diff --git a/README b/README
index 81136fd..35e7478 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
 reclass is an "external node classifier" (ENC) as can be used with automation
-tools, such as Puppet, Salt, and Ansible.
+tools, such as Puppet, Salt, and Ansible. It is also a stand-alone tool for
+merging data sources recursively.
 
 The purpose of an ENC is to allow a system administrator to maintain an
 inventory of nodes to be managed, completely separately from the configuration
diff --git a/reclass/version.py b/reclass/version.py
index 3a302d0..1e38c7f 100644
--- a/reclass/version.py
+++ b/reclass/version.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 # Released under the terms of the Artistic Licence 2.0
 #
 RECLASS_NAME = 'reclass'
-DESCRIPTION = 'classify nodes based on an external data source'
+DESCRIPTION = 'merge data by recursive descent down an ancestry hierarchy'
 VERSION = '1.0'
 AUTHOR = 'martin f. krafft'
 AUTHOR_EMAIL = 'reclass@pobox.madduck.net'