diff --git a/cmd/lncli/commands.go b/cmd/lncli/commands.go
index 21588d86..ef676539 100644
--- a/cmd/lncli/commands.go
+++ b/cmd/lncli/commands.go
@@ -951,8 +951,28 @@ func listChannels(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 var sendPaymentCommand = cli.Command{
 	Name:  "sendpayment",
 	Usage: "send a payment over lightning",
-	ArgsUsage: "(destination amount payment_hash " +
-		"| --pay_req=[payment request])",
+	Description: `
+	Send a payment over Lightning. One can either specify the full
+	parameters of the payment, or just use a payment request which encodes
+	all the payment details.
+
+	If payment isn't manually specified, then only a payment request needs
+	to be passed using the --pay_req argument.
+
+	If the payment *is* manually specified, then all four alternative
+	arguments need to be specified in order to complete the payment:
+	    * --dest=N
+	    * --amt=A
+	    * --final_ctlv_delta=T
+	    * --payment_hash=H
+
+	The --debug_send flag is provided for usage *purely* in test
+	environments. If specified, then the payment hash isn't required, as
+	it'll use the hash of all zeroes. This mode allows one to quickly test
+	payment connectivity without having to create an invoice at the
+	destination.
+	`,
+	ArgsUsage: "dest amt payment_hash final_cltv_delta | --pay_req=[payment request]",
 	Flags: []cli.Flag{
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name: "dest, d",