diff --git a/curses.m4 b/curses.m4
index 83a08126..8d6bd217 100644
--- a/curses.m4
+++ b/curses.m4
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ AC_DEFUN(AC_CHECK_CURSES,[
 	])
 
 	AC_ARG_WITH(vcurses,
-	  [  --with-vcurses[=incdir] Used to force SysV curses],
+	  [[  --with-vcurses[=incdir] Used to force SysV curses]],
 	  if test x$withval != xyes; then
 		CURSES_INCLUDEDIR="-I$withval"
 	  fi
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ AC_DEFUN(AC_CHECK_CURSES,[
 	)
 
 	AC_ARG_WITH(ncurses,
-	  [  --with-ncurses[=dir]    Compile with ncurses/locate base dir],
+	  [[  --with-ncurses[=dir]    Compile with ncurses/locate base dir]],
 	  if test x$withval = xno ; then
 		search_ncurses=false
 	  elif test x$withval != xyes ; then