diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/README.rst b/Documentation/admin-guide/README.rst
index 63066db39910b29dfe4371d780730757199eced7..af5a437198d042d53ea5b33ab64fc440c0536731 100644
--- a/Documentation/admin-guide/README.rst
+++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/README.rst
@@ -170,11 +170,6 @@ Configuring the kernel
                         your existing ./.config file and asking about
                         new config symbols.
 
-     "make silentoldconfig"
-                        Like above, but avoids cluttering the screen
-                        with questions already answered.
-                        Additionally updates the dependencies.
-
      "make olddefconfig"
                         Like above, but sets new symbols to their default
                         values without prompting.
diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/Makefile b/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
index a5ab2f7909de2c91580a24c47646835f3ebb7bb3..cb3ec53a7c29f2e086aa72c6659f63ae76f2523f 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ config: $(obj)/conf
 nconfig: $(obj)/nconf
 	$< $(silent) $(Kconfig)
 
+# This has become an internal implementation detail and is now deprecated
+# for external use.
 silentoldconfig: $(obj)/conf
 	$(Q)mkdir -p include/config include/generated
 	$(Q)test -e include/generated/autoksyms.h || \
@@ -144,7 +146,6 @@ help:
 	@echo  '  oldconfig	  - Update current config utilising a provided .config as base'
 	@echo  '  localmodconfig  - Update current config disabling modules not loaded'
 	@echo  '  localyesconfig  - Update current config converting local mods to core'
-	@echo  '  silentoldconfig - Same as oldconfig, but quietly, additionally update deps'
 	@echo  '  defconfig	  - New config with default from ARCH supplied defconfig'
 	@echo  '  savedefconfig   - Save current config as ./defconfig (minimal config)'
 	@echo  '  allnoconfig	  - New config where all options are answered with no'
@@ -153,8 +154,8 @@ help:
 	@echo  '  alldefconfig    - New config with all symbols set to default'
 	@echo  '  randconfig	  - New config with random answer to all options'
 	@echo  '  listnewconfig   - List new options'
-	@echo  '  olddefconfig	  - Same as silentoldconfig but sets new symbols to their'
-	@echo  '                    default value'
+	@echo  '  olddefconfig	  - Same as oldconfig but sets new symbols to their'
+	@echo  '                    default value without prompting'
 	@echo  '  kvmconfig	  - Enable additional options for kvm guest kernel support'
 	@echo  '  xenconfig       - Enable additional options for xen dom0 and guest kernel support'
 	@echo  '  tinyconfig	  - Configure the tiniest possible kernel'
diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/conf.c b/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
index a8a97efd3dfc41217ccdd81219878d7ce18dd76a..307bc3f7b945cdb2dbb054a3d28a39f87b8348e6 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
@@ -484,8 +484,9 @@ static void conf_usage(const char *progname)
 	printf("  --listnewconfig         List new options\n");
 	printf("  --oldaskconfig          Start a new configuration using a line-oriented program\n");
 	printf("  --oldconfig             Update a configuration using a provided .config as base\n");
-	printf("  --silentoldconfig       Same as oldconfig, but quietly, additionally update deps\n");
-	printf("  --olddefconfig          Same as silentoldconfig but sets new symbols to their default value\n");
+	printf("  --silentoldconfig       Similar to oldconfig but generates configuration in\n"
+	       "                          include/{generated/,config/} (oldconfig used to be more verbose)\n");
+	printf("  --olddefconfig          Same as oldconfig but sets new symbols to their default value\n");
 	printf("  --oldnoconfig           An alias of olddefconfig\n");
 	printf("  --defconfig <file>      New config with default defined in <file>\n");
 	printf("  --savedefconfig <file>  Save the minimal current configuration to <file>\n");