diff --git a/tinyhostless.c b/tinyhostless.c
index 2f5e5f9..50c26fc 100644
--- a/tinyhostless.c
+++ b/tinyhostless.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
     if (argc < 2) {
         fprintf(stderr, "Usage: %s [-D card] [-P playback device]"
             " [-C capture device] [-p period_size] [-n n_periods]"
-            " [-c num_channels] [-r sample_rate] [-l]"
+            " [-c num_channels] [-b number_bits] [-r sample_rate] [-l]"
             " [-T playback/capture time]\n\n"
             "Used to enable 'hostless' mode for audio devices with a DSP back-end.\n"
             "Alternatively, specify '-l' for loopback mode: this program will read\n"
@@ -110,6 +110,11 @@
             if (*argv)
                 num_channels = atoi(*argv);
         }
+        if (strcmp(*argv, "-b") == 0) {
+            argv++;
+            if (*argv)
+                number_bits = atoi(*argv);
+        }
         if (strcmp(*argv, "-r") == 0) {
             argv++;
             if (*argv)
@@ -204,7 +209,7 @@
 
     can_play = check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_RATE, config->rate, "Sample rate", "Hz");
     can_play &= check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_CHANNELS, config->channels, "Sample", " channels");
-    can_play &= check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_SAMPLE_BITS, bits, "Bitrate", " bits");
+    can_play &= check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_SAMPLE_BITS, bits, "Bitwidth", " bits");
     can_play &= check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_PERIOD_SIZE, config->period_size, "Period size", " frames");
     can_play &= check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_PERIODS, config->period_count, "Period count", " periods");
 
diff --git a/tinyplay.c b/tinyplay.c
index 0354df6..8928d92 100644
--- a/tinyplay.c
+++ b/tinyplay.c
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@
 
     can_play = check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_RATE, rate, "Sample rate", "Hz");
     can_play &= check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_CHANNELS, channels, "Sample", " channels");
-    can_play &= check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_SAMPLE_BITS, bits, "Bitrate", " bits");
+    can_play &= check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_SAMPLE_BITS, bits, "Bitwidth", " bits");
     can_play &= check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_PERIOD_SIZE, period_size, "Period size", " frames");
     can_play &= check_param(params, PCM_PARAM_PERIODS, period_count, "Period count", " periods");