diff --git a/make_db b/make_db
index b980f646c9b233c29c60958c5515948a6d66a00f..5a1f8c21dc7598c4fbe2c91d11d1ae1ed480bfbb 100755
--- a/make_db
+++ b/make_db
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ function fail() {
 
 UNITTEST_DATABASE=${UNITTEST_DATABASE-_caosdb_schema_unit_tests}
 
-# options: [--fresh]
+# optional parameter: [--fresh] for installing a fresh data base. Otherwise an existing one would be reused.
 function runtests() {
     DATABASE_NAME=$UNITTEST_DATABASE
     _setup_mytap
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ function _execute_tests () {
 }
 
 # install/reset database for unit tests.
-# options: [--fresh]
+# optional parameter: [--fresh] for installing a fresh data base. Otherwise an existing one would be reused.
 function _install_unit_test_database () {
     DATABASE_NAME=$UNITTEST_DATABASE
     if _db_exists "$DATABASE_NAME"; then