diff --git a/Documentation/git-cvsserver.txt b/Documentation/git-cvsserver.txt
index 4dc57ed254..53f111bc0a 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-cvsserver.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-cvsserver.txt
@@ -63,11 +63,10 @@ Print version information and exit
 Print usage information and exit
 
 <directory>::
-You can specify a list of allowed directories. If no directories
-are given, all are allowed. This is an additional restriction, gitcvs
-access still needs to be enabled by the `gitcvs.enabled` config option
-unless `--export-all` was given, too.
-
+The remaining arguments provide a list of directories. If no directories
+are given, then all are allowed. Repositories within these directories
+still require the `gitcvs.enabled` config option, unless `--export-all`
+is specified.
 
 LIMITATIONS
 -----------
@@ -311,11 +310,13 @@ ENVIRONMENT
 These variables obviate the need for command-line options in some
 circumstances, allowing easier restricted usage through git-shell.
 
-GIT_CVSSERVER_BASE_PATH takes the place of the argument to --base-path.
+GIT_CVSSERVER_BASE_PATH::
+	This variable replaces the argument to --base-path.
 
-GIT_CVSSERVER_ROOT specifies a single-directory whitelist. The
-repository must still be configured to allow access through
-git-cvsserver, as described above.
+GIT_CVSSERVER_ROOT::
+	This variable specifies a single directory, replacing the
+	`<directory>...` argument list. The repository still requires the
+	`gitcvs.enabled` config option, unless `--export-all` is specified.
 
 When these environment variables are set, the corresponding
 command-line arguments may not be used.
diff --git a/git-cvsserver.perl b/git-cvsserver.perl
index 4c8118010a..7b757360e2 100755
--- a/git-cvsserver.perl
+++ b/git-cvsserver.perl
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ $state->{allowed_roots} = [ @ARGV ];
 
 # don't export the whole system unless the users requests it
 if ($state->{'export-all'} && !@{$state->{allowed_roots}}) {
-    die "--export-all can only be used together with an explicit whitelist\n";
+    die "--export-all can only be used together with an explicit '<directory>...' list\n";
 }
 
 # Environment handling for running under git-shell
diff --git a/t/t9400-git-cvsserver-server.sh b/t/t9400-git-cvsserver-server.sh
index 210ddf09e3..379b19f2f8 100755
--- a/t/t9400-git-cvsserver-server.sh
+++ b/t/t9400-git-cvsserver-server.sh
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ test_expect_success 'req_Root (export-all)' \
   'cat request-anonymous | git-cvsserver --export-all pserver "$WORKDIR" >log 2>&1 &&
    sed -ne \$p log | grep "^I LOVE YOU\$"'
 
-test_expect_success 'req_Root failure (export-all w/o whitelist)' \
+test_expect_success 'req_Root failure (export-all w/o directory list)' \
   '! (cat request-anonymous | git-cvsserver --export-all pserver >log 2>&1 || false)'
 
 test_expect_success 'req_Root (everything together)' \