diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d703f996bb347bd9a0c4f28ba8d8c8b37f112df0..cdcf3aa2c348b547f1474ad27701fd6ddc85b452 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ Starting in an empty directory, use the following commands once to build a compr
 
 ```bash
 cnd init
-cnd build --file environment.yml
+# now, edit the provided example 'environment.yml' file, or copy your own file here, before running
+cnd build
 ```
 
 ### Activate the compressed environment