diff --git a/services/packages/client/client.go b/services/packages/client/client.go
index a8cc5833..bc643080 100644
--- a/services/packages/client/client.go
+++ b/services/packages/client/client.go
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ func (*installCmd) Synopsis() string { return "Install a new package" }
 func (*installCmd) Usage() string {
 	return `install [--package_system=P] --name=X --version=Y [--disablerepo=A] [--repo|enablerepo=Z]:
   Install a new package on the remote machine.
+
+  Version format is NEVRA without the name, like --name bash --new_version 0:4.2.46-34.el7.x86_64
 `
 }
 
@@ -239,6 +241,8 @@ func (*updateCmd) Synopsis() string { return "Update an existing package" }
 func (*updateCmd) Usage() string {
 	return `update [--package_system=P] --name=X --old_version=Y --new_version=Z [--disablerepo=B] [--repo|enablerepo=A]:
   Update a package on the remote machine. The package must already be installed at a known version.
+
+  Version format is NEVRA without the name, like -name bash -old_version 0:4.2.46-34.el7.x86_64 -new_version 0:4.2.46-35.el7_9.x86_64
 `
 }
 
diff --git a/services/packages/server/packages.go b/services/packages/server/packages.go
index 3d7e90ff..fb8c9b74 100644
--- a/services/packages/server/packages.go
+++ b/services/packages/server/packages.go
@@ -228,8 +228,11 @@ var (
 	}
 )
 
-func parseToNumbers(version string) []int {
-	out := make([]int, 5)
+// parseToNumbers parses a string like 14:4.99.3-2.fc38.x86_64 into a slice
+// of integers like [14, 4, 99, 3, 2]. Callers should ensure that the input
+// is valid.
+func parseToNumbers(version string) [5]int {
+	var out [5]int
 
 	// Grab epoch
 	split := strings.SplitN(version, ":", 2)