diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/spec.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/spec.py
index 12ebd082965..85fe5a1a9e9 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/spec.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/spec.py
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@
 
 
 def setup_parser(subparser):
+    subparser.epilog = """\
+for further documentation regarding the spec syntax, see:
+    spack help --spec
+"""
     arguments.add_common_arguments(
         subparser, ['long', 'very_long', 'install_status'])
     subparser.add_argument(