diff --git a/core/commands/swarm.go b/core/commands/swarm.go
index c9259bef0e3..3d2adb7575d 100644
--- a/core/commands/swarm.go
+++ b/core/commands/swarm.go
@@ -650,11 +650,13 @@ var swarmAddrsListenCmd = &cmds.Command{
 
 var swarmConnectCmd = &cmds.Command{
 	Helptext: cmds.HelpText{
-		Tagline: "Open connection to a given address.",
+		Tagline: "Open connection to a given peer.",
 		ShortDescription: `
-'ipfs swarm connect' opens a new direct connection to a peer address.
+'ipfs swarm connect' attempts to ensure a connection to a given peer.
 
-The address format is an IPFS multiaddr:
+Multiaddresses given are advisory, for example the node may already be aware of other addresses for a given peer or may already have an established connection to the peer.
+
+The address format is a libp2p multiaddr:
 
 ipfs swarm connect /ip4/104.131.131.82/tcp/4001/p2p/QmaCpDMGvV2BGHeYERUEnRQAwe3N8SzbUtfsmvsqQLuvuJ
 `,