diff --git a/builtin/pack-objects.c b/builtin/pack-objects.c
index 62cc16ddc..1c63f8f28 100644
--- a/builtin/pack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin/pack-objects.c
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
 #include "argv-array.h"
 
 static const char *pack_usage[] = {
-	N_("git pack-objects --stdout [options...] [< ref-list | < object-list]"),
-	N_("git pack-objects [options...] base-name [< ref-list | < object-list]"),
+	N_("git pack-objects --stdout [<options>...] [< <ref-list> | < <object-list>]"),
+	N_("git pack-objects [<options>...] <base-name> [< <ref-list> | < <object-list>]"),
 	NULL
 };