diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 33ac6b5f89d..041d92eaf89 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -2254,16 +2254,15 @@ Installation options:
 
  These are optional, but you may specify install directories.
 
-    -prefix <dir> ...... This will install everything relative to <dir>
+    -prefix <dir> ...... The deployment directory, as seen on the target device.
                          (default /usr/local/Qt-${QT_VERSION}, \$PWD if -developer-build is active)
 
-    -extprefix <dir> ... When -sysroot is used, install everything to <dir>,
-                         rather than into SYSROOT/PREFIX.
+    -extprefix <dir> ... The installation directory, as seen on the host machine.
+                         (default SYSROOT/PREFIX)
 
-    -hostprefix [dir] .. Tools and libraries needed when developing
-                         applications are installed in [dir]. If [dir] is
-                         not given, the current build directory will be used.
-                         (default EXTPREFIX)
+    -hostprefix [dir] .. The installation directory for build tools running on the
+                         host machine. If [dir] is not given, the current build
+                         directory will be used. (default EXTPREFIX)
 
  You may use these to separate different parts of the install:
 
diff --git a/tools/configure/configureapp.cpp b/tools/configure/configureapp.cpp
index adab4b7a9ae..a1d06997862 100644
--- a/tools/configure/configureapp.cpp
+++ b/tools/configure/configureapp.cpp
@@ -1717,12 +1717,15 @@ bool Configure::displayHelp()
 
         desc("These are optional, but you may specify install directories.\n\n", 0, 1);
 
-        desc(       "-prefix <dir>",                    "This will install everything relative to <dir> (default $QT_INSTALL_PREFIX)\n");
+        desc(       "-prefix <dir>",                    "The deployment directory, as seen on the target device.\n"
+                                                        "(default %CD%)\n");
 
-        desc(       "-extprefix <dir>",                 "When -sysroot is used, install everything to <dir>, rather than into SYSROOT/PREFIX.\n");
+        desc(       "-extprefix <dir>",                 "The installation directory, as seen on the host machine.\n"
+                                                        "(default SYSROOT/PREFIX)\n");
 
-        desc(       "-hostprefix [dir]",                "Tools and libraries needed when developing applications are installed in [dir]. "
-                                                        "If [dir] is not given, the current build directory will be used. (default EXTPREFIX)\n");
+        desc(       "-hostprefix [dir]",                "The installation directory for build tools running on the\n"
+                                                        "host machine. If [dir] is not given, the current build\n"
+                                                        "directory will be used. (default EXTPREFIX)\n");
 
         desc("You may use these to separate different parts of the install:\n\n");