diff --git a/cli/app/restore.go b/cli/app/restore.go
index e2e4e5db..44db9b9c 100644
--- a/cli/app/restore.go
+++ b/cli/app/restore.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ var appRestoreCommand = cli.Command{
 	Name:      "restore",
 	Aliases:   []string{"rs"},
 	Usage:     "Run app restore",
-	ArgsUsage: "<domain> <service> <file> <path>",
+	ArgsUsage: "<domain> <service> <file>",
 	Flags: []cli.Flag{
 		internal.DebugFlag,
 	},
@@ -40,12 +40,17 @@ var appRestoreCommand = cli.Command{
 This command runs an app restore.
 
 Pre/post hook commands are defined in the recipe configuration. Abra reads this
-config and run the comands in the context of the service before restoring the
-backup.
+configuration and run the comands in the context of the service before
+restoring the backup.
+
+Unlike "abra app backup", restore must be run on a per-service basis. You can
+not restore all services in one go. Backup files produced by Abra are
+compressed archives which use absolute paths. This allows Abra to restore
+according to standard tar command logic.
 
 Example:
 
-    abra app restore example.com app mybackup.tar.gz /var/lib/content
+    abra app restore example.com app ~/.abra/backups/example_com_app_609341138.tar.gz
 `,
 	Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 		app := internal.ValidateApp(c)
@@ -60,11 +65,6 @@ Example:
 			internal.ShowSubcommandHelpAndError(c, errors.New("missing <file>?"))
 		}
 
-		restorePath := c.Args().Get(3)
-		if restorePath == "" {
-			internal.ShowSubcommandHelpAndError(c, errors.New("missing <path>?"))
-		}
-
 		if _, err := os.Stat(backupPath); err != nil {
 			if os.IsNotExist(err) {
 				logrus.Fatalf("%s doesn't exist?", backupPath)
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ Example:
 		if !ok {
 			rsConfig = restoreConfig{}
 		}
-		if err := runRestore(app, backupPath, restorePath, serviceName, rsConfig); err != nil {
+		if err := runRestore(app, backupPath, serviceName, rsConfig); err != nil {
 			logrus.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ Example:
 }
 
 // runRestore does the actual restore logic.
-func runRestore(app config.App, backupPath, restorePath, serviceName string, rsConfig restoreConfig) error {
+func runRestore(app config.App, backupPath, serviceName string, rsConfig restoreConfig) error {
 	cl, err := client.New(app.Server)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -165,12 +165,16 @@ func runRestore(app config.App, backupPath, restorePath, serviceName string, rsC
 		return err
 	}
 
+	// we use absolute paths so tar knows what to do. it will restore files
+	// according to the paths set in the compresed archive
+	restorePath := "/"
+
 	copyOpts := types.CopyToContainerOptions{AllowOverwriteDirWithFile: false, CopyUIDGID: false}
 	if err := cl.CopyToContainer(context.Background(), targetContainer.ID, restorePath, content, copyOpts); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	logrus.Infof("restored %s to %s:%s", backupPath, fullServiceName, restorePath)
+	logrus.Infof("restored %s to %s", backupPath, fullServiceName)
 
 	if rsConfig.postHookCmd != "" {
 		splitCmd := internal.SafeSplit(rsConfig.postHookCmd)