diff --git a/bin/_mocha b/bin/_mocha
index 7e84a3e507..41e9871b76 100755
--- a/bin/_mocha
+++ b/bin/_mocha
@@ -165,7 +165,10 @@ program
     `specify user-interface (${interfaceNames.join('|')})`,
     'bdd'
   )
-  .option('-w, --watch', 'watch files for changes')
+  .option(
+    '-w, --watch',
+    'watch files in the current working directory for changes'
+  )
   .option('--check-leaks', 'check for global variable leaks')
   .option('--full-trace', 'display the full stack trace')
   .option(
diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index fa7f4d04df..64e81d5cd3 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -760,7 +760,7 @@ Mocha supports the `err.expected` and `err.actual` properties of any thrown `Ass
     -s, --slow <ms>                         "slow" test threshold in milliseconds [75]
     -t, --timeout <ms>                      set test-case timeout in milliseconds [2000]
     -u, --ui <name>                         specify user-interface (bdd|tdd|qunit|exports) (default: bdd)
-    -w, --watch                             watch files for changes
+    -w, --watch                             watch files in the current working directory for changes
     --check-leaks                           check for global variable leaks
     --full-trace                            display the full stack trace
     --compilers <ext>:<module>,...          use the given module(s) to compile files (default: )