diff --git a/Rakefile b/Rakefile
index e8591442c..69294db30 100644
--- a/Rakefile
+++ b/Rakefile
@@ -96,10 +96,12 @@ task :install_bin => :all do
   end
 end
 
+desc "run all pre-commit hooks against all files"
 task :check do
   sh "pre-commit run --all-files"
 end
 
+desc "check the pre-commit hooks for updates"
 task :checkupdate do
   sh "pre-commit autoupdate"
 end