diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cce4693e..6d8d5c7b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ HTML Beautifier Options:
   -m, --max-preserve-newlines        Maximum number of line-breaks to be preserved in one chunk [10]
   -U, --unformatted                  List of tags (defaults to inline) that should not be reformatted
   -n, --end_with_newline             End output with newline
-  -E, --extra_liners                 List of tags (defaults to inline) that should be followed by an extra newline
+  -E, --extra_liners                 List of tags (defaults to [head,body,/html] that should have an extra newline before them.
 ```
 
 # License
diff --git a/js/lib/beautify-html.js b/js/lib/beautify-html.js
index 70b711d0..c7a71604 100644
--- a/js/lib/beautify-html.js
+++ b/js/lib/beautify-html.js
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
     max_preserve_newlines (default unlimited) - maximum number of line breaks to be preserved in one chunk
     indent_handlebars (default false) - format and indent {{#foo}} and {{/foo}}
     end_with_newline (false)          - end with a newline
-    extra_liners (default ['html', 'head', '/html']) - add an extra newline after these tags
+    extra_liners (default [head,body,/html]) -List of tags that should have an extra newline before them.
 
     e.g.
 
@@ -121,7 +121,9 @@
             : 0;
         indent_handlebars = (options.indent_handlebars === undefined) ? false : options.indent_handlebars;
         end_with_newline = (options.end_with_newline === undefined) ? false : options.end_with_newline;
-        extra_liners = Array.isArray(options.extra_liners) ? options.extra_liners : 'head,body,/html'.split(',');
+        extra_liners = Array.isArray(options.extra_liners) ?
+            options.extra_liners : (typeof options.extra_liners === 'string') ?
+            options.extra_liners.split(',') : 'head,body,/html'.split(',');
         function Parser() {
 
             this.pos = 0; //Parser position
diff --git a/js/lib/cli.js b/js/lib/cli.js
index 9f6a9fdf..020a65d6 100755
--- a/js/lib/cli.js
+++ b/js/lib/cli.js
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ function usage(err) {
             msg.push('  -p, --preserve-newlines       Preserve line-breaks (--no-preserve-newlines disables)');
             msg.push('  -m, --max-preserve-newlines   Number of line-breaks to be preserved in one chunk [10]');
             msg.push('  -U, --unformatted             List of tags (defaults to inline) that should not be reformatted');
-            msg.push('  -E, --extra_liners            List of tags (defaults to inline) that should be followed by an extra newline');
+            msg.push('  -E, --extra_liners            List of tags (defaults to [head,body,/html] that should have an extra newline');
             break;
         case "css":
             msg.push('  -L, --selector-separator-newline        Add a newline between multiple selectors.')