diff --git a/src/install/PackageManager/CommandLineArguments.zig b/src/install/PackageManager/CommandLineArguments.zig
index ea47d3c98b..6413f46349 100644
--- a/src/install/PackageManager/CommandLineArguments.zig
+++ b/src/install/PackageManager/CommandLineArguments.zig
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ const shared_params = [_]ParamType{
     clap.parseParam("--save                                Save to package.json (true by default)") catch unreachable,
     clap.parseParam("--ca <STR>...                         Provide a Certificate Authority signing certificate") catch unreachable,
     clap.parseParam("--cafile <STR>                        The same as `--ca`, but is a file path to the certificate") catch unreachable,
-    clap.parseParam("--dry-run                             Don't install anything") catch unreachable,
+    clap.parseParam("--dry-run                             Perform a dry run without making changes") catch unreachable,
     clap.parseParam("--frozen-lockfile                     Disallow changes to lockfile") catch unreachable,
     clap.parseParam("-f, --force                           Always request the latest versions from the registry & reinstall all dependencies") catch unreachable,
     clap.parseParam("--cache-dir <PATH>                    Store & load cached data from a specific directory path") catch unreachable,
diff --git a/test/regression/issue/24806.test.ts b/test/regression/issue/24806.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6ac23b69cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/regression/issue/24806.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { bunEnv, bunExe } from "harness";
+
+test("bun publish --help shows correct message for --dry-run", async () => {
+  await using proc = Bun.spawn({
+    cmd: [bunExe(), "publish", "--help"],
+    env: bunEnv,
+    stdout: "pipe",
+    stderr: "pipe",
+  });
+
+  const [stdout, stderr, exitCode] = await Promise.all([proc.stdout.text(), proc.stderr.text(), proc.exited]);
+
+  // The --dry-run flag should have a generic description that works for all commands
+  // It should NOT say "Don't install anything" when used with "bun publish"
+  expect(stdout).toContain("--dry-run");
+  expect(stdout).toContain("Perform a dry run without making changes");
+
+  // Make sure it doesn't contain the old incorrect message
+  expect(stdout).not.toContain("Don't install anything");
+
+  expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+});