diff --git a/Ledger/Parse.hs b/Ledger/Parse.hs
index 4d96f7a77..a6848c1ba 100644
--- a/Ledger/Parse.hs
+++ b/Ledger/Parse.hs
@@ -539,15 +539,15 @@ smartparsedate :: String -> Date
 smartparsedate s = parsedate $ printf "%04s/%02s/%02s" y m d
     where (y,m,d) = fromparse $ parsewith smartdate s
 
--- | Parse a --display expression of the form "d>DATE"
-
 type TransactionMatcher = Transaction -> Bool
 
+-- | Parse a --display expression of the form "d>[DATE]"
 datedisplayexpr :: Parser TransactionMatcher
 datedisplayexpr = do
   char 'd'
   char '>'
+  char '['
   (y,m,d) <- smartdate
+  char ']'
   let edate = parsedate $ printf "%04s/%02s/%02s" y m d
   return $ \(Transaction{date=tdate}) -> tdate > edate
-
diff --git a/Options.hs b/Options.hs
index 687140fff..27fcaf112 100644
--- a/Options.hs
+++ b/Options.hs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ options = [
  Option ['C'] ["cleared"]      (NoArg  Cleared)       "report only on cleared entries",
  Option ['B'] ["cost","basis"] (NoArg  CostBasis)     "report cost basis of commodities",
  Option []    ["depth"]        (ReqArg Depth "N")     "balance report: maximum account depth to show",
- Option ['d'] ["display"]      (ReqArg Display "EXPR") "display only transactions matching EXPR\n(where EXPR is 'd>Y/M/D')",
+ Option ['d'] ["display"]      (ReqArg Display "EXPR") "display only transactions matching EXPR\n(where EXPR is 'd>[Y/M/D]')",
  Option ['E'] ["empty"]        (NoArg  Empty)         "balance report: show accounts with zero balance",
  Option ['R'] ["real"]         (NoArg  Real)          "report only on real (non-virtual) transactions",
  Option ['n'] ["collapse"]     (NoArg  Collapse)      "balance report: no grand total",
diff --git a/README b/README
index deac660c3..153c7610f 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -63,9 +63,10 @@ This version of hledger mimics a subset of ledger 2.6.1:
    -R, --real             consider only real (non-virtual) transactions
  
    Output customization:
-   -s, --subtotal         balance report: show sub-accounts
-   -E, --empty            balance report: show accounts with zero balance
    -n, --collapse         balance report: no grand total
+   -d, --display EXPR     display only transactions matching EXPR (limited support)
+   -E, --empty            balance report: show accounts with zero balance
+   -s, --subtotal         balance report: show sub-accounts
  
    Commodity reporting:
    -B, --basis, --cost    report cost basis of commodities
@@ -132,7 +133,6 @@ ledger features not supported:
        --totals           in the "xml" report, include running total
    -j, --amount-data      print only raw amount data (useful for scripting)
    -J, --total-data       print only raw total data
-   -d, --display EXPR     display only transactions matching EXPR
    -y, --date-format STR  use STR as the date format (default: %Y/%m/%d)
    -F, --format STR       use STR as the format; for each report type, use:
        --balance-format      --register-format       --print-format
diff --git a/Tests.hs b/Tests.hs
index ca96c099b..a4529c9df 100644
--- a/Tests.hs
+++ b/Tests.hs
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ registercommand_tests = TestList [
      "2008/01/01 pay off              liabilities:debts                $1           $1\n" ++
      "                                assets:checking                 $-1            0\n" ++
      "")
-     $ showRegisterReport [Display "d>2007/12"] [] l
+     $ showRegisterReport [Display "d>[2007/12]"] [] l
   ]
   
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------