--- a/src/help.cc
+++ b/src/help.cc
@@ -309,15 +309,18 @@
   return keywords;
 }
 
-void
-additional_help_message (ostrstream& output_buf)
+#define VERBOSE_HELP_MESSAGE \
+  "\n\
+Additional help for builtin functions, operators, and variables\n\
+is available in the on-line version of the manual.\n\
+\n\
+Use the command `help -i <topic>' to search the manual index.\n"
+
+static void
+additional_help_message (ostrstream& output_buf, int force = 0)
 {
-  output_buf
-    << "\n"
-    << "Additional help for builtin functions, operators, and variables\n"
-    << "is available in the on-line version of the manual.\n"
-    << "\n"
-    << "Use the command `help -i <topic>' to search the manual index.\n";
+  if (! (user_pref.suppress_verbose_help_message || force))
+    output_buf << VERBOSE_HELP_MESSAGE;
 }
 
 void
@@ -334,8 +337,7 @@
 	  output_buf << "\n*** " << string << ":\n\n"
 	    << h << "\n";
 
-	  if (! just_usage)
-	    additional_help_message (output_buf);
+	  additional_help_message (output_buf, !just_usage);
 	  output_buf << ends;
 	  maybe_page_output (output_buf);
 	}