diff --git a/products/jbrowse-cli/README.md b/products/jbrowse-cli/README.md
index 12b9431db1..de5d87a159 100644
--- a/products/jbrowse-cli/README.md
+++ b/products/jbrowse-cli/README.md
@@ -549,7 +549,8 @@ FLAGS
   -c, --currentSession   List out the current default session
   -h, --help             Show CLI help.
   -n, --name=<value>     [default: New Default Session] Give a name for the default session
-  -s, --session=<value>  set path to a file containing session in json format
+  -s, --session=<value>  set path to a file containing session in json format (required, unless using
+                         delete/currentSession flags)
       --delete           Delete any existing default session.
       --out=<value>      synonym for target
       --target=<value>   path to config file in JB2 installation directory to write out to
@@ -558,11 +559,19 @@ DESCRIPTION
   Set a default session with views and tracks
 
 EXAMPLES
+  # set default session for the config.json in your current directory
+
   $ jbrowse set-default-session --session /path/to/default/session.json
 
-  $ jbrowse set-default-session --target /path/to/jb2/installation/config.json
 
-  $ jbrowse set-default-session --view LinearGenomeView, --name newName
+
+  # make session.json the defaultSession on the specified target config.json file
+
+  $ jbrowse set-default-session --target /path/to/jb2/installation/config.json --session session.json
+
+
+
+  # print current default session
 
   $ jbrowse set-default-session --currentSession # Prints out current default session
 ```
diff --git a/products/jbrowse-cli/src/commands/__snapshots__/set-default-session.test.ts.snap b/products/jbrowse-cli/src/commands/__snapshots__/set-default-session.test.ts.snap
index 42b7973bc4..35084f1cfd 100644
--- a/products/jbrowse-cli/src/commands/__snapshots__/set-default-session.test.ts.snap
+++ b/products/jbrowse-cli/src/commands/__snapshots__/set-default-session.test.ts.snap
@@ -69,4 +69,4 @@ exports[`fails when file does not exist 1`] = `"Could not read the provided file
 
 exports[`fails when file is does not have a default session to read 1`] = `"Could not parse the given default session file"`;
 
-exports[`fails when no necessary default session information is provided 1`] = `"Please either provide a default session file"`;
+exports[`fails when no necessary default session information is provided 1`] = `"Please provide a --session file"`;
diff --git a/products/jbrowse-cli/src/commands/set-default-session.ts b/products/jbrowse-cli/src/commands/set-default-session.ts
index 94791adc0c..4cad4b8718 100644
--- a/products/jbrowse-cli/src/commands/set-default-session.ts
+++ b/products/jbrowse-cli/src/commands/set-default-session.ts
@@ -24,16 +24,21 @@ export default class SetDefaultSession extends JBrowseCommand {
   static description = 'Set a default session with views and tracks'
 
   static examples = [
+    '# set default session for the config.json in your current directory',
     '$ jbrowse set-default-session --session /path/to/default/session.json',
-    '$ jbrowse set-default-session --target /path/to/jb2/installation/config.json',
-    '$ jbrowse set-default-session --view LinearGenomeView, --name newName',
+    '',
+    '# make session.json the defaultSession on the specified target config.json file',
+    '$ jbrowse set-default-session --target /path/to/jb2/installation/config.json --session session.json',
+    '',
+    '# print current default session',
     '$ jbrowse set-default-session --currentSession # Prints out current default session',
   ]
 
   static flags = {
     session: Flags.string({
       char: 's',
-      description: 'set path to a file containing session in json format',
+      description:
+        'set path to a file containing session in json format (required, unless using delete/currentSession flags)',
     }),
     name: Flags.string({
       char: 'n',
@@ -78,7 +83,7 @@ export default class SetDefaultSession extends JBrowseCommand {
       )
       this.exit()
     } else if (!session) {
-      this.error(`Please either provide a default session file`, { exit: 120 })
+      this.error(`Please provide a --session file`, { exit: 120 })
     } else if (session) {
       await this.writeJsonFile(this.target, {
         ...configContents,