diff --git a/lib/types.nix b/lib/types.nix
index 4d6ac51c8988..6d8e58dc0be8 100644
--- a/lib/types.nix
+++ b/lib/types.nix
@@ -192,7 +192,10 @@ rec {
     # separator between the values).
     separatedString = sep: mkOptionType rec {
       name = "separatedString";
-      description = "string";
+      description = if sep == ""
+        then "Concatenated string" # for types.string.
+        else "strings concatenated with ${builtins.toJSON sep}"
+      ;
       check = isString;
       merge = loc: defs: concatStringsSep sep (getValues defs);
       functor = (defaultFunctor name) // {