diff --git a/cmd/flux/bootstrap_github.go b/cmd/flux/bootstrap_github.go
index fca6a8ad..86275340 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/bootstrap_github.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/bootstrap_github.go
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ func init() {
 	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().StringVar(&githubArgs.owner, "owner", "", "GitHub user or organization name")
 	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().StringVar(&githubArgs.repository, "repository", "", "GitHub repository name")
 	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().StringArrayVar(&githubArgs.teams, "team", []string{}, "GitHub team to be given maintainer access")
-	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&githubArgs.personal, "personal", false, "is personal repository")
-	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&githubArgs.private, "private", true, "is private repository")
+	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&githubArgs.personal, "personal", false, "if true, the owner is assumed to be a GitHub user; otherwise an org")
+	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&githubArgs.private, "private", true, "if true, the repository is assumed to be private")
 	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().DurationVar(&githubArgs.interval, "interval", time.Minute, "sync interval")
 	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().StringVar(&githubArgs.hostname, "hostname", git.GitHubDefaultHostname, "GitHub hostname")
 	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().StringVar(&githubArgs.sshHostname, "ssh-hostname", "", "GitHub SSH hostname, to be used when the SSH host differs from the HTTPS one")
diff --git a/cmd/flux/bootstrap_gitlab.go b/cmd/flux/bootstrap_gitlab.go
index c4b2b43c..ff41cd71 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/bootstrap_gitlab.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/bootstrap_gitlab.go
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ var gitlabArgs gitlabFlags
 func init() {
 	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().StringVar(&gitlabArgs.owner, "owner", "", "GitLab user or group name")
 	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().StringVar(&gitlabArgs.repository, "repository", "", "GitLab repository name")
-	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&gitlabArgs.personal, "personal", false, "is personal repository")
-	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&gitlabArgs.private, "private", true, "is private repository")
+	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&gitlabArgs.personal, "personal", false, "if true, the owner is assumed to be a GitLab user; otherwise a group")
+	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&gitlabArgs.private, "private", true, "if true, the repository is assumed to be private")
 	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().DurationVar(&gitlabArgs.interval, "interval", time.Minute, "sync interval")
 	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().StringVar(&gitlabArgs.hostname, "hostname", git.GitLabDefaultHostname, "GitLab hostname")
 	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().StringVar(&gitlabArgs.sshHostname, "ssh-hostname", "", "GitLab SSH hostname, to be used when the SSH host differs from the HTTPS one")
diff --git a/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_github.md b/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_github.md
index ba185717..94430565 100644
--- a/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_github.md
+++ b/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_github.md
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ flux bootstrap github [flags]
       --interval duration       sync interval (default 1m0s)
       --owner string            GitHub user or organization name
       --path safeRelativePath   path relative to the repository root, when specified the cluster sync will be scoped to this path
-      --personal                is personal repository
-      --private                 is private repository (default true)
+      --personal                if true, the owner is assumed to be a GitHub user; otherwise an org
+      --private                 if true, the repository is assumed to be private (default true)
       --repository string       GitHub repository name
       --ssh-hostname string     GitHub SSH hostname, to be used when the SSH host differs from the HTTPS one
       --team stringArray        GitHub team to be given maintainer access
diff --git a/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_gitlab.md b/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_gitlab.md
index 5eb0c965..498b4c06 100644
--- a/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_gitlab.md
+++ b/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_gitlab.md
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ flux bootstrap gitlab [flags]
       --interval duration       sync interval (default 1m0s)
       --owner string            GitLab user or group name
       --path safeRelativePath   path relative to the repository root, when specified the cluster sync will be scoped to this path
-      --personal                is personal repository
-      --private                 is private repository (default true)
+      --personal                if true, the owner is assumed to be a GitLab user; otherwise a group
+      --private                 if true, the repository is assumed to be private (default true)
       --repository string       GitLab repository name
       --ssh-hostname string     GitLab SSH hostname, to be used when the SSH host differs from the HTTPS one
 ```