diff --git a/avrdude.1 b/avrdude.1
index 81051e95..cd05de60 100644
--- a/avrdude.1
+++ b/avrdude.1
@@ -357,9 +357,16 @@ Tells
 to enter the interactive ``terminal'' mode instead of up- or downloading
 files.  See below for a detailed description of the terminal mode.
 .It Fl u
-Disable safemode and allow the fuse bits to be changed.  Safemode is
-enabled by default and is intended to prevent unintentionally changing
-the fuse bits.
+Disable the safemode fuse bit checks.  Safemode is enabled by default
+and is intended to prevent unintentional fuse bit changes.  When
+enabled, safemode will issue a warning if the any fuse bits are found
+to be different at program exit than they were when
+.Nm
+was invoked.  Safemode won't alter fuse bits itself, but rather will
+prompt for instructions, unless the terminal is non-interactive, in
+which case safemode is disabled.  See the
+.Fl s
+option to disable safemode prompting.
 .It Xo Fl U Ar memtype Ns
 .Ar \&: Ns Ar op Ns
 .Ar \&: Ns Ar filename Ns