--- a/tests/run-tests.py
+++ b/tests/run-tests.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ parser = optparse.OptionParser("%prog [o
 parser.add_option("-v", "--verbose", action="store_true",
     help="output verbose messages")
 parser.add_option("-t", "--timeout", type="int",
-    help="output verbose messages")
+    help="kill errant tests after TIMEOUT seconds")
 parser.add_option("-c", "--cover", action="store_true",
     help="print a test coverage report")
 parser.add_option("-s", "--cover_stdlib", action="store_true",