diff --git a/options/m_option.c b/options/m_option.c
index 5b07ba5d2a..1d929269b0 100644
--- a/options/m_option.c
+++ b/options/m_option.c
@@ -1654,7 +1654,7 @@ static int parse_msglevels(struct mp_log *log, const m_option_t *opt,
                            struct bstr name, struct bstr param, void *dst)
 {
     if (bstr_equals0(param, "help")) {
-        mp_info(log, "Syntax: --msglevel=module1=level:module2=level:...\n"
+        mp_info(log, "Syntax:\n\n   --msglevel=module1=level,module2=level,...\n\n"
                      "'module' is output prefix as shown with -v, or a prefix\n"
                      "of it. level is one of:\n\n"
                      "  fatal error warn info status v debug trace\n\n"