diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9ef09cc4..bb4a9dd9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 ### Prebuilt Binaries
 
 Download the latest releases from the [GitHub release page](https://github.com/jqlang/jq/releases).
+The platform-specific assets are standalone executables, not archives. On macOS and Linux,
+rename the downloaded file to `jq` and make it executable with `chmod +x jq`.
 
 ### Docker Image
 
diff --git a/docs/content/download/default.yml b/docs/content/download/default.yml
index 223f533a..06eaebde 100644
--- a/docs/content/download/default.yml
+++ b/docs/content/download/default.yml
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@ body:
   - text: |
 
       jq is written in C and has no runtime dependencies, so it should be
-      possible to build it for nearly any platform. Prebuilt binaries are
-      available for Linux, macOS and Windows.
+      possible to build it for nearly any platform. The prebuilt files linked
+      below are standalone executables, not archives, and are available for
+      Linux, macOS and Windows.
 
       The binaries should just run, but on macOS and Linux you may need
       to make them executable first using `chmod +x jq`.