diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
index 6c1cb9f9ad84e555b55a6e8dd5f7bf14e946e523..7d80659b0d2eba5960c39b04199ef1a7ed76322c 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+Hi there,
+
+please note that this is an issue tracker reserved for bug reports and feature requests.
+
+For general questions please use the gitter channel or the Ethereum stack exchange at https://ethereum.stackexchange.com.
+
 #### System information
 
 Geth version: `geth version`