diff --git a/core/modules/path/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/PathWidget.php b/core/modules/path/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/PathWidget.php
index 366db885a6..2289f9e217 100644
--- a/core/modules/path/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/PathWidget.php
+++ b/core/modules/path/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/PathWidget.php
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $elemen
       'langcode' => $items->getLangcode(),
     );
 
+    $alias_description = $this->fieldDefinition->getDescription();
+    $alias_description = $alias_description ?: $this->t('Specify an alternative path by which this data can be accessed. For example, type "/about" when writing an about page.');
     $element += array(
       '#element_validate' => array(array(get_class($this), 'validateFormElement')),
     );
@@ -53,7 +55,7 @@ public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $elemen
       '#default_value' => $path['alias'],
       '#required' => $element['#required'],
       '#maxlength' => 255,
-      '#description' => $this->t('Specify an alternative path by which this data can be accessed. For example, type "/about" when writing an about page.'),
+      '#description' => $alias_description,
     );
     $element['pid'] = array(
       '#type' => 'value',