diff --git a/cmd/controller/app/options/options.go b/cmd/controller/app/options/options.go
index 324f28905..7b7845a43 100644
--- a/cmd/controller/app/options/options.go
+++ b/cmd/controller/app/options/options.go
@@ -126,8 +126,9 @@ func (s *ControllerOptions) AddFlags(fs *pflag.FlagSet) {
 	fs.StringVar(&s.DefaultACMEIssuerDNS01ProviderName, "default-acme-issuer-dns01-provider-name", defaultACMEIssuerDNS01ProviderName, ""+
 		"Required if --default-acme-issuer-challenge-type is set to dns01. The DNS01 provider to use for ingresses using ACME dns01 "+
 		"validation that do not explicitly state a dns provider.")
-	fs.StringVar(&s.DNS01Nameservers, "dns01-nameservers", defaultDNS01Nameservers, ""+
-		"A list of comma seperated DNS servers used for DNS01 check requests")
+	fs.StringVar(&s.DNS01Nameservers, "dns01-self-check-nameservers", defaultDNS01Nameservers, ""+
+		"A list of comma seperated DNS server endpoints used for DNS01 check requests. "+
+		"")
 }
 
 func (o *ControllerOptions) Validate() error {
diff --git a/docs/reference/issuers/acme/dns01.rst b/docs/reference/issuers/acme/dns01.rst
index 474d85c42..984d2eb5c 100644
--- a/docs/reference/issuers/acme/dns01.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/issuers/acme/dns01.rst
@@ -33,16 +33,21 @@ it is also possible to have multiple instances of the same DNS provider on a
 single Issuer (e.g. two clouddns accounts could be set, each with their own
 name).
 
-Setting nameservers for DNS01 check
-===================================
+Setting nameservers for DNS01 self check
+========================================
 
 Cert-manager will check the correct DNS records exist before attempting a DNS01
 challenge.  By default, the DNS servers for this check will be taken from
 ``/etc/resolv.conf``.  If this is not desired (for example with multiple
 authoritative nameservers or split-horizon DNS), the cert-manager controller
-provides the ``--dns01-nameservers`` flag, which allows overriding the default
+provides the ``--dns01-self-check-nameservers`` flag, which allows overriding the default
 nameservers with a comma seperated list of custom nameservers.
 
+Example usage::
+
+    --dns01-self-check-nameservers "8.8.8.8:53,1.1.1.1:53"
+
+
 .. _supported-dns01-providers:
 
 *************************