diff --git a/doc/coreutils.texi b/doc/coreutils.texi
index e0c87d1ad..53257f7d9 100644
--- a/doc/coreutils.texi
+++ b/doc/coreutils.texi
@@ -16426,6 +16426,10 @@ relative to Universal Time rather than to the local time zone.
 The program accepts the following options.  Also see @ref{Common options}.
 Except for @option{-u}, these options are all GNU extensions to POSIX.
 
+All options that specify the date to display are mutually exclusive.
+I.e.: @option{--date}, @option{--file}, @option{--reference},
+@option{--resolution}.
+
 @table @samp
 
 @item -d @var{datestr}
diff --git a/src/date.c b/src/date.c
index 7f2ac801d..ff5c548c0 100644
--- a/src/date.c
+++ b/src/date.c
@@ -183,6 +183,11 @@ With -s, or with [MMDDhhmm[[CC]YY][.ss]], set the date and time.\n\
       fputs (VERSION_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);
       fputs (_("\
 \n\
+All options that specify the date to display are mutually exclusive.\n\
+I.e.: --date, --file, --reference, --resolution.\n\
+"), stdout);
+      fputs (_("\
+\n\
 FORMAT controls the output.  Interpreted sequences are:\n\
 \n\
   %%   a literal %\n\