diff --git a/doc/liblouis.texi b/doc/liblouis.texi
index 1d55853396..de00cc07fd 100644
--- a/doc/liblouis.texi
+++ b/doc/liblouis.texi
@@ -2735,7 +2735,9 @@ Do a backward translation.
 
 @item --display-table FILE
 @itemx -d FILE
-Use the given display table for the translation. This is useful when you are specifying the table as a query
+Use the given display table for the translation. This is useful when
+you are specifying the table as a query. This option takes precedence
+over any display table specified as part of the table files.
 
 @end table
 
diff --git a/tools/lou_translate.c b/tools/lou_translate.c
index 5075ed9f1f..09c0adc994 100644
--- a/tools/lou_translate.c
+++ b/tools/lou_translate.c
@@ -112,7 +112,9 @@ Options:\n\
                        If neither -f nor -b are specified forward translation\n\
                        is assumed\n\
   -d, --display-table  use the given display table for the translation. This\n\
-                       is useful when you are specifying the table as a query\n",
+                       is useful when you are specifying the table as a query.\n\
+                       This option takes precedence over any display table\n\
+                       specified as part of the table file list.\n",
 			stdout);
 	fputs("\
 Examples:\n\