diff --git a/spec/help_spec.lua b/spec/help_spec.lua
index aadbabd..3c87d58 100644
--- a/spec/help_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/help_spec.lua
@@ -593,5 +593,30 @@ Options:
    --foo <foo>           words,  it  should  be  broken  down.
    -h, --help            Show this help message and exit.]], parser:get_help())
       end)
+
+      it("autowraps description and epilog", function()
+         local parser = Parser "foo"
+            :help_max_width(80)
+            :description("Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor " ..
+               "incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation " ..
+               "ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.")
+            :epilog("Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit " ..
+               "in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat " ..
+               "non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.")
+
+         assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [-h]
+
+Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor
+incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis
+nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
+
+Options:
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit.
+
+Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu
+fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in
+culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.]], parser:get_help())
+      end)
    end)
 end)
diff --git a/src/argparse.lua b/src/argparse.lua
index 4643fc4..43f85ba 100644
--- a/src/argparse.lua
+++ b/src/argparse.lua
@@ -955,8 +955,16 @@ function Parser:get_help()
 
    local blocks = {self:get_usage()}
 
+   local help_max_width = self:_inherit_property("help_max_width")
+
    if self._description then
-      table.insert(blocks, self._description)
+      local description = self._description
+
+      if help_max_width then
+         description = table.concat(autowrap(split_lines(description), help_max_width), "\n")
+      end
+
+      table.insert(blocks, description)
    end
 
    -- 1. Put groups containing arguments first, then other arguments.
@@ -1005,7 +1013,13 @@ function Parser:get_help()
    end
 
    if self._epilog then
-      table.insert(blocks, self._epilog)
+      local epilog = self._epilog
+
+      if help_max_width then
+         epilog = table.concat(autowrap(split_lines(epilog), help_max_width), "\n")
+      end
+
+      table.insert(blocks, epilog)
    end
 
    return table.concat(blocks, "\n\n")