells on labware.
-            - ``ALL`` resets the pipette to use all of its nozzles. Calling ``configure_nozzle_layout`` with no arguments also resets the pipette.
+            - ``ALL`` resets the pipette to use all of its nozzles. Calling
+              ``configure_nozzle_layout`` with no arguments also resets the pipette.
 
         :type style: ``NozzleLayout`` or ``None``
         :param start: The nozzle at the back left of the layout, which the robot uses
             to determine how it will move to different locations on the deck. The string
-            should be of the same format used when identifying wells by name. Use
-            ``"A1"`` to have the pipette use its leftmost nozzles to pick up tips
-            *right-to-left* from a tip rack. Use ``"A12"`` to have the pipette use its
-            rightmost nozzles to pick up tips *left-to-right* from a tip rack.
+            should be of the same format used when identifying wells by name. 
+            Required unless setting ``style=ALL``. 
+
+            .. warning::
+                Currently, when using the ``COLUMN`` layout, you *must* set
+                ``start="A12"``. Using any other value will cause the pipette to move to
+                unexpected locations, pick up incorrect tips, or crash into items on the
+                deck.
+
         :type start: str or ``None``
         :param tip_racks: Behaves the same as setting the ``tip_racks`` parameter of
             :py:meth:`.load_instrument`. If not specified, the new configuration resets