diff --git a/src/avrdude.1 b/src/avrdude.1
index 5d90c4fc..c9119354 100644
--- a/src/avrdude.1
+++ b/src/avrdude.1
@@ -586,9 +586,10 @@ written to
 .Va stderr
 anyway.
 .It Fl n
-No-write - disables actually writing data to the MCU (useful for debugging
+No-write: disables writing data to the MCU whilst processing -U
+(useful for debugging
 .Nm avrdude
-).
+). The terminal mode continues to write to the device.
 .It Fl O
 Perform a RC oscillator run-time calibration according to Atmel
 application note AVR053.
@@ -844,14 +845,18 @@ More
 .Fl v
 options increase verbosity level.
 .It Fl V
-Disable automatic verify check when uploading data.
+Disable automatic verify check when uploading data with -U.
 .It Fl x Ar extended_param
 Pass
 .Ar extended_param
 to the chosen programmer implementation as an extended parameter.
 The interpretation of the extended parameter depends on the
 programmer itself.
-See below for a list of programmers accepting extended parameters.
+See below for a list of programmers accepting extended parameters
+or issue
+.Nm
+-x help ... to see the extended options of the chosen programmer.
+
 .El
 .Ss Terminal mode
 In this mode,
diff --git a/src/doc/avrdude.texi b/src/doc/avrdude.texi
index a37a6d82..fa755eb9 100644
--- a/src/doc/avrdude.texi
+++ b/src/doc/avrdude.texi
@@ -667,8 +667,8 @@ Note that initial diagnostic messages (during option parsing) are still
 written to @var{stderr} anyway.
 
 @item -n
-No-write - disables actually writing data to the MCU (useful for
-debugging AVRDUDE).
+No-write: disables writing data to the MCU whilst processing -U (useful for
+debugging AVRDUDE). The terminal mode continues to write to the device.
 
 @item -O
 Perform a RC oscillator run-time calibration according to Atmel
@@ -904,13 +904,14 @@ Enable verbose output.
 More @code{-v} options increase verbosity level.
 
 @item -V
-Disable automatic verify check when uploading data.
+Disable automatic verify check when uploading data with @code{-U}.
 
 @item -x @var{extended_param}
 Pass @var{extended_param} to the chosen programmer implementation as
 an extended parameter.  The interpretation of the extended parameter
 depends on the programmer itself.  See below for a list of programmers
-accepting extended parameters.
+accepting extended parameters or issue @code{avrdude -x help ...} to
+see the extended options of the chosen programmer.
 
 @end table
 
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index d3376691..322e904f 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -124,6 +124,8 @@ int avrdude_message2(FILE *fp, int lno, const char *file, const char *func, int
     // Reduce effective verbosity level by number of -q above one when printing to stderr
     if ((quell_progress < 2 || fp != stderr? verbose: verbose+1-quell_progress) >= msglvl) {
         if(msgmode & MSG2_PROGNAME) {
+          if(!bols[bi].bol)
+            fprintf(fp, "\n");
           fprintf(fp, "%s", progname);
           if(verbose >= MSG_NOTICE && (msgmode & MSG2_FUNCTION))
             fprintf(fp, " %s()", func);
@@ -241,8 +243,8 @@ static void usage(void)
     "                             Memory operation specification\n"
     "                             Multiple -U options are allowed, each request\n"
     "                             is performed in the order specified\n"
-    "  -n                         Do not write anything to the device\n"
-    "  -V                         Do not verify\n"
+    "  -n                         Do not write to the device whilst processing -U\n"
+    "  -V                         Do not automatically verify during -U\n"
     "  -t                         Enter terminal mode\n"
     "  -E <exitspec>[,<exitspec>] List programmer exit specifications\n"
     "  -x <extended_param>        Pass <extended_param> to programmer, see -xhelp\n"
@@ -511,6 +513,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv [])
   const char *exitspecs; /* exit specs string from command line */
   const char *programmer; /* programmer id */
   int     explicit_c;  /* 1=explicit -c on command line, 0=not spcified  there */
+  int     explicit_e;  /* 1=explicit -e on command line, 0=not spcified  there */
   char    sys_config[PATH_MAX]; /* system wide config file */
   char    usr_config[PATH_MAX]; /* per-user config file */
   char    executable_abspath[PATH_MAX]; /* absolute path to avrdude executable */
@@ -602,6 +605,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv [])
   pgm           = NULL;
   programmer    = "";
   explicit_c    = 0;
+  explicit_e    = 0;
   verbose       = 0;
   baudrate      = 0;
   bitclock      = 0.0;
@@ -718,6 +722,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv [])
 
       case 'e': /* perform a chip erase */
         erase = 1;
+        explicit_e = 1;
         uflags &= ~UF_AUTO_ERASE;
         break;
 
@@ -1454,7 +1459,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv [])
      * before the chip can accept new programming
      */
     if (uflags & UF_NOWRITE) {
-      pmsg_warning("conflicting -e and -n options specified, NOT erasing chip\n");
+      pmsg_warning("%s-n specified, NOT erasing chip\n", explicit_e? "conflicting -e and ": "");
     } else {
       pmsg_info("erasing chip\n");
       exitrc = avr_chip_erase(pgm, p);
@@ -1471,6 +1476,8 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv [])
     /*
      * terminal mode
      */
+    if (uflags & UF_NOWRITE)
+      pmsg_warning("the terminal ignores option -n, that is, it writes to the device\n");
     exitrc = terminal_mode(pgm, p);
   }