diff --git a/rc/bin/play b/rc/bin/play
index 80ea396b0..7203769d4 100755
--- a/rc/bin/play
+++ b/rc/bin/play
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ fn play1 {
 }
 
 fn usage {
-	echo usage: $argv0 [ -o file ] [ file ... ] >[1=2]
+	echo usage: $argv0 '[ -o file ] [ file ... ]' >[1=2]
 	exit usage
 }
 
diff --git a/rc/bin/psfax b/rc/bin/psfax
index 720b9cefd..654f53bfe 100755
--- a/rc/bin/psfax
+++ b/rc/bin/psfax
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ case -v
 
 switch($#*){
 case 0 1
-	echo usage: $0 telephone-number recipient [files]
+	echo usage: $0 telephone-number recipient '[files]'
 	exit 0
 case 2
 	stdin=yes
diff --git a/rc/bin/sysupdate b/rc/bin/sysupdate
index 9bb4b9193..156730500 100755
--- a/rc/bin/sysupdate
+++ b/rc/bin/sysupdate
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ while(! ~ $#* 0){
 	case -i
 		hg incoming
 	case *
-		echo usage: sysupdate [-i] >[1=2]
+		echo usage: sysupdate '[-i]' >[1=2]
 		exit usage
 	}
 	shift