diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c790722..f092510 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -210,6 +210,8 @@ ATTEMPT {
 
 This will assign the return value of the function in question to the akerr_ErrorContext previously prepared in the current scope. If the function returns an akerr_ErrorContext that indicates any type of error, the `ATTEMPT` block is immediately exited, and the `CLEANUP` block begins.
 
+(One caveat: because this exit is implemented with a C `break`, `CATCH` must not be used inside a loop within the `ATTEMPT` block — see the section "Important: do not use CATCH or FAIL_*_BREAK inside a loop" below.)
+
 ## Setting errors from functions or expressions returning integer
 
 For functions that return integer, such as logical comparisons or most standard library functions, use the `FAIL_ZERO_BREAK` and `FAIL_NONZERO_BREAK` macros. These macros allow you to capture an integer return code from an expression or function and set an error code in the current context based off that return.
@@ -232,6 +234,49 @@ ATTEMPT {
 
 When either of these two macros are used, the `ATTEMPT` block is immediately exited, and the `CLEANUP` block begins.
 
+## Important: do not use CATCH or FAIL_*_BREAK inside a loop
+
+`CATCH`, `FAIL_ZERO_BREAK`, `FAIL_NONZERO_BREAK`, and `FAIL_BREAK` leave the `ATTEMPT` block by executing a C `break` statement. In C, `break` only exits the *innermost* enclosing `for`, `while`, `do`, or `switch`. Therefore **these macros must not be used inside a loop (or a nested `switch`) that is itself inside an `ATTEMPT` block.** If you do, the `break` escapes only the loop — not the `ATTEMPT` — and the rest of the `ATTEMPT` body then runs with an error already pending:
+
+```c
+ATTEMPT {
+    for ( int i = 0; i < n; i++ ) {
+        CATCH(errctx, process(items[i]));   // WRONG: break exits the for loop, not the ATTEMPT
+    }
+    // ... this code still executes, with errctx already in an error state ...
+} CLEANUP {
+} PROCESS(errctx) {
+} FINISH(errctx, true);
+```
+
+Note that moving the loop into a helper function does **not** fix this on its own — if the helper still wraps the loop in an `ATTEMPT` and uses `CATCH`/`FAIL_*_BREAK` inside it, it has the exact same problem. The fix is to iterate with `return`-based macros, which are unaffected by loop nesting. Use one of the two patterns below.
+
+**Pattern 1 — use `PASS` (or a `FAIL_*_RETURN` macro) inside the loop.** These exit the *enclosing function* with a `return` rather than a `break`, so loop nesting is irrelevant. Use this when the loop should stop and propagate on the first error:
+
+```c
+akerr_ErrorContext AKERR_NOIGNORE *process_all(Item *items, int n)
+{
+    PREPARE_ERROR(errctx);
+    for ( int i = 0; i < n; i++ ) {
+        PASS(errctx, process(items[i]));   // returns from process_all on the first error
+    }
+    SUCCEED_RETURN(errctx);
+}
+```
+
+**Pattern 2 — move the loop into a helper and `CATCH` the single call.** When you need a `CLEANUP` block or want to `HANDLE` the error locally, put the loop in its own `akerr_ErrorContext *`-returning function (written per Pattern 1) and `CATCH` that one call. The `CATCH` is then not inside a loop, so its `break` scopes to the `ATTEMPT` correctly:
+
+```c
+ATTEMPT {
+    CATCH(errctx, process_all(items, n));   // a single CATCH, not looped
+} CLEANUP {
+    // ... always runs ...
+} PROCESS(errctx) {
+} HANDLE(errctx, AKERR_VALUE) {
+    // ... handle a failure from any iteration ...
+} FINISH(errctx, true);
+```
+
 # Passing errors
 
 Sometimes you can't actually do anything about the errors that come out of a given method, but you want that error to be propagated back up the call chain, and to be properly reported. If this is your goal, you can avoid using a `ATTEMPT ... FINISH` block, and simply use the `PASS` macro.