diff --git a/kitty/cli.py b/kitty/cli.py
index 77b9086e1..65b255949 100644
--- a/kitty/cli.py
+++ b/kitty/cli.py
@@ -703,7 +703,9 @@ Print out information about the selection of fallback fonts for characters not p
 
 --debug-config
 type=bool-set
-Print out information about the system and kitty configuration.
+Print out information about the system and kitty configuration. Note that this only
+reads the standard kitty.conf not any extra configuration or alternative conf files
+that were specified on the command line.
 
 
 --execute -e