diff --git a/source/includes/options-mongo.yaml b/source/includes/options-mongo.yaml
index 226be1b62f0..b2156141410 100644
--- a/source/includes/options-mongo.yaml
+++ b/source/includes/options-mongo.yaml
@@ -145,6 +145,11 @@ description: |
      mongo mongodb1.example.net
      mongo mongodb1/admin
      mongo 10.8.8.10/test
+
+  This syntax is the *only* way to connect to a specific database. 
+
+  To specify alternate hosts and a database, you must use this syntax and cannot
+  use :option:`--host` or :option:`--port`.
 optional: true
 ---
 program: mongo