diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 7c531066d1..2e12c8a0fb 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ Thank you for your interest in contributing to CUDA Python! Based on the type of
     them for a release. If you believe the issue needs priority attention
     comment on the issue to notify the team.
 2. You want to implement a feature, improvement, or bug fix:
-    - Please refer to each component's guideline:
+   - Before starting work on an existing issue, please comment on the issue to express your interest and wait to be assigned by a maintainer. This helps avoid redundant effort in case the issue is already being worked on by another contributor or an NVIDIA team member.
+   - Please refer to each component's guideline:
        - [`cuda.core`](https://nvidia.github.io/cuda-python/cuda-core/latest/contribute.html)
        - [`cuda.bindings`](https://nvidia.github.io/cuda-python/cuda-bindings/latest/contribute.html)<sup>[1](#footnote1)</sup>
        - [`cuda.pathfinder`](https://nvidia.github.io/cuda-python/cuda-pathfinder/latest/contribute.html)
diff --git a/cuda_core/docs/source/contribute.rst b/cuda_core/docs/source/contribute.rst
index 22c8c9eda8..45a8693129 100644
--- a/cuda_core/docs/source/contribute.rst
+++ b/cuda_core/docs/source/contribute.rst
@@ -18,4 +18,5 @@ Thank you for your interest in contributing to ``cuda-core``! Based on the type
 
 2. You want to implement a feature, improvement, or bug fix:
 
+   - Before starting work on an existing issue, please comment on the issue to express your interest and wait to be assigned by a maintainer. This helps avoid redundant effort in case the issue is already being worked on by another contributor or an NVIDIA team member.
    - Please ensure that your commits are signed `following GitHub's instruction <https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/managing-commit-signature-verification/about-commit-signature-verification>`_.
diff --git a/cuda_pathfinder/docs/source/contribute.rst b/cuda_pathfinder/docs/source/contribute.rst
index 26b592ca51..0c0f4c71b3 100644
--- a/cuda_pathfinder/docs/source/contribute.rst
+++ b/cuda_pathfinder/docs/source/contribute.rst
@@ -14,4 +14,5 @@ Thank you for your interest in contributing to ``cuda-pathfinder``! Based on the
       them for a release. If you believe the issue needs priority attention
       comment on the issue to notify the team.
 2. You want to implement a feature, improvement, or bug fix
+    - Before starting work on an existing issue, please comment on the issue to express your interest and wait to be assigned by a maintainer. This helps avoid redundant effort in case the issue is already being worked on by another contributor or an NVIDIA team member.
     - Please ensure that your commits are signed `following GitHub's instruction <https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/managing-commit-signature-verification/about-commit-signature-verification>`_.