diff --git a/mu4e/mu4e-vars.el b/mu4e/mu4e-vars.el
index a2910aa8..b07ab8d2 100644
--- a/mu4e/mu4e-vars.el
+++ b/mu4e/mu4e-vars.el
@@ -60,10 +60,10 @@ link."
 Common values are \"offlineimap\", \"fetchmail\" or \"mbsync\", but
 arbitrary shell-commands can be used.
 
-When set to \"true\" (the default), the command simply finishes
-succesfully (running the 'true' command) without retrieving any
-mail. This can be useful when mail is already retrieved in another
-way."
+When set to the literal string \"true\" (the default), the
+command simply finishes succesfully (running the 'true' command)
+without retrieving any mail. This can be useful when mail is
+already retrieved in another way."
   :type 'string
   :group 'mu4e
   :safe 'stringp)
diff --git a/mu4e/mu4e.texi b/mu4e/mu4e.texi
index 1b092641..4bcfc091 100644
--- a/mu4e/mu4e.texi
+++ b/mu4e/mu4e.texi
@@ -3574,9 +3574,10 @@ some soundfile, change as needed):
   somehow?} Yes - set @code{mu4e-headers-auto-update} to @code{nil}.
 @item @emph{I don't use @t{offlineimap}, @t{fetchmail} etc., I get my mail
 through my own mailserver. What should I use for
-@code{mu4e-get-mail-command}}? Use @t{"true"} (or don't do anything, it's the
-default). This makes getting mail a no-op, but the messages are still
-re-indexed.
+@code{mu4e-get-mail-command}}? Use the literal string @t{"true"} (or
+don't do anything, it's the default) which then uses @t{/bin/true} (a
+command that does nothing and always succeeds). This makes getting mail
+a no-op, but the messages are still re-indexed.
 @item @emph{How can I re-index my messages without getting new mail?}
 Use @kbd{M-x mu4e-update-index}
 @item @emph{When I try to run @t{mu index} while @t{mu4e} is running I get