diff --git a/youtube_dl/__init__.py b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
index cd642ce3b5..47acb4320d 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
     general.add_option('--proxy', dest='proxy', default=None, help='Use the specified HTTP/HTTPS proxy', metavar='URL')
     general.add_option('--no-check-certificate', action='store_true', dest='no_check_certificate', default=False, help='Suppress HTTPS certificate validation.')
     general.add_option(
-        '--cache-dir', dest='cachedir', default=get_cachedir(),
+        '--cache-dir', dest='cachedir', default=get_cachedir(), metavar='DIR',
         help='Location in the filesystem where youtube-dl can store downloaded information permanently. By default $XDG_CACHE_HOME/youtube-dl or ~/.cache/youtube-dl .')
     general.add_option(
         '--no-cache-dir', action='store_const', const=None, dest='cachedir',