diff --git a/tools/cert_create/src/cert.c b/tools/cert_create/src/cert.c
index bf52645..a559832 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/src/cert.c
+++ b/tools/cert_create/src/cert.c
@@ -183,19 +183,21 @@
 
 int cert_init(void)
 {
+	cmd_opt_t cmd_opt;
 	cert_t *cert;
-	int rc = 0;
 	unsigned int i;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < num_certs; i++) {
 		cert = &certs[i];
-		rc = cmd_opt_add(cert->opt, required_argument, CMD_OPT_CERT);
-		if (rc != 0) {
-			break;
-		}
+		cmd_opt.long_opt.name = cert->opt;
+		cmd_opt.long_opt.has_arg = required_argument;
+		cmd_opt.long_opt.flag = NULL;
+		cmd_opt.long_opt.val = CMD_OPT_CERT;
+		cmd_opt.help_msg = cert->help_msg;
+		cmd_opt_add(&cmd_opt);
 	}
 
-	return rc;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 cert_t *cert_get_by_opt(const char *opt)
diff --git a/tools/cert_create/src/cmd_opt.c b/tools/cert_create/src/cmd_opt.c
index 3847b98..ecf84ab 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/src/cmd_opt.c
+++ b/tools/cert_create/src/cmd_opt.c
@@ -28,26 +28,35 @@
  * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
  */
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <getopt.h>
 #include <stddef.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <cmd_opt.h>
+#include "debug.h"
 
 /* Command line options */
 static struct option long_opt[CMD_OPT_MAX_NUM+1];
+static const char *help_msg[CMD_OPT_MAX_NUM+1];
 static int num_reg_opt;
 
-int cmd_opt_add(const char *name, int has_arg, int val)
+void cmd_opt_add(const cmd_opt_t *cmd_opt)
 {
+	assert(cmd_opt != NULL);
+
 	if (num_reg_opt >= CMD_OPT_MAX_NUM) {
-		return -1;
+		ERROR("Out of memory. Please increase CMD_OPT_MAX_NUM\n");
+		exit(1);
 	}
-	long_opt[num_reg_opt].name = name;
-	long_opt[num_reg_opt].has_arg = has_arg;
+
+	long_opt[num_reg_opt].name = cmd_opt->long_opt.name;
+	long_opt[num_reg_opt].has_arg = cmd_opt->long_opt.has_arg;
 	long_opt[num_reg_opt].flag = 0;
-	long_opt[num_reg_opt].val = val;
-	num_reg_opt++;
+	long_opt[num_reg_opt].val = cmd_opt->long_opt.val;
 
-	return 0;
+	help_msg[num_reg_opt] = cmd_opt->help_msg;
+
+	num_reg_opt++;
 }
 
 const struct option *cmd_opt_get_array(void)
@@ -63,3 +72,12 @@
 
 	return long_opt[idx].name;
 }
+
+const char *cmd_opt_get_help_msg(int idx)
+{
+	if (idx >= num_reg_opt) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	return help_msg[idx];
+}
diff --git a/tools/cert_create/src/ext.c b/tools/cert_create/src/ext.c
index 14aef66..3f56edb 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/src/ext.c
+++ b/tools/cert_create/src/ext.c
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@
  */
 int ext_init(void)
 {
+	cmd_opt_t cmd_opt;
 	ext_t *ext;
 	X509V3_EXT_METHOD *m;
 	int nid, ret;
@@ -78,10 +79,12 @@
 		ext = &extensions[i];
 		/* Register command line option */
 		if (ext->opt) {
-			if (cmd_opt_add(ext->opt, required_argument,
-					CMD_OPT_EXT)) {
-				return 1;
-			}
+			cmd_opt.long_opt.name = ext->opt;
+			cmd_opt.long_opt.has_arg = required_argument;
+			cmd_opt.long_opt.flag = NULL;
+			cmd_opt.long_opt.val = CMD_OPT_EXT;
+			cmd_opt.help_msg = ext->help_msg;
+			cmd_opt_add(&cmd_opt);
 		}
 		/* Register the extension OID in OpenSSL */
 		if (ext->oid == NULL) {
diff --git a/tools/cert_create/src/key.c b/tools/cert_create/src/key.c
index 76d528b..a7ee759 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/src/key.c
+++ b/tools/cert_create/src/key.c
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@
 
 int key_init(void)
 {
+	cmd_opt_t cmd_opt;
 	key_t *key;
 	int rc = 0;
 	unsigned int i;
@@ -201,11 +202,12 @@
 	for (i = 0; i < num_keys; i++) {
 		key = &keys[i];
 		if (key->opt != NULL) {
-			rc = cmd_opt_add(key->opt, required_argument,
-					 CMD_OPT_KEY);
-			if (rc != 0) {
-				break;
-			}
+			cmd_opt.long_opt.name = key->opt;
+			cmd_opt.long_opt.has_arg = required_argument;
+			cmd_opt.long_opt.flag = NULL;
+			cmd_opt.long_opt.val = CMD_OPT_KEY;
+			cmd_opt.help_msg = key->help_msg;
+			cmd_opt_add(&cmd_opt);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/tools/cert_create/src/main.c b/tools/cert_create/src/main.c
index 3e4f8c5..3d2b4ba 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/src/main.c
+++ b/tools/cert_create/src/main.c
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
  * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
  */
 
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
 #include <getopt.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -81,36 +83,7 @@
 #define VAL_DAYS			7300
 #define ID_TO_BIT_MASK(id)		(1 << id)
 #define NUM_ELEM(x)			((sizeof(x)) / (sizeof(x[0])))
-
-/* Files */
-enum {
-	/* Image file names (inputs) */
-	BL2_ID = 0,
-	SCP_BL2_ID,
-	BL31_ID,
-	BL32_ID,
-	BL33_ID,
-	/* Certificate file names (outputs) */
-	TRUSTED_BOOT_FW_CERT_ID,
-	TRUSTED_KEY_CERT_ID,
-	SCP_FW_KEY_CERT_ID,
-	SCP_FW_CONTENT_CERT_ID,
-	SOC_FW_KEY_CERT_ID,
-	SOC_FW_CONTENT_CERT_ID,
-	TRUSTED_OS_FW_KEY_CERT_ID,
-	TRUSTED_OS_FW_CONTENT_CERT_ID,
-	NON_TRUSTED_FW_KEY_CERT_ID,
-	NON_TRUSTED_FW_CONTENT_CERT_ID,
-	/* Key file names (input/output) */
-	ROT_KEY_ID,
-	TRUSTED_WORLD_KEY_ID,
-	NON_TRUSTED_WORLD_KEY_ID,
-	SCP_BL2_KEY_ID,
-	BL31_KEY_ID,
-	BL32_KEY_ID,
-	BL33_KEY_ID,
-	NUM_OPTS
-};
+#define HELP_OPT_MAX_LEN		128
 
 /* Global options */
 static int key_alg;
@@ -142,7 +115,14 @@
 
 static void print_help(const char *cmd, const struct option *long_opt)
 {
-	int i = 0;
+	int rem, i = 0;
+	const struct option *opt;
+	char line[HELP_OPT_MAX_LEN];
+	char *p;
+
+	assert(cmd != NULL);
+	assert(long_opt != NULL);
+
 	printf("\n\n");
 	printf("The certificate generation tool loads the binary images and\n"
 	       "optionally the RSA keys, and outputs the key and content\n"
@@ -150,18 +130,28 @@
 	       "If keys are provided, they must be in PEM format.\n"
 	       "Certificates are generated in DER format.\n");
 	printf("\n");
-	printf("Usage:\n\n");
-	printf("    %s [-hknp] \\\n", cmd);
-	for (i = 0; i < NUM_OPTS; i++) {
-		printf("        --%s <file>  \\\n", long_opt[i].name);
+	printf("Usage:\n");
+	printf("\t%s [OPTIONS]\n\n", cmd);
+
+	printf("Available options:\n");
+	i = 0;
+	opt = long_opt;
+	while (opt->name) {
+		p = line;
+		rem = HELP_OPT_MAX_LEN;
+		if (isalpha(opt->val)) {
+			/* Short format */
+			sprintf(p, "-%c,", (char)opt->val);
+			p += 3;
+			rem -= 3;
+		}
+		snprintf(p, rem, "--%s %s", opt->name,
+			 (opt->has_arg == required_argument) ? "<arg>" : "");
+		printf("\t%-32s %s\n", line, cmd_opt_get_help_msg(i));
+		opt++;
+		i++;
 	}
 	printf("\n");
-	printf("-a    Key algorithm: rsa (default), ecdsa\n");
-	printf("-h    Print help and exit\n");
-	printf("-k    Save key pairs into files. Filenames must be provided\n");
-	printf("-n    Generate new key pairs if no key files are provided\n");
-	printf("-p    Print the certificates in the standard output\n");
-	printf("\n");
 
 	exit(0);
 }
@@ -237,6 +227,30 @@
 	}
 }
 
+/* Common command line options */
+static const cmd_opt_t common_cmd_opt[] = {
+	{
+		{ "help", no_argument, NULL, 'h' },
+		"Print this message and exit"
+	},
+	{
+		{ "key-alg", required_argument, NULL, 'a' },
+		"Key algorithm: 'rsa' (default), 'ecdsa'"
+	},
+	{
+		{ "save-keys", no_argument, NULL, 'k' },
+		"Save key pairs into files. Filenames must be provided"
+	},
+	{
+		{ "new-keys", no_argument, NULL, 'n' },
+		"Generate new key pairs if no key files are provided"
+	},
+	{
+		{ "print-cert", no_argument, NULL, 'p' },
+		"Print the certificates in the standard output"
+	}
+};
+
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
 	STACK_OF(X509_EXTENSION) * sk = NULL;
@@ -260,11 +274,9 @@
 	key_alg = KEY_ALG_RSA;
 
 	/* Add common command line options */
-	cmd_opt_add("key-alg", required_argument, 'a');
-	cmd_opt_add("help", no_argument, 'h');
-	cmd_opt_add("save-keys", no_argument, 'k');
-	cmd_opt_add("new-chain", no_argument, 'n');
-	cmd_opt_add("print-cert", no_argument, 'p');
+	for (i = 0; i < NUM_ELEM(common_cmd_opt); i++) {
+		cmd_opt_add(&common_cmd_opt[i]);
+	}
 
 	/* Initialize the certificates */
 	if (cert_init() != 0) {
@@ -289,7 +301,7 @@
 
 	while (1) {
 		/* getopt_long stores the option index here. */
-		c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "ahknp", cmd_opt, &opt_idx);
+		c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "a:hknp", cmd_opt, &opt_idx);
 
 		/* Detect the end of the options. */
 		if (c == -1) {
@@ -333,7 +345,7 @@
 			break;
 		case '?':
 		default:
-			printf("%s\n", optarg);
+			print_help(argv[0], cmd_opt);
 			exit(1);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_cert.c b/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_cert.c
index 20be59f..7a50ab3 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_cert.c
+++ b/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_cert.c
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 	[TRUSTED_BOOT_FW_CERT] = {
 		.id = TRUSTED_BOOT_FW_CERT,
 		.opt = "tb-fw-cert",
+		.help_msg = "Trusted Boot FW Certificate (output file)",
 		.fn = NULL,
 		.cn = "Trusted Boot FW Certificate",
 		.key = ROT_KEY,
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@
 	[TRUSTED_KEY_CERT] = {
 		.id = TRUSTED_KEY_CERT,
 		.opt = "trusted-key-cert",
+		.help_msg = "Trusted Key Certificate (output file)",
 		.fn = NULL,
 		.cn = "Trusted Key Certificate",
 		.key = ROT_KEY,
@@ -68,6 +70,7 @@
 	[SCP_FW_KEY_CERT] = {
 		.id = SCP_FW_KEY_CERT,
 		.opt = "scp-fw-key-cert",
+		.help_msg = "SCP Firmware Key Certificate (output file)",
 		.fn = NULL,
 		.cn = "SCP Firmware Key Certificate",
 		.key = TRUSTED_WORLD_KEY,
@@ -80,6 +83,7 @@
 	[SCP_FW_CONTENT_CERT] = {
 		.id = SCP_FW_CONTENT_CERT,
 		.opt = "scp-fw-cert",
+		.help_msg = "SCP Firmware Content Certificate (output file)",
 		.fn = NULL,
 		.cn = "SCP Firmware Content Certificate",
 		.key = SCP_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY,
@@ -92,6 +96,7 @@
 	[SOC_FW_KEY_CERT] = {
 		.id = SOC_FW_KEY_CERT,
 		.opt = "soc-fw-key-cert",
+		.help_msg = "SoC Firmware Key Certificate (output file)",
 		.fn = NULL,
 		.cn = "SoC Firmware Key Certificate",
 		.key = TRUSTED_WORLD_KEY,
@@ -104,6 +109,7 @@
 	[SOC_FW_CONTENT_CERT] = {
 		.id = SOC_FW_CONTENT_CERT,
 		.opt = "soc-fw-cert",
+		.help_msg = "SoC Firmware Content Certificate (output file)",
 		.fn = NULL,
 		.cn = "SoC Firmware Content Certificate",
 		.key = SOC_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY,
@@ -116,6 +122,7 @@
 	[TRUSTED_OS_FW_KEY_CERT] = {
 		.id = TRUSTED_OS_FW_KEY_CERT,
 		.opt = "tos-fw-key-cert",
+		.help_msg = "Trusted OS Firmware Key Certificate (output file)",
 		.fn = NULL,
 		.cn = "Trusted OS Firmware Key Certificate",
 		.key = TRUSTED_WORLD_KEY,
@@ -128,6 +135,7 @@
 	[TRUSTED_OS_FW_CONTENT_CERT] = {
 		.id = TRUSTED_OS_FW_CONTENT_CERT,
 		.opt = "tos-fw-cert",
+		.help_msg = "Trusted OS Firmware Content Certificate (output file)",
 		.fn = NULL,
 		.cn = "Trusted OS Firmware Content Certificate",
 		.key = TRUSTED_OS_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY,
@@ -140,6 +148,7 @@
 	[NON_TRUSTED_FW_KEY_CERT] = {
 		.id = NON_TRUSTED_FW_KEY_CERT,
 		.opt = "nt-fw-key-cert",
+		.help_msg = "Non-Trusted Firmware Key Certificate (output file)",
 		.fn = NULL,
 		.cn = "Non-Trusted Firmware Key Certificate",
 		.key = NON_TRUSTED_WORLD_KEY,
@@ -152,6 +161,7 @@
 	[NON_TRUSTED_FW_CONTENT_CERT] = {
 		.id = NON_TRUSTED_FW_CONTENT_CERT,
 		.opt = "nt-fw-cert",
+		.help_msg = "Non-Trusted Firmware Content Certificate (output file)",
 		.fn = NULL,
 		.cn = "Non-Trusted Firmware Content Certificate",
 		.key = NON_TRUSTED_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY,
@@ -164,8 +174,9 @@
 	[FWU_CERT] = {
 		.id = FWU_CERT,
 		.opt = "fwu-cert",
+		.help_msg = "Firmware Update Certificate (output file)",
 		.fn = NULL,
-		.cn = "FWU Certificate",
+		.cn = "Firmware Update Certificate",
 		.key = ROT_KEY,
 		.issuer = FWU_CERT,
 		.ext = {
diff --git a/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_ext.c b/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_ext.c
index 1400fbf..8bcb070 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_ext.c
+++ b/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_ext.c
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
 	[TRUSTED_BOOT_FW_HASH_EXT] = {
 		.oid = TRUSTED_BOOT_FW_HASH_OID,
 		.opt = "tb-fw",
+		.help_msg = "Trusted Boot Firmware image file",
 		.sn = "TrustedBootFirmwareHash",
 		.ln = "Trusted Boot Firmware hash (SHA256)",
 		.asn1_type = V_ASN1_OCTET_STRING,
@@ -93,6 +94,7 @@
 	[SCP_FW_HASH_EXT] = {
 		.oid = SCP_FW_HASH_OID,
 		.opt = "scp-fw",
+		.help_msg = "SCP Firmware image file",
 		.sn = "SCPFirmwareHash",
 		.ln = "SCP Firmware hash (SHA256)",
 		.asn1_type = V_ASN1_OCTET_STRING,
@@ -109,6 +111,7 @@
 	[SOC_AP_FW_HASH_EXT] = {
 		.oid = SOC_AP_FW_HASH_OID,
 		.opt = "soc-fw",
+		.help_msg = "SoC AP Firmware image file",
 		.sn = "SoCAPFirmwareHash",
 		.ln = "SoC AP Firmware hash (SHA256)",
 		.asn1_type = V_ASN1_OCTET_STRING,
@@ -125,6 +128,7 @@
 	[TRUSTED_OS_FW_HASH_EXT] = {
 		.oid = TRUSTED_OS_FW_HASH_OID,
 		.opt = "tos-fw",
+		.help_msg = "Trusted OS image file",
 		.sn = "TrustedOSHash",
 		.ln = "Trusted OS hash (SHA256)",
 		.asn1_type = V_ASN1_OCTET_STRING,
@@ -141,6 +145,7 @@
 	[NON_TRUSTED_WORLD_BOOTLOADER_HASH_EXT] = {
 		.oid = NON_TRUSTED_WORLD_BOOTLOADER_HASH_OID,
 		.opt = "nt-fw",
+		.help_msg = "Non-Trusted World Bootloader image file",
 		.sn = "NonTrustedWorldBootloaderHash",
 		.ln = "Non-Trusted World hash (SHA256)",
 		.asn1_type = V_ASN1_OCTET_STRING,
@@ -149,6 +154,7 @@
 	[SCP_FWU_CFG_HASH_EXT] = {
 		.oid = SCP_FWU_CFG_HASH_OID,
 		.opt = "scp-fwu-cfg",
+		.help_msg = "SCP Firmware Update Config image file",
 		.sn = "SCPFWUpdateConfig",
 		.ln = "SCP Firmware Update Config hash (SHA256)",
 		.asn1_type = V_ASN1_OCTET_STRING,
@@ -158,6 +164,7 @@
 	[AP_FWU_CFG_HASH_EXT] = {
 		.oid = AP_FWU_CFG_HASH_OID,
 		.opt = "ap-fwu-cfg",
+		.help_msg = "AP Firmware Update Config image file",
 		.sn = "APFWUpdateConfig",
 		.ln = "AP Firmware Update Config hash (SHA256)",
 		.asn1_type = V_ASN1_OCTET_STRING,
@@ -167,6 +174,7 @@
 	[FWU_HASH_EXT] = {
 		.oid = FWU_HASH_OID,
 		.opt = "fwu",
+		.help_msg = "Firmware Updater image file",
 		.sn = "FWUpdaterHash",
 		.ln = "Firmware Updater hash (SHA256)",
 		.asn1_type = V_ASN1_OCTET_STRING,
diff --git a/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_key.c b/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_key.c
index 089425a..1d2f789 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_key.c
+++ b/tools/cert_create/src/tbbr/tbb_key.c
@@ -39,36 +39,43 @@
 	[ROT_KEY] = {
 		.id = ROT_KEY,
 		.opt = "rot-key",
+		.help_msg = "Root Of Trust key (input/output file)",
 		.desc = "Root Of Trust key"
 	},
 	[TRUSTED_WORLD_KEY] = {
 		.id = TRUSTED_WORLD_KEY,
 		.opt = "trusted-world-key",
+		.help_msg = "Trusted World key (input/output file)",
 		.desc = "Trusted World key"
 	},
 	[NON_TRUSTED_WORLD_KEY] = {
 		.id = NON_TRUSTED_WORLD_KEY,
 		.opt = "non-trusted-world-key",
+		.help_msg = "Non Trusted World key (input/output file)",
 		.desc = "Non Trusted World key"
 	},
 	[SCP_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY] = {
 		.id = SCP_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY,
 		.opt = "scp-fw-key",
+		.help_msg = "SCP Firmware Content Certificate key (input/output file)",
 		.desc = "SCP Firmware Content Certificate key"
 	},
 	[SOC_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY] = {
 		.id = SOC_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY,
 		.opt = "soc-fw-key",
+		.help_msg = "SoC Firmware Content Certificate key (input/output file)",
 		.desc = "SoC Firmware Content Certificate key"
 	},
 	[TRUSTED_OS_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY] = {
 		.id = TRUSTED_OS_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY,
 		.opt = "tos-fw-key",
+		.help_msg = "Trusted OS Firmware Content Certificate key (input/output file)",
 		.desc = "Trusted OS Firmware Content Certificate key"
 	},
 	[NON_TRUSTED_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY] = {
 		.id = NON_TRUSTED_FW_CONTENT_CERT_KEY,
 		.opt = "nt-fw-key",
+		.help_msg = "Non Trusted Firmware Content Certificate key (input/output file)",
 		.desc = "Non Trusted Firmware Content Certificate key"
 	}
 };