diff --git a/tools/configure b/tools/configure
index 6ebe7eea4685..dd3fab6560cd 100755
--- a/tools/configure
+++ b/tools/configure
@@ -1,5 +1,20 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
+"""This script writes CIME build information to a directory.
+
+The pieces of information that will be written include:
+
+1. Machine-specific build settings (i.e. the "Macros" file).
+2. File-specific build settings (i.e. "Depends" files).
+3. Environment variable loads (i.e. the env_mach_specific files).
+
+The .env_mach_specific.sh and .env_mach_specific.csh files are specific to a
+given compiler, MPI library, and DEBUG setting. By default, these will be the
+machine's default compiler, the machine's default MPI library, and FALSE,
+respectively. These can be changed by setting the environment variables
+COMPILER, MPILIB, and DEBUG, respectively.
+"""
+
 import os
 import shutil
 import sys
@@ -21,20 +36,7 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 def parse_command_line(args):
     """Command line argument parser for configure."""
-    description = """This script writes CIME build information to a directory.
-
-The pieces of information that will be written include:
-
-1. Machine-specific build settings (i.e. the "Macros" file).
-2. File-specific build settings (i.e. "Depends" files).
-3. Environment variable loads (i.e. the env_mach_specific files).
-
-The .env_mach_specific.sh and .env_mach_specific.csh files are specific to a
-given compiler, MPI library, and DEBUG setting. By default, these will be the
-machine's default compiler, the machine's default MPI library, and FALSE,
-respectively. These can be changed by setting the environment variables
-COMPILER, MPILIB, and DEBUG, respectively.
-"""
+    description = __doc__
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=description)
     CIME.utils.setup_standard_logging_options(parser)