diff --git a/cli_classic.c b/cli_classic.c
index be2f86c..7f6887c 100644
--- a/cli_classic.c
+++ b/cli_classic.c
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@
 	printf(" -h | --help                        print this help text\n"
 	       " -R | --version                     print version (release)\n"
 	       " -r | --read <file>                 read flash and save to <file>\n"
-	       " -w | --write <file|->              write <file> or the content provided\n"
+	       " -w | --write (<file>|-)            write <file> or the content provided\n"
 	       "                                    on the standard input to flash\n"
-	       " -v | --verify <file|->             verify flash against <file>\n"
+	       " -v | --verify (<file>|-)           verify flash against <file>\n"
 	       "                                    or the content provided on the standard input\n"
 	       " -E | --erase                       erase flash memory\n"
 	       " -V | --verbose                     more verbose output\n"
diff --git a/flashrom.8.tmpl b/flashrom.8.tmpl
index cb56939..e830d87 100644
--- a/flashrom.8.tmpl
+++ b/flashrom.8.tmpl
@@ -86,10 +86,12 @@
 .BR <file> .
 If the file already exists, it will be overwritten.
 .TP
-.B "\-w, \-\-write <file>"
+.B "\-w, \-\-write (<file>|-)"
 Write
 .B <file>
-into flash ROM. This will first automatically
+into flash ROM. If
+.B -
+is provided instead, contents will be read from stdin. This will first automatically
 .B erase
 the chip, then write to it.
 .sp
@@ -128,9 +130,12 @@
 .BR internal
 programmer. It may be enabled by default in this case in the future.
 .TP
-.B "\-v, \-\-verify <file>"
+.B "\-v, \-\-verify (<file>|-)"
 Verify the flash ROM contents against the given
 .BR <file> .
+If
+.BR -
+is provided instead, contents will be read from stdin.
 .TP
 .B "\-E, \-\-erase"
 Erase the flash ROM chip.