diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 1c6de8d25498fe..99278a843af683 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -309,8 +309,8 @@ notes about [commit squashing](#commit-squashing)).
 A good commit message should describe what changed and why.
 
 1. The first line should:
-   - contain a short description of the change
-   - be 50 characters or less
+   - contain a short description of the change (preferably 50 characters or less,
+     and no more than 72 characters)
    - be entirely in lowercase with the exception of proper nouns, acronyms, and
    the words that refer to code, like function/variable names
    - be prefixed with the name of the changed subsystem and start with an