diff --git a/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh b/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh
index ca540c84c..f624648ae 100644
--- a/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ open_jira_issue () {
   elif [[ "x$JIRA_URL" != "x" ]]; then
     jira_url=$JIRA_URL
   else
-    echo "JIRA url is not specified anywhere."
+    jira_url_help
     return 1
   fi
 
@@ -59,6 +59,16 @@ open_jira_issue () {
   fi
 }
 
+jira_url_help() {
+  cat << EOF
+JIRA url is not specified anywhere.
+Valid options, in order of preference:
+  .jira-url file
+  $HOME/.jira-url file
+  JIRA_URL environment variable
+EOF
+}
+
 jira_name () {
   if [[ -z "$1" ]]; then
     if [[ "x${JIRA_NAME}" != "x" ]]; then