diff --git a/_pytest/main.py b/_pytest/main.py
index e6f679a37..1a6ba2781 100644
--- a/_pytest/main.py
+++ b/_pytest/main.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
                action="store", type=int, dest="maxfail", default=0,
                help="exit after first num failures or errors.")
     group._addoption('--strict', action="store_true",
-               help="run pytest in strict mode, warnings become errors.")
+               help="marks not registered in configuration file raise errors.")
     group._addoption("-c", metavar="file", type=str, dest="inifilename",
                help="load configuration from `file` instead of trying to locate one of the implicit configuration files.")
     group._addoption("--continue-on-collection-errors", action="store_true",
diff --git a/changelog/2444.trivial b/changelog/2444.trivial
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4d6e2de5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/2444.trivial
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Update help message for ``--strict`` to make it clear it only deals with unregistered markers, not warnings.
diff --git a/doc/en/example/markers.rst b/doc/en/example/markers.rst
index d74d16e9d..40338fba8 100644
--- a/doc/en/example/markers.rst
+++ b/doc/en/example/markers.rst
@@ -223,13 +223,12 @@ For an example on how to add and work with markers from a plugin, see
 
     It is recommended to explicitly register markers so that:
 
-    * there is one place in your test suite defining your markers
+    * There is one place in your test suite defining your markers
 
-    * asking for existing markers via ``pytest --markers`` gives good output
+    * Asking for existing markers via ``pytest --markers`` gives good output
 
-    * typos in function markers are treated as an error if you use
-      the ``--strict`` option. Future versions of ``pytest`` are probably
-      going to start treating non-registered markers as errors at some point.
+    * Typos in function markers are treated as an error if you use
+      the ``--strict`` option. 
 
 .. _`scoped-marking`:
 
diff --git a/testing/test_skipping.py b/testing/test_skipping.py
index 5f25c3e6e..5a6692b3c 100644
--- a/testing/test_skipping.py
+++ b/testing/test_skipping.py
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ class TestSkip(object):
             def test_hello():
                 pass
         """)
-        result = testdir.runpytest("-rs --strict")
+        result = testdir.runpytest("-rs")
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
             "*unconditional skip*",
             "*1 skipped*",