diff --git a/hgext/mq.py b/hgext/mq.py
--- a/hgext/mq.py
+++ b/hgext/mq.py
@@ -2152,7 +2152,7 @@ def guard(ui, repo, *args, **opts):
 
     To set guards on another patch::
 
-      hg qguard -- other.patch +2.6.17 -stable
+      hg qguard other.patch -- +2.6.17 -stable
     '''
     def status(idx):
         guards = q.series_guards[idx] or ['unguarded']
@@ -2721,7 +2721,7 @@ cmdtable = {
         (guard,
          [('l', 'list', None, _('list all patches and guards')),
           ('n', 'none', None, _('drop all guards'))],
-         _('hg qguard [-l] [-n] -- [PATCH] [+GUARD]... [-GUARD]...')),
+         _('hg qguard [-l] [-n] [PATCH] [-- [+GUARD]... [-GUARD]...]')),
     'qheader': (header, [], _('hg qheader [PATCH]')),
     "^qimport":
         (qimport,