diff --git a/samples/cpp/minarea.cpp b/samples/cpp/minarea.cpp
index 189ff8ec75..5cd84d4dc6 100644
--- a/samples/cpp/minarea.cpp
+++ b/samples/cpp/minarea.cpp
@@ -1,13 +1,26 @@
 #include "opencv2/highgui/highgui.hpp"
 #include "opencv2/imgproc/imgproc.hpp"
-
+#include <iostream>
 using namespace cv;
+using namespace std;
+
+void help()
+{
+	cout << "This program demonstrates finding the minimum enclosing box or circle of a set\n"
+		"of points using functions: minAreaRect() minEnclosingCircle().\n"
+		"Random points are generated and then enclosed.\n"
+		"Call:\n"
+		"./minarea\n"
+   		"Using OpenCV version %s\n" << CV_VERSION << "\n" << endl;
+}
+
+
 
 int main( int argc, char** argv )
 {
     Mat img(500, 500, CV_8UC3);
     RNG& rng = theRNG();
-
+    help();
     for(;;)
     {
         int i, count = rng.uniform(1, 101);