diff --git a/mercurial/helptext/config.txt b/mercurial/helptext/config.txt
--- a/mercurial/helptext/config.txt
+++ b/mercurial/helptext/config.txt
@@ -513,13 +513,18 @@
 ``update.check``
     Determines what level of checking :hg:`update` will perform before moving
     to a destination revision. Valid values are ``abort``, ``none``,
-    ``linear``, and ``noconflict``. ``abort`` always fails if the working
-    directory has uncommitted changes. ``none`` performs no checking, and may
-    result in a merge with uncommitted changes. ``linear`` allows any update
-    as long as it follows a straight line in the revision history, and may
-    trigger a merge with uncommitted changes. ``noconflict`` will allow any
-    update which would not trigger a merge with uncommitted changes, if any
-    are present.
+    ``linear``, and ``noconflict``.
+
+    - ``abort`` always fails if the working directory has uncommitted changes.
+
+    - ``none`` performs no checking, and may result in a merge with uncommitted changes.
+
+    - ``linear`` allows any update as long as it follows a straight line in the
+      revision history, and may trigger a merge with uncommitted changes.
+
+    - ``noconflict`` will allow any update which would not trigger a merge with
+      uncommitted changes, if any are present.
+
     (default: ``linear``)
 
 ``update.requiredest``
diff --git a/tests/test-help.t b/tests/test-help.t
--- a/tests/test-help.t
+++ b/tests/test-help.t
@@ -1517,26 +1517,38 @@
       "commands.update.check"
           Determines what level of checking 'hg update' will perform before
           moving to a destination revision. Valid values are "abort", "none",
-          "linear", and "noconflict". "abort" always fails if the working
-          directory has uncommitted changes. "none" performs no checking, and
-          may result in a merge with uncommitted changes. "linear" allows any
-          update as long as it follows a straight line in the revision history,
-          and may trigger a merge with uncommitted changes. "noconflict" will
-          allow any update which would not trigger a merge with uncommitted
-          changes, if any are present. (default: "linear")
+          "linear", and "noconflict".
+  
+          - "abort" always fails if the working directory has uncommitted
+            changes.
+          - "none" performs no checking, and may result in a merge with
+            uncommitted changes.
+          - "linear" allows any update as long as it follows a straight line in
+            the revision history, and may trigger a merge with uncommitted
+            changes.
+          - "noconflict" will allow any update which would not trigger a merge
+            with uncommitted changes, if any are present.
+  
+          (default: "linear")
   
 
   $ hg help config.commands.update.check
       "commands.update.check"
           Determines what level of checking 'hg update' will perform before
           moving to a destination revision. Valid values are "abort", "none",
-          "linear", and "noconflict". "abort" always fails if the working
-          directory has uncommitted changes. "none" performs no checking, and
-          may result in a merge with uncommitted changes. "linear" allows any
-          update as long as it follows a straight line in the revision history,
-          and may trigger a merge with uncommitted changes. "noconflict" will
-          allow any update which would not trigger a merge with uncommitted
-          changes, if any are present. (default: "linear")
+          "linear", and "noconflict".
+  
+          - "abort" always fails if the working directory has uncommitted
+            changes.
+          - "none" performs no checking, and may result in a merge with
+            uncommitted changes.
+          - "linear" allows any update as long as it follows a straight line in
+            the revision history, and may trigger a merge with uncommitted
+            changes.
+          - "noconflict" will allow any update which would not trigger a merge
+            with uncommitted changes, if any are present.
+  
+          (default: "linear")
   
 
   $ hg help config.ommands.update.check