diff --git a/youtube_dl/__init__.py b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
index 9efd7c3f7..e8299130c 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
     general.add_option('-U', '--update',
             action='store_true', dest='update_self', help='update this program to latest version. Make sure that you have sufficient permissions (run with sudo if needed)')
     general.add_option('-i', '--ignore-errors',
-            action='store_true', dest='ignoreerrors', help='continue on download errors', default=False)
+            action='store_true', dest='ignoreerrors', help='continue on download errors, for example to to skip unavailable videos in a playlist', default=False)
     general.add_option('--dump-user-agent',
             action='store_true', dest='dump_user_agent',
             help='display the current browser identification', default=False)