diff --git a/kas/libkas.py b/kas/libkas.py
index f9a0734..613b38a 100644
--- a/kas/libkas.py
+++ b/kas/libkas.py
@@ -412,11 +412,11 @@ def setup_parser_common_args(parser):
                         help='Skip build steps',
                         default=[])
     parser.add_argument('--force-checkout', action='store_true',
-                        help='Always checkout the desired refspec of each '
-                        'repository, discarding any local changes')
+                        help='Always checkout the desired commit/branch of '
+                        'each repository, discarding any local changes')
     parser.add_argument('--update', action='store_true',
                         help='Pull new upstream changes to the desired '
-                        'refspec even if it is already checked out locally')
+                        'branch even if it is already checked out locally')
 
 
 def setup_parser_preserve_env_arg(parser):