diff --git a/impl/maven-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/cling/invoker/CommonsCliOptions.java b/impl/maven-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/cling/invoker/CommonsCliOptions.java
index 7ed2dcb68bbc..c417f24f40f0 100644
--- a/impl/maven-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/cling/invoker/CommonsCliOptions.java
+++ b/impl/maven-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/cling/invoker/CommonsCliOptions.java
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ public void displayHelp(String command, Consumer<String> pw) {
         }
 
         protected String commandLineSyntax(String command) {
-            return command + " [options] [goals]";
+            return command + " [options] [<goal|phase> ...]";
         }
     }
 }