diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/app_search/components/engine/engine_nav.scss b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/app_search/components/engine/engine_nav.scss
index a60627b2dd5827..486abeb3dce4c9 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/app_search/components/engine/engine_nav.scss
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/app_search/components/engine/engine_nav.scss
@@ -16,5 +16,7 @@
 }
 
 .appSearchNavIcon {
+  // EuiSideNav renders icons to the left of the nav link by default, but we use icons
+  // as warning or error indicators & prefer to render them on the right side of the nav
   order: 1;
 }