diff --git a/docs/deployment.md b/docs/deployment.md
index 86c6d9027c..a251f4a1c8 100644
--- a/docs/deployment.md
+++ b/docs/deployment.md
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ Options:
   --uds TEXT                      Bind to a UNIX domain socket.
   --fd INTEGER                    Bind to socket from this file descriptor.
   --reload                        Enable auto-reload.
-  --reload-dir TEXT               Set reload directories explicitly, instead
+  --reload-dir PATH               Set reload directories explicitly, instead
                                   of using the current working directory.
   --reload-delay FLOAT            Delay between previous and next check if
                                   application needs to be. Defaults to 0.25s.
diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index a18f32cc3e..957882c727 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ Options:
   --uds TEXT                      Bind to a UNIX domain socket.
   --fd INTEGER                    Bind to socket from this file descriptor.
   --reload                        Enable auto-reload.
-  --reload-dir TEXT               Set reload directories explicitly, instead
+  --reload-dir PATH               Set reload directories explicitly, instead
                                   of using the current working directory.
   --reload-delay FLOAT            Delay between previous and next check if
                                   application needs to be. Defaults to 0.25s.
diff --git a/uvicorn/main.py b/uvicorn/main.py
index 29db197f20..1d3260ade8 100644
--- a/uvicorn/main.py
+++ b/uvicorn/main.py
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ def print_version(ctx: click.Context, param: click.Parameter, value: bool) -> No
     multiple=True,
     help="Set reload directories explicitly, instead of using the current working"
     " directory.",
+    type=click.Path(exists=True),
 )
 @click.option(
     "--reload-delay",