1 files changed, 17 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/ipalib/cli.py b/ipalib/cli.py
index d5a5b8429..84dea2e52 100644
--- a/ipalib/cli.py
+++ b/ipalib/cli.py
@@ -1098,7 +1098,8 @@ class cli(backend.Executioner):
     def build_parser(self, cmd):
         parser = CLIOptionParser(
             usage=' '.join(self.usage_iter(cmd)),
-            description=cmd.summary,
+            description=unicode(cmd.doc),
+            formatter=IPAHelpFormatter(),
         )
         option_groups = {}
         for option in cmd.options():
@@ -1257,6 +1258,21 @@ class cli(backend.Executioner):
                 kw[p.name] = self.Backend.textui.decode(raw)
 
 
+class IPAHelpFormatter(optparse.IndentedHelpFormatter):
+    """Formatter suitable for printing IPA command help
+
+    The default help formatter reflows text to fit the terminal, but it
+    ignores line/paragraph breaks.
+    IPA's descriptions already have correct line breaks. This formatter
+    doesn't touch them (save for removing initial/trailing whitespace).
+    """
+    def format_description(self, description):
+        if description:
+            return description.strip()
+        else:
+            return ""
+
+
 cli_plugins = (
     cli,
     textui,