diff --git a/build.xml b/build.xml
index 3e8559d124c43ae4053da712ce3882372836c8bd..6223df117e8f940eb31b536f90dfa0daab754ec1 100644
--- a/build.xml
+++ b/build.xml
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
         <copy                todir ="${dot.viskit.dir}"           file="${c_gui.xml}"/>
     </target>
 
-    <target name="reset.viskit" description="clear an out of synch configuration and metadata directory - only when necessary">
+    <target name="reset.viskit" description="Replace an out-of-synch configuration with known good defaults - only when necessary">
         <echo message="Reset user's Viskit configuration files in ${dot.viskit.dir}"/>
         <delete includeemptydirs="yes" dir="${dot.viskit.dir}"/>
         <mkdir dir="${dot.viskit.dir}"/>