diff --git a/Documentation/git-notes.adoc b/Documentation/git-notes.adoc
index 397f6caa92..46a232ca71 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-notes.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/git-notes.adoc
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ order of similar options. For example, for `-C <object> -m<message>`,
 previous `-C`. This is a known limitation that may be fixed in the
 future.
 
-`--ref <ref>`::
+`--ref=<ref>`::
 	Manipulate the notes tree in _<ref>_.  This overrides
 	`GIT_NOTES_REF` and the `core.notesRef` configuration.  The ref
 	specifies the full refname when it begins with `refs/notes/`; when it