diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f8ec2c6..51cbd3f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -66,8 +66,9 @@ replacement for every rsync feature or protocol mode.
 - Owner/group, ACL, xattr, hard-link, device, and special-file handling is
   incomplete or unavailable.
 - Sparse-file handling does not yet preserve all holes correctly.
-- `--partial`, `--partial-dir`, `--append`, and `--append-verify` are not yet
-  full rsync-style resumable transfers.
+- `--partial`, `--partial-dir`, `-P`, `--append`, and `--append-verify` are not
+  yet full rsync-style resumable transfers. Interrupted files are not retained
+  for resumption.
 - Several rsync short options currently have FastSync-specific meanings. Do
   not assume every short option is interchangeable yet.
 
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ partial, alternate, and planned behavior.
 | `-p <port>` | SSH port (default: 22) |
 | `-v, --verbose` | Enable debug logging |
 | `--progress` | Show real-time transfer speed |
-| `-P` | Alias for `--partial --progress` |
+| `-P` | Enables partial-transfer mode and progress output (partial retention is incomplete) |
 | `--delete` | Delete files on receiver not present in source |
 | `--exclude <pattern>` | Exclude files matching glob pattern (repeatable) |
 | `--exclude-from <file>` | Read exclude patterns from a file (one per line) |
diff --git a/RSYNC_COMPAT.md b/RSYNC_COMPAT.md
index 62018ef..da5a064 100644
--- a/RSYNC_COMPAT.md
+++ b/RSYNC_COMPAT.md
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ This document maps rsync's full feature set to FastSync's current implementation
 
 | Status | Count | Description |
 |--------|-------|-------------|
-| ✅ Implemented | 35 | Feature works end-to-end |
+| ✅ Implemented | 34 | Feature works end-to-end |
 | 🔀 Alt Arg | 3 | Functionality exists but under different flag/semantics |
-| ⚠️ Partial | 1 | Flag parsed/stored but behavior incomplete |
+| ⚠️ Partial | 2 | Flag parsed/stored but behavior incomplete |
 | ❌ Not Implemented | 97 | Flag not recognized or no behavior |
 | **Total** | **136** | |
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ This document maps rsync's full feature set to FastSync's current implementation
 | `-h`, `--human-readable` | Human-readable numbers | ❌ Not Implemented | Removed because it had no effect |
 | `-i`, `--itemize-changes` | Per-file change summary | ❌ Not Implemented | Removed because it had no effect |
 | `--progress` | Show progress | ✅ Implemented | Progress callback in sender |
-| `-P` | Same as --partial --progress | ✅ Implemented | Enables both existing `--partial` and `--progress` behavior |
+| `-P` | Same as --partial --progress | ⚠️ Partial | Parses and enables progress, but interrupted files are not retained for resumable transfers |
 | `--out-format=FORMAT` | Custom output format | ❌ Not Implemented | Removed because it had no effect |
 | `--log-file=FILE` | Log to file | ✅ Implemented | `log_file` config field |
 | `--log-file-format=FMT` | Log format | ❌ Not Implemented | |
diff --git a/src/client/usage.c b/src/client/usage.c
index 746ee5c..55467af 100644
--- a/src/client/usage.c
+++ b/src/client/usage.c
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ void print_usage(void) {
   printf("  -n, --dry-run       Show what would be transferred\n");
   printf("  -p <port>           SSH port (default: 22)\n");
   printf("  --progress          Show transfer progress\n");
-  printf("  -P                  Alias for --partial --progress\n");
+  printf("  -P                  Partial mode with progress (retention incomplete)\n");
   printf("  --delete            Delete files on receiver not in source\n");
   printf("  --exclude <pattern> Exclude files matching pattern\n");
   printf("  --include <pattern> Only include files matching pattern\n");
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ void print_usage(void) {
   printf("  --stats             Print transfer statistics at end\n");
   printf("  --max-depth <n>     Maximum directory depth (0=unlimited)\n");
   printf("  --log-file <path>   Write log messages to file\n");
-  printf("  --partial           Keep partial files on interrupted transfer\n");
-  printf("  --partial-dir <dir> Directory for partial files\n");
+  printf("  --partial           Use partial-transfer mode (retention incomplete)\n");
+  printf("  --partial-dir <dir> Use a separate partial-transfer directory\n");
   printf("  --fastsync-server-path <path>\n");
   printf("                      Path to fastsync-server on remote (default: fastsync-server)\n");
   printf("  -l, --links         Copy symlinks as symlinks\n");
diff --git a/tests/test_client_cli.c b/tests/test_client_cli.c
index c43b07a..24cbec9 100644
--- a/tests/test_client_cli.c
+++ b/tests/test_client_cli.c
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ static void test_parse_args_archive() {
   config_delete(cfg);
 }
 
-/* Test rsync-compatible -P enables both partial files and progress output. */
+/* Test rsync-compatible -P parsing; resumable partial-file retention is not implied. */
 static void test_parse_args_partial_progress() {
   Config* cfg = config_create();
   char* argv[] = {"fastsync", "-P", "/src", "/dst"};