diff --git a/cmd/helm/list.go b/cmd/helm/list.go
index 83edfe156..0da0c21d3 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/list.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/list.go
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func newListCmd(cfg *action.Configuration, out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 	f.BoolVarP(&client.ByDate, "date", "d", false, "sort by release date")
 	f.BoolVarP(&client.SortReverse, "reverse", "r", false, "reverse the sort order")
 	f.BoolVarP(&client.All, "all", "a", false, "show all releases, not just the ones marked deployed or failed")
-	f.BoolVar(&client.Uninstalled, "uninstalled", false, "show uninstalled releases")
+	f.BoolVar(&client.Uninstalled, "uninstalled", false, "show uninstalled releases (if 'helm uninstall --keep-history' was used)")
 	f.BoolVar(&client.Superseded, "superseded", false, "show superseded releases")
 	f.BoolVar(&client.Uninstalling, "uninstalling", false, "show releases that are currently being uninstalled")
 	f.BoolVar(&client.Deployed, "deployed", false, "show deployed releases. If no other is specified, this will be automatically enabled")