diff --git a/changes.txt b/changes.txt
--- a/changes.txt
+++ b/changes.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+1.5.5.0
+-------
+
+- More useful text for empty invocation (“Missing PATH...” plus
+  example usage.
+- lun 6 mar 2023, 17:12:06
+
 1.5.4.1
 -------
 
diff --git a/issues.txt b/issues.txt
--- a/issues.txt
+++ b/issues.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-bin/sign.sh
-     1  put this in Setup.hs? [refactor]
- 
 doc/dev/issues.txt
     11  check --output pretty, there are trailing white spaces [bug] [u:1]
     12  win (and mac?) builds [package] [u:2] [2017]
diff --git a/lentil.cabal b/lentil.cabal
--- a/lentil.cabal
+++ b/lentil.cabal
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 cabal-version:       3.0
 name:                lentil
-version:             1.5.4.2
+version:             1.5.5.0
 synopsis:            frugal issue tracker
 description:         minumum effort, cohesive issue tracker based on
                      ubiquitous @TODO@s and @FIXME@s conventions.
diff --git a/src/Lentil/Args.hs b/src/Lentil/Args.hs
--- a/src/Lentil/Args.hs
+++ b/src/Lentil/Args.hs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
 
 -- argument "." gets replaced to "" (all files)
 includes :: Parser [FilePath]
-includes = some (argument str (metavar "PATH..."))
+includes = many (argument str (metavar "PATH..."))
 
 exclude :: Parser FilePath
 exclude = strOption ( short 'x'      <>
diff --git a/src/Main.hs b/src/Main.hs
--- a/src/Main.hs
+++ b/src/Main.hs
@@ -18,17 +18,24 @@
 
 main :: IO ()
 main = I.hSetBuffering I.stderr I.NoBuffering >> -- b/c progress bar
-       execParser opts >>= runLentil
-    where opts = info (helpOvert <*> lOpts <* version)
+       execParser opts >>= \lo ->
+       if null $ (fst . loInExcl) lo
+         then putStrLn "lentil - frugal issue tracker" >>
+              putStrLn "\n  Missing PATH..." >>
+              putStrLn "\n  example usage: lentil source-folder/" >>
+              putStrLn "\nlentil --help  for more options"
+         else runLentil lo
+    where opts = info (lOpts <* version <* helpOvert)
             ( fullDesc S.<>
               header "lentil - frugal issue tracker" S.<>
+              progDesc "example: lentil source-folder/" S.<>
               footer "manual and examples: http://www.ariis.it/static/articles/lentil-manual/page.html")
 
 -- overt help text (even in condensed help)
 helpOvert :: Parser (a -> a)
 helpOvert = abortOption sht $ mconcat [ long "help",
                                         short 'h',
-                                        help "Show this help text" ]
+                                        help "show this help text" ]
     where
           sht = ShowHelpText Nothing
 
@@ -37,7 +44,7 @@
                                    short 'v'      S.<>
                                    help "show version and copyright info" )
     where
-          versionCopy = "\nlentil - frugal issue tracker, version 1.5.4.2\n\
+          versionCopy = "\nlentil - frugal issue tracker, version 1.5.5.0\n\
                         \(C) 2015-2021 Francesco Ariis - http://www.ariis.it\n\
                         \released under the GNU General Public License v3\n"