diff --git a/libraries/python/semantic-workbench-assistant/semantic_workbench_assistant/start.py b/libraries/python/semantic-workbench-assistant/semantic_workbench_assistant/start.py
index ce07e94d..cfbb4c5d 100644
--- a/libraries/python/semantic-workbench-assistant/semantic_workbench_assistant/start.py
+++ b/libraries/python/semantic-workbench-assistant/semantic_workbench_assistant/start.py
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ def main():
     parse_args.add_argument(
         "--app",
         type=str,
-        help="assistant app to start; ex: workbench_assistant.canonical:app",
-        default=os.getenv("ASSISTANT_APP", "assistant:app"),
+        help="assistant app to start in format <module>:<attribute> (also supports ASSISTANT_APP env var)",
+        default=os.getenv("ASSISTANT_APP") or "assistant:app",
     )
     parse_args.add_argument(
         "--port",