diff --git a/cmd/flux/bootstrap_github.go b/cmd/flux/bootstrap_github.go
index c2cb9806..1dabf2fb 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/bootstrap_github.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/bootstrap_github.go
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func init() {
 	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, "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().BoolVar(&githubArgs.private, "private", true, "if true, the repository is setup or configured as private")
 	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().DurationVar(&githubArgs.interval, "interval", time.Minute, "sync interval")
 	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().StringVar(&githubArgs.hostname, "hostname", ghDefaultDomain, "GitHub hostname")
 	bootstrapGitHubCmd.Flags().Var(&githubArgs.path, "path", "path relative to the repository root, when specified the cluster sync will be scoped to this path")
diff --git a/cmd/flux/bootstrap_gitlab.go b/cmd/flux/bootstrap_gitlab.go
index f35e91c6..ec241fa1 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/bootstrap_gitlab.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/bootstrap_gitlab.go
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func init() {
 	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().StringVar(&gitlabArgs.repository, "repository", "", "GitLab repository name")
 	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().StringArrayVar(&gitlabArgs.teams, "team", []string{}, "GitLab teams to be given maintainer access")
 	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().BoolVar(&gitlabArgs.private, "private", true, "if true, the repository is setup or configured as private")
 	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().DurationVar(&gitlabArgs.interval, "interval", time.Minute, "sync interval")
 	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().StringVar(&gitlabArgs.hostname, "hostname", glDefaultDomain, "GitLab hostname")
 	bootstrapGitLabCmd.Flags().Var(&gitlabArgs.path, "path", "path relative to the repository root, when specified the cluster sync will be scoped to this path")
diff --git a/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_github.md b/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_github.md
index d99ba691..ba233cb7 100644
--- a/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_github.md
+++ b/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_github.md
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ flux bootstrap github [flags]
       --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                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)
+      --private                 if true, the repository is setup or configured as private (default true)
       --read-write-key          if true, the deploy key is configured with read/write permissions
       --repository string       GitHub repository name
       --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 fbf17666..cdd36545 100644
--- a/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_gitlab.md
+++ b/docs/cmd/flux_bootstrap_gitlab.md
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ flux bootstrap gitlab [flags]
       --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                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)
+      --private                 if true, the repository is setup or configured as private (default true)
       --read-write-key          if true, the deploy key is configured with read/write permissions
       --repository string       GitLab repository name
       --team stringArray        GitLab teams to be given maintainer access