diff --git a/builtin/push.c b/builtin/push.c
index 7b1b66c36a..17fc31dd0d 100644
--- a/builtin/push.c
+++ b/builtin/push.c
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ int cmd_push(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		  0, CAS_OPT_NAME, &cas, N_("refname>:<expect"),
 		  N_("require old value of ref to be at this value"),
 		  PARSE_OPT_OPTARG, parseopt_push_cas_option },
-		{ OPTION_CALLBACK, 0, "recurse-submodules", &flags, N_("check"),
+		{ OPTION_CALLBACK, 0, "recurse-submodules", &flags, "check|on-demand",
 			N_("control recursive pushing of submodules"),
 			PARSE_OPT_OPTARG, option_parse_recurse_submodules },
 		OPT_BOOL( 0 , "thin", &thin, N_("use thin pack")),