diff --git a/man/systemd-tmpfiles.xml b/man/systemd-tmpfiles.xml
index d4c5bf26e4..f4d53b3139 100644
--- a/man/systemd-tmpfiles.xml
+++ b/man/systemd-tmpfiles.xml
@@ -147,15 +147,15 @@
                         </varlistentry>
                         <varlistentry>
                                 <term><option>--prefix=<replaceable>path</replaceable></option></term>
-                                <listitem><para>Only apply rules that
-                                apply to paths with the specified
+                                <listitem><para>Only apply rules with
+                                paths that start with the specified
                                 prefix. This option can be specified
                                 multiple times.</para></listitem>
                         </varlistentry>
                         <varlistentry>
                                 <term><option>--exclude-prefix=<replaceable>path</replaceable></option></term>
-                                <listitem><para>Ignore rules that
-                                apply to paths with the specified
+                                <listitem><para>Ignore rules with
+                                paths that start with the specified
                                 prefix. This option can be specified
                                 multiple times.</para></listitem>
                         </varlistentry>
diff --git a/src/tmpfiles/tmpfiles.c b/src/tmpfiles/tmpfiles.c
index d60d5ba6ff..473c51166b 100644
--- a/src/tmpfiles/tmpfiles.c
+++ b/src/tmpfiles/tmpfiles.c
@@ -1749,8 +1749,8 @@ static void help(void) {
                "     --clean                Clean up marked directories\n"
                "     --remove               Remove marked files/directories\n"
                "     --boot                 Execute actions only safe at boot\n"
-               "     --prefix=PATH          Only apply rules that apply to paths with the specified prefix\n"
-               "     --exclude-prefix=PATH  Ignore rules that apply to paths with the specified prefix\n"
+               "     --prefix=PATH          Only apply rules with the specified prefix\n"
+               "     --exclude-prefix=PATH  Ignore rules with the specified prefix\n"
                "     --root=PATH            Operate on an alternate filesystem root\n",
                program_invocation_short_name);
 }