diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_cache.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_cache.go
index 2b75419b6..89fb2c0df 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_cache.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_cache.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func init() {
 
 func runCache(opts CacheOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args []string) error {
 	if len(args) > 0 {
-		return errors.Fatal("the cache command has no arguments")
+		return errors.Fatal("the cache command expects no arguments, only options - please see `restic help cache` for usage and flags")
 	}
 
 	if gopts.NoCache {
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go
index 5d156ef78..3c638ff5a 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func prepareCheckCache(opts CheckOptions, gopts *GlobalOptions) (cleanup func())
 
 func runCheck(opts CheckOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args []string) error {
 	if len(args) != 0 {
-		return errors.Fatal("check has no arguments")
+		return errors.Fatal("the check command expects no arguments, only options - please see `restic help check` for usage and flags")
 	}
 
 	cleanup := prepareCheckCache(opts, &gopts)