diff --git a/Command.hs b/Command.hs
index 4180155faf..3f68cf661f 100644
--- a/Command.hs
+++ b/Command.hs
@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ backendPairs :: SubCmdSeekBackendFiles
 backendPairs a files = do
 	pairs <- Backend.chooseBackends files
 	return $ map a pairs
-withDescription :: SubCmdSeekStrings
-withDescription a params = return [a $ unwords params]
+withString :: SubCmdSeekStrings
+withString a params = return [a $ unwords params]
 withFilesToBeCommitted :: SubCmdSeekStrings
 withFilesToBeCommitted a params = do
 	repo <- Annex.gitRepo
@@ -143,8 +143,6 @@ withKeys :: SubCmdSeekStrings
 withKeys a params = return $ map a params
 withTempFile :: SubCmdSeekStrings
 withTempFile a params = return $ map a params
-withNothing :: SubCmdSeekNothing
-withNothing a _ = return [a]
 
 {- Default to acting on all files matching the seek action if
  - none are specified. -}
diff --git a/Command/Fsck.hs b/Command/Fsck.hs
index b0b9f7bb6b..85a26a89b9 100644
--- a/Command/Fsck.hs
+++ b/Command/Fsck.hs
@@ -16,13 +16,20 @@ import Messages
 import qualified Command.FsckFile
 
 seek :: [SubCmdSeek]
-seek = [withNothing start, withAll withFilesInGit Command.FsckFile.start]
+seek = [withString start, withAll withFilesInGit Command.FsckFile.start]
 
-{- Checks the whole annex for problems. -}
-start :: SubCmdStart
-start = do
-	showStart "fsck" ""
-	return $ Just perform
+{- Checks the whole annex for problems, only if specific files were not
+ - specified. -}
+start :: SubCmdStartString
+start whatspecified = do
+	if (null whatspecified)
+		then do
+			showStart "fsck" ""
+			return $ Just perform
+		else do
+			showStart "fsck" ""
+			showNote "only checking specified files"
+			return $ Just $ return $ Just $ return True
 
 perform :: SubCmdPerform
 perform = do
diff --git a/Command/Init.hs b/Command/Init.hs
index e3b05a83fa..8110948a41 100644
--- a/Command/Init.hs
+++ b/Command/Init.hs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import Version
 import Messages
 
 seek :: [SubCmdSeek]
-seek = [withDescription start]
+seek = [withString start]
 
 {- Stores description for the repository etc. -}
 start :: SubCmdStartString
diff --git a/doc/walkthrough.mdwn b/doc/walkthrough.mdwn
index a15f0a9a44..cdb2392e7a 100644
--- a/doc/walkthrough.mdwn
+++ b/doc/walkthrough.mdwn
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ You can also specifiy the files to check.  This is particularly useful if
 you're using sha1 and don't want to spend a long time checksumming everything.
 
 	# git annex fsck my_cool_big_file
-	fsck  (checking for unused data...) ok
+	fsck  (only checking specified files) ok
 	fsck my_cool_big_file (checksum...) ok
 
 ## fsck: When things go wrong