diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/create.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/create.py
index b2f523034..34b34875e 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/create.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/create.py
@@ -145,6 +145,8 @@ def register_create_parser(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
         "-t",
         "--template",
         type=str,
-        help="Reference to the template to use for the machine. In the format '<flake_ref>#template_name'",
+        help="""Reference to the template to use for the machine. In the format '<flake_ref>#template_name' Where <flake_ref> is a flake reference (e.g. github:org/repo) or a local path (e.g. '.' ).
+        Omitting '<flake_ref>#' will use the pre-provided templates (e.g. just 'new-machine' (default) ).
+        """,
         default="new-machine",
     )