diff --git a/src/Stack/FileWatch.hs b/src/Stack/FileWatch.hs
index b8957c6b70..896eb371fb 100644
--- a/src/Stack/FileWatch.hs
+++ b/src/Stack/FileWatch.hs
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ fileWatchConf cfg getProjectRoot inner = withManagerConf cfg $ \manager -> do
                     "watched" -> do
                         watch <- readTVarIO watchVar
                         mapM_ (putStrLn . toFilePath) (Map.keys watch)
+                    "" -> atomically $ writeTVar dirtyVar True
                     _ -> putStrLn $ concat
                         [ "Unknown command: "
                         , show line
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ fileWatchConf cfg getProjectRoot inner = withManagerConf cfg $ \manager -> do
 
         case eres of
             Left e -> printExceptionStderr e
-            Right () -> putStrLn "Success! Waiting for next file change."
+            Right () -> putStrLn "Success! Waiting for next file change. " ++
+              "Press enter to force a rebuild."
 
-        putStrLn "Type help for available commands"
+        putStrLn "Type help for available commands. Press enter to force a rebuild."