diff --git a/history/ircplugin.py b/history/ircplugin.py
index 5874c7c..d16f1a1 100644
--- a/history/ircplugin.py
+++ b/history/ircplugin.py
@@ -93,19 +93,21 @@ class History(Plugin):
             logger.debug("<%s> %s is asking for an update", who, most_specific_message(event))
             if event.in_privmsg:
                 total_history = []
+                channel_count = 0
                 for channel in self.channel_leave_points.keys():
                     logger.debug("checking history slice for %s", channel)
                     total_history += self._missed_slice(channel, who)
                     logger.debug("total history so far: %s", total_history)
+                    channel_count += 1
                 logger.debug("final missed history: %s", total_history)
                 self._send_history(who, total_history)
-                self.bot.reply(event, f"{len(total_history)} lines")
+                self.bot.reply(event, f"{len(total_history)} line(s) over {channel_count} channel(s)")
                 return 'NO MORE'
             else:
                 where = event.target
                 history = self._missed_slice(where, who)
                 self._send_history(who, history)
-                self.bot.reply(event, f"{len(history)} lines (PRIVMSGed)")
+                self.bot.reply(event, f"{len(history)} line(s) (PRIVMSGed)")
                 return 'NO MORE'
 
     def _send_history(self, who, history):