diff --git a/README.markdown b/README.markdown
index 66efecb..7f97875 100644
--- a/README.markdown
+++ b/README.markdown
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ Installing form github `pip install -e git://github.com/bitly/data_hacks.git#egg
 
 Installing from source `python setup.py install`
 
+data_hacks are friendly. Ask them for usage information with `--help`
+
 histogram.py
 ------------
 
diff --git a/data_hacks/nintey_five_percent.py b/data_hacks/nintey_five_percent.py
index 78dd85b..56dfc3e 100644
--- a/data_hacks/nintey_five_percent.py
+++ b/data_hacks/nintey_five_percent.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def calc_95(data, count):
             return t
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    if sys.stdin.isatty():
-        print "Usage: cat data | %(prog)s" % os.path.basename(sys.argv[0])
+    if sys.stdin.isatty() or '--help' in sys.argv or '-h' in sys.argv:
+        print "Usage: cat data | %s" % os.path.basename(sys.argv[0])
         sys.exit(1)
     run()
diff --git a/data_hacks/run_for.py b/data_hacks/run_for.py
index 47277ac..55c4259 100644
--- a/data_hacks/run_for.py
+++ b/data_hacks/run_for.py
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ def run(runtime):
             return
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    usage = "Usage: tail -f access.log | %(prog)s [time] | ..." % os.path.basename(sys.argv[0])
-    help = "time can be in the format 10s 10m 10h etc"
+    usage = "Usage: tail -f access.log | %s [time] | ..." % os.path.basename(sys.argv[0])
+    help = "time can be in the format 10s, 10m, 10h, etc"
     if sys.stdin.isatty():
         print usage
         print help