diff --git a/Objects/rangeobject.c b/Objects/rangeobject.c
index 7e6c733f3e2..ca66a45d5fe 100644
--- a/Objects/rangeobject.c
+++ b/Objects/rangeobject.c
@@ -139,7 +139,11 @@ PyDoc_STRVAR(range_doc,
 "range(stop) -> range object\n\
 range(start, stop[, step]) -> range object\n\
 \n\
-Return a sequence of numbers from start to stop by step.");
+Return an object that produces a sequence of integers from start (inclusive)\n\
+to stop (exclusive) by step.  range(i, j) produces i, i+1, i+2, ..., j-1.\n\
+start defaults to 0, and stop is omitted!  range(4) produces 0, 1, 2, 3.\n\
+These are exactly the valid indices for a list of 4 elements.\n\
+When step is given, it specifies the increment (or decrement).");
 
 static void
 range_dealloc(rangeobject *r)