diff --git a/csi.proto b/csi.proto
index 93a18b2f..d7019ad2 100644
--- a/csi.proto
+++ b/csi.proto
@@ -1095,7 +1095,14 @@ message NodeStageVolumeRequest {
   // that the path is directory and that the process serving the
   // request has `read` and `write` permission to that directory. The
   // CO SHALL be responsible for creating the directory if it does not
-  // exist.
+  // exist. The CO MUST pass the same staging_target_directory to
+  // NodeStageVolume and NodePublishVolume.
+  // The SP MAY use staging_target_directory in
+  // any way it chooses, including but not limited to:
+  // - as a mount point to stage the volume directly
+  // - as a parent directory for a newly created mount point
+  // - as a parent directory for an attached device
+  // - as a parent directory for metadata files
   // This is a REQUIRED field.
   string staging_target_path = 3;
 
diff --git a/lib/go/csi/csi.pb.go b/lib/go/csi/csi.pb.go
index ecd09770..b16c510c 100644
--- a/lib/go/csi/csi.pb.go
+++ b/lib/go/csi/csi.pb.go
@@ -3385,7 +3385,14 @@ type NodeStageVolumeRequest struct {
 	// that the path is directory and that the process serving the
 	// request has `read` and `write` permission to that directory. The
 	// CO SHALL be responsible for creating the directory if it does not
-	// exist.
+	// exist. The CO MUST pass the same staging_target_directory to
+	// NodeStageVolume and NodePublishVolume.
+	// The SP MAY use staging_target_directory in
+	// any way it chooses, including but not limited to:
+	// - as a mount point to stage the volume directly
+	// - as a parent directory for a newly created mount point
+	// - as a parent directory for an attached device
+	// - as a parent directory for metadata files
 	// This is a REQUIRED field.
 	StagingTargetPath string `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=staging_target_path,json=stagingTargetPath,proto3" json:"staging_target_path,omitempty"`
 	// Volume capability describing how the CO intends to use this volume.
diff --git a/spec.md b/spec.md
index 4b47a313..8544592f 100644
--- a/spec.md
+++ b/spec.md
@@ -1931,7 +1931,14 @@ message NodeStageVolumeRequest {
   // that the path is directory and that the process serving the
   // request has `read` and `write` permission to that directory. The
   // CO SHALL be responsible for creating the directory if it does not
-  // exist.
+  // exist. The CO MUST pass the same staging_target_directory to
+  // NodeStageVolume and NodePublishVolume.
+  // The SP MAY use staging_target_directory in
+  // any way it chooses, including but not limited to:
+  // - as a mount point to stage the volume directly
+  // - as a parent directory for a newly created mount point
+  // - as a parent directory for an attached device
+  // - as a parent directory for metadata files
   // This is a REQUIRED field.
   string staging_target_path = 3;