diff --git a/README.markdown b/README.markdown
index 39a95a7..2095634 100644
--- a/README.markdown
+++ b/README.markdown
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ or Wget:
 
     wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/creationix/nvm/v0.31.0/install.sh | bash
 
+To activate nvm, you need to source it from your shell:
+
+    source ~/.nvm/nvm.sh
+
 <sub>The script clones the nvm repository to `~/.nvm` and adds the source line to your profile (`~/.bash_profile`, `~/.zshrc` or `~/.profile`).</sub>
 
 You can customize the install source, directory and profile using the `NVM_SOURCE`, `NVM_DIR`, and `PROFILE` variables.