diff --git a/cmd/grype/cli/commands/db_search.go b/cmd/grype/cli/commands/db_search.go
index cd9893fdb6a..c6d1681742d 100644
--- a/cmd/grype/cli/commands/db_search.go
+++ b/cmd/grype/cli/commands/db_search.go
@@ -137,7 +137,12 @@ Global Flags:
 		DBSearchVulnerabilities(app),
 	)
 
-	return app.SetupCommand(cmd, opts)
+	// prevent from being shown in the grype config
+	type configWrapper struct {
+		Opts *dbSearchMatchOptions `json:"-" yaml:"-" mapstructure:"-"`
+	}
+
+	return app.SetupCommand(cmd, &configWrapper{opts})
 }
 
 func runDBSearchMatches(opts dbSearchMatchOptions) error {
diff --git a/cmd/grype/cli/commands/db_search_vuln.go b/cmd/grype/cli/commands/db_search_vuln.go
index ef682f9ad65..f13b613920d 100644
--- a/cmd/grype/cli/commands/db_search_vuln.go
+++ b/cmd/grype/cli/commands/db_search_vuln.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func DBSearchVulnerabilities(app clio.Application) *cobra.Command {
 		DBOptions: *dbOptionsDefault(app.ID()),
 	}
 
-	return app.SetupCommand(&cobra.Command{
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "vuln ID...",
 		Aliases: []string{"vulnerability", "vulnerabilities", "vulns"},
 		Short:   "Search for vulnerabilities within the DB (supports DB schema v6+ only)",
@@ -56,7 +56,14 @@ func DBSearchVulnerabilities(app clio.Application) *cobra.Command {
 			}
 			return runDBSearchVulnerabilities(*opts)
 		},
-	}, opts)
+	}
+
+	// prevent from being shown in the grype config
+	type configWrapper struct {
+		Opts *dbSearchVulnerabilityOptions `json:"-" yaml:"-" mapstructure:"-"`
+	}
+
+	return app.SetupCommand(cmd, &configWrapper{opts})
 }
 
 func runDBSearchVulnerabilities(opts dbSearchVulnerabilityOptions) error {
diff --git a/test/cli/db_providers_test.go b/test/cli/db_providers_test.go
index 79b1f346d8f..3e8d0e42cb7 100644
--- a/test/cli/db_providers_test.go
+++ b/test/cli/db_providers_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func TestDBProviders(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "db providers command help",
 			args: []string{"db", "providers", "-h"},
 			assertions: []traitAssertion{
-				assertInOutput("List vulnerability database providers"),
+				assertInOutput("List vulnerability providers that are in the database"),
 				assertNoStderr,
 			},
 		},