diff --git a/command/fmt.go b/command/fmt.go
index d9ccc2643..0b06d7b50 100644
--- a/command/fmt.go
+++ b/command/fmt.go
@@ -79,11 +79,11 @@ Usage: terraform fmt [options] [DIR]
 
 Options:
 
-  -list            List files whose formatting differs (disabled if using STDIN)
+  -list=true       List files whose formatting differs (always false if using STDIN)
 
-  -write           Write result to source file instead of STDOUT (disabled if using STDIN)
+  -write=true      Write result to source file instead of STDOUT (always false if using STDIN)
 
-  -diff            Display diffs instead of rewriting files
+  -diff=false      Display diffs of formatting changes
 
 `
 	return strings.TrimSpace(helpText)
diff --git a/website/source/docs/commands/fmt.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/commands/fmt.html.markdown
index bb48ae957..96e2be19e 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/commands/fmt.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/commands/fmt.html.markdown
@@ -25,4 +25,4 @@ The command-line flags are all optional. The list of available flags are:
 * `-list=true` - List files whose formatting differs (disabled if using STDIN)
 * `-write=true` - Write result to source file instead of STDOUT (disabled if
     using STDIN)
-* `-diff=false` - Display diffs instead of rewriting files
+* `-diff=false` - Display diffs of formatting changes