diff --git a/doc/git-annex-shell.mdwn b/doc/git-annex-shell.mdwn
index fc536e44b4..07f47cf3da 100644
--- a/doc/git-annex-shell.mdwn
+++ b/doc/git-annex-shell.mdwn
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ changed.
 
 * GIT_ANNEX_SHELL_READONLY
 
-  If set, disallows any command that could modify the repository.
+  If set, disallows any action that could modify the git-annex 
+  repository.
 
   Note that this does not prevent passing commands on to git-shell.
   For that, you also need ...