diff --git a/os/services/rpl-border-router/native/slip-config.c b/os/services/rpl-border-router/native/slip-config.c
index a8e17f22c..7797a129f 100644
--- a/os/services/rpl-border-router/native/slip-config.c
+++ b/os/services/rpl-border-router/native/slip-config.c
@@ -142,14 +142,20 @@ slip_config_handle_arguments(int argc, char **argv)
       fprintf(stderr, " -a host        Connect via TCP to server at <host>\n");
       fprintf(stderr, " -p port        Connect via TCP to server at <host>:<port>\n");
       fprintf(stderr, " -t tundev      Name of interface (default tun0)\n");
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+      fprintf(stderr, " -v level       Verbosity level\n");
+#else
       fprintf(stderr, " -v[level]      Verbosity level\n");
+#endif
       fprintf(stderr, "    -v0         No messages\n");
       fprintf(stderr, "    -v1         Encapsulated SLIP debug messages (default)\n");
       fprintf(stderr, "    -v2         Printable strings after they are received\n");
       fprintf(stderr, "    -v3         Printable strings and SLIP packet notifications\n");
       fprintf(stderr, "    -v4         All printable characters as they are received\n");
       fprintf(stderr, "    -v5         All SLIP packets in hex\n");
+#ifndef __APPLE__
       fprintf(stderr, "    -v          Equivalent to -v3\n");
+#endif
       fprintf(stderr, " -d[basedelay]  Minimum delay between outgoing SLIP packets.\n");
       fprintf(stderr, "                Actual delay is basedelay*(#6LowPAN fragments) milliseconds.\n");
       fprintf(stderr, "                -d is equivalent to -d10.\n");
diff --git a/tools/serial-io/tunslip6.c b/tools/serial-io/tunslip6.c
index 48b0ecd0f..61013c30c 100644
--- a/tools/serial-io/tunslip6.c
+++ b/tools/serial-io/tunslip6.c
@@ -856,14 +856,20 @@ fprintf(stderr," -s siodev      Serial device (default /dev/ttyUSB0)\n");
 fprintf(stderr," -M             Interface MTU (default and min: 1280)\n");
 fprintf(stderr," -T             Make tap interface (default is tun interface)\n");
 fprintf(stderr," -t tundev      Name of interface (default tap0 or tun0)\n");
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+fprintf(stderr," -v level       Verbosity level\n");
+#else
 fprintf(stderr," -v[level]      Verbosity level\n");
+#endif
 fprintf(stderr,"    -v0         No messages\n");
 fprintf(stderr,"    -v1         Encapsulated SLIP debug messages (default)\n");
 fprintf(stderr,"    -v2         Printable strings after they are received\n");
 fprintf(stderr,"    -v3         Printable strings and SLIP packet notifications\n");
 fprintf(stderr,"    -v4         All printable characters as they are received\n");
 fprintf(stderr,"    -v5         All SLIP packets in hex\n");
+#ifndef __APPLE__
 fprintf(stderr,"    -v          Equivalent to -v3\n");
+#endif
 fprintf(stderr," -d[basedelay]  Minimum delay between outgoing SLIP packets.\n");
 fprintf(stderr,"                Actual delay is basedelay*(#6LowPAN fragments) milliseconds.\n");
 fprintf(stderr,"                -d is equivalent to -d10.\n");