diff --git a/docs/manual/CoreTasks/local.html b/docs/manual/CoreTasks/local.html
index 1edb70b01..753b44dec 100644
--- a/docs/manual/CoreTasks/local.html
+++ b/docs/manual/CoreTasks/local.html
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ various "block" levels. These include targets as well as the
 <a href="parallel.html">Parallel</a> and <a href="sequential.html">Sequential</a>
 task containers (including <a href="macrodef.html">Macrodef</a> bodies). A local
 property at a given scope "shadows" properties of the same name at higher scopes,
-including the global scope. <b>Since Ant 1.8</b></p>
+including the global scope. Note that using the Local task at the global
+level effectively makes the property local to the "anonymous target" in which
+top-level operations are carried out; it will not be defined for other targets
+in the buildfile. <b>Since Ant 1.8</b></p>
 
 <h3>Parameters</h3>
 <table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> 
diff --git a/src/tests/antunit/taskdefs/local-test.xml b/src/tests/antunit/taskdefs/local-test.xml
index 49b01193e..9c4e7b7e4 100644
--- a/src/tests/antunit/taskdefs/local-test.xml
+++ b/src/tests/antunit/taskdefs/local-test.xml
@@ -20,6 +20,16 @@
 
   <property name="foo" value="foo" />
 
+  <local name="bar" />
+  <property name="bar" value="bar" />
+  <au:assertPropertyEquals name="bar" value="bar" />
+
+  <target name="testGlobalLocal">
+    <au:assertFalse>
+      <isset property="bar" />
+    </au:assertFalse>
+  </target>
+
   <target name="testBaseline">
     <au:assertPropertyEquals name="foo" value="foo" />
   </target>