diff --git a/django/views/generic/detail.py b/django/views/generic/detail.py
index a5f604bf1a..05ced1f25d 100644
--- a/django/views/generic/detail.py
+++ b/django/views/generic/detail.py
@@ -121,9 +121,10 @@ class SingleObjectTemplateResponseMixin(TemplateResponseMixin):
     def get_template_names(self):
         """
         Return a list of template names to be used for the request. May not be
-        called if render_to_response() is overridden. Return the following list:
+        called if render_to_response() is overridden. Return a list containing
+        ``template_name``, if set on the value. Otherwise, return a list
+        containing:
 
-        * the value of ``template_name`` on the view (if provided)
         * the contents of the ``template_name_field`` field on the
           object instance that the view is operating upon (if available)
         * ``<app_label>/<model_name><template_name_suffix>.html``
diff --git a/docs/ref/class-based-views/mixins-single-object.txt b/docs/ref/class-based-views/mixins-single-object.txt
index 1378e10823..2e96422fc7 100644
--- a/docs/ref/class-based-views/mixins-single-object.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/class-based-views/mixins-single-object.txt
@@ -164,9 +164,10 @@ Single object mixins
 
     .. method:: get_template_names()
 
-        Returns a list of candidate template names. Returns the following list:
+        Returns a list of candidate template names. Return a list containing
+        ``template_name``, if set on the value. Otherwise, return a list
+        containing:
 
-        * the value of ``template_name`` on the view (if provided)
         * the contents of the ``template_name_field`` field on the
           object instance that the view is operating upon (if available)
         * ``<app_label>/<model_name><template_name_suffix>.html``