diff --git a/atom/browser/default_app/main.js b/atom/browser/default_app/main.js
index 231e254bdc79..5664fac4cd21 100644
--- a/atom/browser/default_app/main.js
+++ b/atom/browser/default_app/main.js
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ if (option.file && !option.webdriver) {
 } else if (option.help) {
   var helpMessage = "Electron v" + process.versions.electron + " - Cross Platform Desktop Application Shell\n\n";
   helpMessage    += "Usage: electron [options] [path]\n\n";
-  helpMessage    += "Specify a path to the Electron app to open\n\n";
+  helpMessage    += "A path to an Electron application may be specified. The path must be to \n";
+  helpMessage    += "an index.js file or to a folder containing a package.json or index.js file.\n\n";
   helpMessage    += "Options:\n";
   helpMessage    += "  -h, --help            Print this usage message.\n";
   helpMessage    += "  -v, --version         Print the version.";