diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/dead_code_eliminator.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/dead_code_eliminator.py
index 9c5a54bb0..0868032ba 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/dead_code_eliminator.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/dead_code_eliminator.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """
-:class:`DeadCodeEliminator` is a very simple dead code elimination
-transform: it only removes basic blocks with no predecessors.
+:class:`DeadCodeEliminator` is a dead code elimination transform:
+it only basic blocks with no predecessors as well as unused
+instructions without side effects.
 """
 
 from .. import ir