diff --git a/copyparty/__main__.py b/copyparty/__main__.py
index 5a379c20..ab8e17c7 100644
--- a/copyparty/__main__.py
+++ b/copyparty/__main__.py
@@ -144,12 +144,11 @@ def configure_ssl_ciphers(al):
 
     is_help = al.ciphers == "help"
 
-    if al.ciphers:
+    if al.ciphers and not is_help:
         try:
             ctx.set_ciphers(al.ciphers)
         except:
-            if not is_help:
-                print("\n\033[1;31mfailed to set ciphers\033[0m\n")
+            print("\n\033[1;31mfailed to set ciphers\033[0m\n")
 
     if not hasattr(ctx, "get_ciphers"):
         print("cannot read cipher list: openssl or python too old")
@@ -211,8 +210,8 @@ def main():
               "print,get" prints the data in the log and returns GET
               (leave out the ",get" to return an error instead)
 
-            see "--ciphers help" for available ssl/tls ciphers,
-            see "--ssl-ver help" for available ssl/tls versions,
+            --ciphers help = available ssl/tls ciphers,
+            --ssl-ver help = available ssl/tls versions,
               default is what python considers safe, usually >= TLS1
             """
         ),
diff --git a/copyparty/up2k.py b/copyparty/up2k.py
index 1cd3ff67..75706188 100644
--- a/copyparty/up2k.py
+++ b/copyparty/up2k.py
@@ -130,8 +130,12 @@ class Up2k(object):
             if db:
                 # can be symlink so don't `and d.startswith(top)``
                 excl = set([d for d in tops if d != top])
-                self._build_dir([db, 0, time.time()], top, excl, top)
+                dbw = [db, 0, time.time()]
+                self._build_dir(dbw, top, excl, top)
                 self._drop_lost(db, top)
+                if dbw[1]:
+                    self.log("up2k", "commit {} new files".format(dbw[1]))
+
                 db.commit()
 
     def _build_dir(self, dbw, top, excl, cdir):
@@ -190,7 +194,7 @@ class Up2k(object):
                 dbw[1] += 1
                 td = time.time() - dbw[2]
                 if dbw[1] > 1024 or td > 60:
-                    self.log("up2k", "commit {} files".format(dbw[1]))
+                    self.log("up2k", "commit {} new files".format(dbw[1]))
                     dbw[0].commit()
                     dbw[1] = 0
                     dbw[2] = time.time()