diff --git a/doc/nano.texi b/doc/nano.texi
index 04dc5756..34be2dbd 100644
--- a/doc/nano.texi
+++ b/doc/nano.texi
@@ -1188,10 +1188,12 @@ Goes one line up (in the editor or browser).
 Goes one line down (in the editor or browser).
 
 @item scrollup
-Scrolls up one line of text from the current position.
+Scrolls the viewport up one row (meaning that the text slides down)
+while keeping the cursor in the same text position, if possible.
 
 @item scrolldown
-Scrolls down one line of text from the current position.
+Scrolls the viewport down one row (meaning that the text slides up)
+while keeping the cursor in the same text position, if possible.
 
 @item prevword
 Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
diff --git a/doc/nanorc.5 b/doc/nanorc.5
index 0e6198aa..4f72395d 100644
--- a/doc/nanorc.5
+++ b/doc/nanorc.5
@@ -543,10 +543,12 @@ Goes one line up (in the editor or browser).
 Goes one line down (in the editor or browser).
 .TP
 .B scrollup
-Scrolls up one line of text from the current position.
+Scrolls the viewport up one row (meaning that the text slides down)
+while keeping the cursor in the same text position, if possible.
 .TP
 .B scrolldown
-Scrolls down one line of text from the current position.
+Scrolls the viewport down one row (meaning that the text slides up)
+while keeping the cursor in the same text position, if possible.
 .TP
 .B prevword
 Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.