diff --git a/docs/needs-restarting.1 b/docs/needs-restarting.1
index 7910e25..0e7a591 100644
--- a/docs/needs-restarting.1
+++ b/docs/needs-restarting.1
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Display a help message, and then quit.
 .IP "\fB\-u, \-\-useronly\fP"
 Show processes for my userid only.
 .IP "\fB\-r, \-\-reboothint\fP"
-Only report whether a full reboot is required (returns 1) or not (returns 0).
+Only report whether a full reboot is required (exit code 1) or not (exit code 0).
 .IP "\fB\-s, \-\-services\fP"
 List the affected systemd services only.
 
diff --git a/needs-restarting.py b/needs-restarting.py
index c2d5ad9..eaafd9d 100755
--- a/needs-restarting.py
+++ b/needs-restarting.py
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ def parseargs(args):
     parser.add_option("-u", "--useronly", default=False, action="store_true",
       help='show processes for my userid only')
     parser.add_option("-r", "--reboothint", default=False, action="store_true",
-      help=('only report whether a full reboot is required (returns 1) or not '
-            '(returns 0)'))
+      help=('only report whether a full reboot is required (exit code 1) or '
+            'not (exit code 0)'))
     parser.add_option("-s", "--services", default=False, action="store_true",
       help='list the affected systemd services only')