diff --git a/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_common.c b/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_common.c
index 6248cd598ac..5ae2a378d5c 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_common.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5diff/h5diff_common.c
@@ -640,6 +640,13 @@ usage(void)
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
                    "   --vol-info-2            VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                           opening the second HDF5 file specified\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                           If none of the above options are used to "
+                                 "specify a VOL for a file, then\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(
+        rawoutstream,
+        "                           the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
+                   "                           if that environment variable is unset) will be used\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
                    "   --vfd-value-1           Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                           first HDF5 file specified\n");
diff --git a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c
index 6b1d5205953..62ba1c9e1a3 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5dump/h5dump.c
@@ -219,6 +219,14 @@ usage(const char *prog)
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
                    "     --vol-info           VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                          opening the HDF5 file specified\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(
+        rawoutstream,
+        "                          If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(
+        rawoutstream,
+        "                          the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
+                   "                          if that environment variable is unset) will be used\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
                    "     --vfd-value          Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                          HDF5 file specified\n");
diff --git a/tools/src/h5ls/h5ls.c b/tools/src/h5ls/h5ls.c
index b58d7d3681c..54c527a10bc 100644
--- a/tools/src/h5ls/h5ls.c
+++ b/tools/src/h5ls/h5ls.c
@@ -239,6 +239,11 @@ usage(void)
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
                    "   --vol-info      VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                   opening the HDF5 file specified\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
+                   "                   If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
+                   "                   the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                   if that environment variable is unset) will be used\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "   --vfd-value     Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                   HDF5 file specified\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "   --vfd-name      Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the\n");
diff --git a/tools/src/misc/h5mkgrp.c b/tools/src/misc/h5mkgrp.c
index 2e146c0e2bc..98b6b7606a6 100644
--- a/tools/src/misc/h5mkgrp.c
+++ b/tools/src/misc/h5mkgrp.c
@@ -105,6 +105,13 @@ usage(const char *prog)
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
                    "      --vol-info         VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                         opening the HDF5 file specified\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
+                   "                         If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(
+        rawoutstream,
+        "                         the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,\n");
+    PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
+                   "                         if that environment variable is unset) will be used\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream,
                    "      --vfd-value        Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the\n");
     PRINTVALSTREAM(rawoutstream, "                         HDF5 file specified\n");
diff --git a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_10.txt b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_10.txt
index fe3474c076c..dbd5418e623 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_10.txt
+++ b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_10.txt
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ usage: h5diff [OPTIONS] file1 file2 [obj1[ obj2]]
                            HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info-2            VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                            opening the second HDF5 file specified
+                           If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL for a file, then
+                           the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                           if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value-1           Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                            first HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name-1            Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the first
diff --git a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_600.txt b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_600.txt
index eaf9c15ac19..46a1c45a109 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_600.txt
+++ b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_600.txt
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ usage: h5diff [OPTIONS] file1 file2 [obj1[ obj2]]
                            HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info-2            VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                            opening the second HDF5 file specified
+                           If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL for a file, then
+                           the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                           if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value-1           Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                            first HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name-1            Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the first
diff --git a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_603.txt b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_603.txt
index aa0697aa6fd..e930dbe50b4 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_603.txt
+++ b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_603.txt
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ usage: h5diff [OPTIONS] file1 file2 [obj1[ obj2]]
                            HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info-2            VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                            opening the second HDF5 file specified
+                           If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL for a file, then
+                           the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                           if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value-1           Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                            first HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name-1            Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the first
diff --git a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_606.txt b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_606.txt
index 87d6b012926..02b80ebba54 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_606.txt
+++ b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_606.txt
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ usage: h5diff [OPTIONS] file1 file2 [obj1[ obj2]]
                            HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info-2            VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                            opening the second HDF5 file specified
+                           If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL for a file, then
+                           the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                           if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value-1           Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                            first HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name-1            Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the first
diff --git a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_612.txt b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_612.txt
index a44d94abc83..4cccecec36c 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_612.txt
+++ b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_612.txt
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ usage: h5diff [OPTIONS] file1 file2 [obj1[ obj2]]
                            HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info-2            VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                            opening the second HDF5 file specified
+                           If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL for a file, then
+                           the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                           if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value-1           Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                            first HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name-1            Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the first
diff --git a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_615.txt b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_615.txt
index 5dc9cd3716c..3641164ca39 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_615.txt
+++ b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_615.txt
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ usage: h5diff [OPTIONS] file1 file2 [obj1[ obj2]]
                            HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info-2            VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                            opening the second HDF5 file specified
+                           If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL for a file, then
+                           the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                           if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value-1           Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                            first HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name-1            Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the first
diff --git a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_621.txt b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_621.txt
index d7998b58ba6..05b952c875b 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_621.txt
+++ b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_621.txt
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ usage: h5diff [OPTIONS] file1 file2 [obj1[ obj2]]
                            HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info-2            VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                            opening the second HDF5 file specified
+                           If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL for a file, then
+                           the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                           if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value-1           Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                            first HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name-1            Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the first
diff --git a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_622.txt b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_622.txt
index badfddd6f37..4d3e9455011 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_622.txt
+++ b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_622.txt
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ usage: h5diff [OPTIONS] file1 file2 [obj1[ obj2]]
                            HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info-2            VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                            opening the second HDF5 file specified
+                           If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL for a file, then
+                           the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                           if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value-1           Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                            first HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name-1            Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the first
diff --git a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_623.txt b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_623.txt
index 6ddd3da1bff..fd992ef71cb 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_623.txt
+++ b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_623.txt
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ usage: h5diff [OPTIONS] file1 file2 [obj1[ obj2]]
                            HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info-2            VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                            opening the second HDF5 file specified
+                           If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL for a file, then
+                           the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                           if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value-1           Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                            first HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name-1            Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the first
diff --git a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_624.txt b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_624.txt
index 083632a9d84..cc9578f84dc 100644
--- a/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_624.txt
+++ b/tools/test/h5diff/testfiles/h5diff_624.txt
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ usage: h5diff [OPTIONS] file1 file2 [obj1[ obj2]]
                            HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info-2            VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                            opening the second HDF5 file specified
+                           If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL for a file, then
+                           the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                           if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value-1           Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                            first HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name-1            Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the first
diff --git a/tools/test/misc/testfiles/h5mkgrp_help.txt b/tools/test/misc/testfiles/h5mkgrp_help.txt
index 5d81b347ae4..d01fbeecf7c 100644
--- a/tools/test/misc/testfiles/h5mkgrp_help.txt
+++ b/tools/test/misc/testfiles/h5mkgrp_help.txt
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ usage: h5mkgrp [OPTIONS] FILE GROUP...
                          HDF5 file specified
       --vol-info         VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                          opening the HDF5 file specified
+                         If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                         the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                         if that environment variable is unset) will be used
       --vfd-value        Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                          HDF5 file specified
       --vfd-name         Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/h5dump-help.txt b/tools/testfiles/h5dump-help.txt
index e20df732d31..9274600ce03 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/h5dump-help.txt
+++ b/tools/testfiles/h5dump-help.txt
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ usage: h5dump [OPTIONS] files
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vol-info           VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                           opening the HDF5 file specified
+                          If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                          the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                          if that environment variable is unset) will be used
      --vfd-value          Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vfd-name           Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/help-1.ls b/tools/testfiles/help-1.ls
index 6ed1aabd025..1cf733bc3a3 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/help-1.ls
+++ b/tools/testfiles/help-1.ls
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ usage: h5ls [OPTIONS] file[/OBJECT] [file[/[OBJECT]...]
                    HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info      VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                    opening the HDF5 file specified
+                   If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                   the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                   if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value     Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                    HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name      Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/help-2.ls b/tools/testfiles/help-2.ls
index 6ed1aabd025..1cf733bc3a3 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/help-2.ls
+++ b/tools/testfiles/help-2.ls
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ usage: h5ls [OPTIONS] file[/OBJECT] [file[/[OBJECT]...]
                    HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info      VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                    opening the HDF5 file specified
+                   If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                   the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                   if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value     Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                    HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name      Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/help-3.ls b/tools/testfiles/help-3.ls
index 6ed1aabd025..1cf733bc3a3 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/help-3.ls
+++ b/tools/testfiles/help-3.ls
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ usage: h5ls [OPTIONS] file[/OBJECT] [file[/[OBJECT]...]
                    HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info      VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                    opening the HDF5 file specified
+                   If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                   the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                   if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value     Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                    HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name      Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tnofilename-with-packed-bits.ddl b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tnofilename-with-packed-bits.ddl
index e20df732d31..9274600ce03 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tnofilename-with-packed-bits.ddl
+++ b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tnofilename-with-packed-bits.ddl
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ usage: h5dump [OPTIONS] files
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vol-info           VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                           opening the HDF5 file specified
+                          If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                          the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                          if that environment variable is unset) will be used
      --vfd-value          Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vfd-name           Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsIncomplete.ddl b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsIncomplete.ddl
index e20df732d31..9274600ce03 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsIncomplete.ddl
+++ b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsIncomplete.ddl
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ usage: h5dump [OPTIONS] files
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vol-info           VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                           opening the HDF5 file specified
+                          If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                          the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                          if that environment variable is unset) will be used
      --vfd-value          Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vfd-name           Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsLengthExceeded.ddl b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsLengthExceeded.ddl
index e20df732d31..9274600ce03 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsLengthExceeded.ddl
+++ b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsLengthExceeded.ddl
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ usage: h5dump [OPTIONS] files
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vol-info           VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                           opening the HDF5 file specified
+                          If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                          the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                          if that environment variable is unset) will be used
      --vfd-value          Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vfd-name           Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsLengthPositive.ddl b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsLengthPositive.ddl
index e20df732d31..9274600ce03 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsLengthPositive.ddl
+++ b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsLengthPositive.ddl
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ usage: h5dump [OPTIONS] files
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vol-info           VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                           opening the HDF5 file specified
+                          If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                          the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                          if that environment variable is unset) will be used
      --vfd-value          Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vfd-name           Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsMaxExceeded.ddl b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsMaxExceeded.ddl
index e20df732d31..9274600ce03 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsMaxExceeded.ddl
+++ b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsMaxExceeded.ddl
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ usage: h5dump [OPTIONS] files
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vol-info           VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                           opening the HDF5 file specified
+                          If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                          the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                          if that environment variable is unset) will be used
      --vfd-value          Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vfd-name           Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsOffsetExceeded.ddl b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsOffsetExceeded.ddl
index e20df732d31..9274600ce03 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsOffsetExceeded.ddl
+++ b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsOffsetExceeded.ddl
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ usage: h5dump [OPTIONS] files
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vol-info           VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                           opening the HDF5 file specified
+                          If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                          the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                          if that environment variable is unset) will be used
      --vfd-value          Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vfd-name           Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsOffsetNegative.ddl b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsOffsetNegative.ddl
index e20df732d31..9274600ce03 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsOffsetNegative.ddl
+++ b/tools/testfiles/pbits/tpbitsOffsetNegative.ddl
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ usage: h5dump [OPTIONS] files
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vol-info           VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                           opening the HDF5 file specified
+                          If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                          the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                          if that environment variable is unset) will be used
      --vfd-value          Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                           HDF5 file specified
      --vfd-name           Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/textlinksrc-nodangle-1.ls b/tools/testfiles/textlinksrc-nodangle-1.ls
index 6ed1aabd025..1cf733bc3a3 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/textlinksrc-nodangle-1.ls
+++ b/tools/testfiles/textlinksrc-nodangle-1.ls
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ usage: h5ls [OPTIONS] file[/OBJECT] [file[/[OBJECT]...]
                    HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info      VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                    opening the HDF5 file specified
+                   If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                   the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                   if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value     Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                    HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name      Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the
diff --git a/tools/testfiles/tgroup-1.ls b/tools/testfiles/tgroup-1.ls
index 6ed1aabd025..1cf733bc3a3 100644
--- a/tools/testfiles/tgroup-1.ls
+++ b/tools/testfiles/tgroup-1.ls
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ usage: h5ls [OPTIONS] file[/OBJECT] [file[/[OBJECT]...]
                    HDF5 file specified
    --vol-info      VOL-specific info to pass to the VOL connector used for
                    opening the HDF5 file specified
+                   If none of the above options are used to specify a VOL, then
+                   the VOL named by HDF5_VOL_CONNECTOR (or the native VOL connector,
+                   if that environment variable is unset) will be used
    --vfd-value     Value (ID) of the VFL driver to use for opening the
                    HDF5 file specified
    --vfd-name      Name of the VFL driver to use for opening the