diff --git a/sphinx/cmd/quickstart.py b/sphinx/cmd/quickstart.py
index dfc096de5..49abc2fa1 100644
--- a/sphinx/cmd/quickstart.py
+++ b/sphinx/cmd/quickstart.py
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ Makefile to be used with sphinx-build.
                         version='%%(prog)s %s' % __display_version__)
 
     parser.add_argument('path', metavar='PROJECT_DIR', default='.', nargs='?',
-                        help=__('output path'))
+                        help=__('project root'))
 
     group = parser.add_argument_group(__('Structure options'))
     group.add_argument('--sep', action='store_true', default=None,