diff --git a/docs/pages/pmd/userdocs/cli_reference.md b/docs/pages/pmd/userdocs/cli_reference.md
index 2e6350ebc8..541f49eb25 100644
--- a/docs/pages/pmd/userdocs/cli_reference.md
+++ b/docs/pages/pmd/userdocs/cli_reference.md
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ The tool comes with a rather extensive help text, simply running with `-help`!
     %}
     {% include custom/cli_option_row.html options="-reportfile,-r"
                option_arg="path"
-               description="Path to a file in which the report output will be sent. By default the report is printed on standard output."
+               description="Path to a file to which report output is written. The file is created if it does not exist. If this option is not specified, the report is rendered to standard output."
     %}
     {% include custom/cli_option_row.html options="-shortnames"
                description="Prints shortened filenames in the report."
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/cli/PMDParameters.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/cli/PMDParameters.java
index 94cd430553..73490891a2 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/cli/PMDParameters.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/cli/PMDParameters.java
@@ -89,7 +89,10 @@ public class PMDParameters {
             converter = PropertyConverter.class)
     private List<Properties> properties = new ArrayList<>();
 
-    @Parameter(names = { "-reportfile", "-r" }, description = "Sends report output to a file; default to System.out.")
+    @Parameter(names = { "-reportfile", "-r" },
+               description = "Path to a file to which report output is written. "
+                   + "The file is created if it does not exist. "
+                   + "If this option is not specified, the report is rendered to standard output.")
     private String reportfile = null;
 
     @Parameter(names = { "-version", "-v" }, description = "Specify version of a language PMD should use.")