diff --git a/docs/autoupdate.rst b/docs/autoupdate.rst
index 6e16eccf3..16c870961 100644
--- a/docs/autoupdate.rst
+++ b/docs/autoupdate.rst
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ The ``autoupdate`` subcommand can also be used to automatically update workflows
 
     planemo autoupdate workflow.ga
 
-In the basic usage, a local Galaxy instance will be spun up and the workflow uploaded, refactored to include the most recent tool versions, and re-downloaded.
+In the basic usage with the above command, a local Galaxy instance will be spun up and the workflow uploaded, refactored to include the most recent tool versions, and re-downloaded.
 
-Workflows can also be updated against an external galaxy, for example:
+Workflows can also be updated against an external Galaxy server; see the example below. (Please note the server must be running Galaxy version 21.05 or more recent.)
 
 ::
 
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ Workflows can also be updated against an external galaxy, for example:
 
 In this case, the workflow returned will contain the most recent tool and subworkflow versions available on that Galaxy server.
 
+An equivalent alternative, if you don't want to use Planemo profiles, is the following:
+
+::
+
+    planemo autoupdate workflow.ga --galaxy_url SERVER_URL --galaxy_user_key API_KEY
+
+
 Implementing an autoupdate CI job
 =================================
 
diff --git a/planemo/commands/cmd_autoupdate.py b/planemo/commands/cmd_autoupdate.py
index 2259c467e..83a7197cd 100644
--- a/planemo/commands/cmd_autoupdate.py
+++ b/planemo/commands/cmd_autoupdate.py
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ def skip_requirements_option():
 @options.report_level_option()
 @options.report_xunit()
 @options.fail_level_option()
+@options.galaxy_url_option()
+@options.galaxy_user_key_option()
 @command_function
 def cli(ctx, paths, **kwds):  # noqa C901
     """Auto-update tool requirements by checking against Conda and updating if newer versions are available."""