diff --git a/pkg/cmd/auth/refresh/refresh.go b/pkg/cmd/auth/refresh/refresh.go
index 28ce3520d..ab13e0552 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/auth/refresh/refresh.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/auth/refresh/refresh.go
@@ -58,8 +58,13 @@ func NewCmdRefresh(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*RefreshOptions) error) *cobra.
 		Short: "Refresh stored authentication credentials",
 		Long: heredoc.Doc(`Expand or fix the permission scopes for stored credentials.
 
-			The --scopes flag accepts a comma separated list of scopes you want your gh credentials to have. If
-			absent, this command ensures that gh has access to a minimum set of scopes.
+			The --scopes flag accepts a comma separated list of scopes you want
+			your gh credentials to have. If no scopes are provided, the command
+			maintains previously added scopes.
+
+			The command can only add additional scopes, but not remove previously
+			added ones. To reset scopes to the default minimum set of scopes, you
+			will need to create new credentials using the auth login command.
 		`),
 		Example: heredoc.Doc(`
 			$ gh auth refresh --scopes write:org,read:public_key