diff --git a/docs/skopeo-copy.1.md b/docs/skopeo-copy.1.md
index e393a13e..a1d2b558 100644
--- a/docs/skopeo-copy.1.md
+++ b/docs/skopeo-copy.1.md
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ After copying the image, write the digest of the resulting image to the file.
 
 **--preserve-digests**
 
-Preserve the digests during copying. Fail if the digest cannot be preserved. Consider using `--all` at the same time.
+Preserve the digests during copying. Fail if the digest cannot be preserved.
+
+This option does not change what will be copied; consider using `--all` at the same time.
 
 **--encrypt-layer** _ints_
 
diff --git a/docs/skopeo-sync.1.md b/docs/skopeo-sync.1.md
index d3a2547f..32b0394b 100644
--- a/docs/skopeo-sync.1.md
+++ b/docs/skopeo-sync.1.md
@@ -68,7 +68,11 @@ Print usage statement.
 
 **--append-suffix** _tag-suffix_ String to append to destination tags.
 
-**--preserve-digests** Preserve the digests during copying. Fail if the digest cannot be preserved. Consider using `--all` at the same time.
+**--preserve-digests**
+
+Preserve the digests during copying. Fail if the digest cannot be preserved.
+
+This option does not change what will be copied; consider using `--all` at the same time.
 
 **--remove-signatures** Do not copy signatures, if any, from _source-image_. This is necessary when copying a signed image to a destination which does not support signatures.