diff --git a/py/doc/conftest.py b/py/doc/conftest.py
index d26d9ad56..61eadae2e 100644
--- a/py/doc/conftest.py
+++ b/py/doc/conftest.py
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ Option = py.test.config.Option
 option = py.test.config.addoptions("documentation check options", 
         Option('-R', '--checkremote',
                action="store_true", dest="checkremote", default=False,
-               help="check remote links in ReST files"
-        ),
+               help="perform tests involving remote accesses (links, svn)"
+        ), 
         Option('', '--forcegen',
                action="store_true", dest="forcegen", default=False,
                help="force generation of html files even if they appear up-to-date"
diff --git a/py/doc/path.txt b/py/doc/path.txt
index da5d0d2b9..f4564cfae 100644
--- a/py/doc/path.txt
+++ b/py/doc/path.txt
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ solutions.
 
 Some example usage of :api:`py.path.svnurl`::
 
+  .. >>> import py
+  .. >>> if not getattr(py.test.config.option, 'checkremote', 0): py.test.skip("use --checkremote to enable svn remote doctests")
   >>> url = py.path.svnurl('http://codespeak.net/svn/py')
   >>> info = url.info()
   >>> info.kind