diff --git a/cloudinit/cmd/main.py b/cloudinit/cmd/main.py
index aa1681db0e85..635909a75cf4 100644
--- a/cloudinit/cmd/main.py
+++ b/cloudinit/cmd/main.py
@@ -945,12 +945,12 @@ def main(sysv_args=None):
     )
 
     parser.add_argument(
-        "--single-process",
-        dest="single_process",
+        "--all-stages",
+        dest="all_stages",
         action="store_true",
         help=(
-            "Run cloud-init's stages as a single process as an optimization."
-            "Requires init system integration."
+            "Run cloud-init's stages under a single process using a "
+            "syncronization protocol. This is not intended for CLI usage."
         ),
         default=False,
     )
@@ -1149,7 +1149,7 @@ def main(sysv_args=None):
 
     args = parser.parse_args(args=sysv_args)
     setattr(args, "skip_log_setup", False)
-    if not args.single_process:
+    if not args.all_stages:
         return sub_main(args)
     LOG.info("Running cloud-init in single process mode.")
 
diff --git a/systemd/cloud-init.service.tmpl b/systemd/cloud-init.service.tmpl
index 46be3d59e73b..1ddfd62073ef 100644
--- a/systemd/cloud-init.service.tmpl
+++ b/systemd/cloud-init.service.tmpl
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ ConditionEnvironment=!KERNEL_CMDLINE=cloud-init=disabled
 
 [Service]
 Type=notify
-ExecStart=/usr/bin/cloud-init --single-process
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/cloud-init --all-stages
 KillMode=process
 TasksMax=infinity
 TimeoutStartSec=infinity
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_single_process.py b/tests/unittests/test_all_stages.py
similarity index 97%
rename from tests/unittests/test_single_process.py
rename to tests/unittests/test_all_stages.py
index 361e3372bc97..4dacca0b6840 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_single_process.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_all_stages.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 from threading import Thread
 from unittest import mock
 
-
 from cloudinit import socket as ci_socket
 
 
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ def __exit__(self, *_):
         signal.alarm(0)
 
 
-def test_single_process_times_out(tmp_path):
+def test_all_stages_times_out(tmp_path):
     """Verify that no "start" makes the protocol block"""
     with mock.patch.object(
         ci_socket, "DEFAULT_RUN_DIR", tmp_path
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ def test_single_process_times_out(tmp_path):
             raise AssertionError("Expected the thing to timeout!")
 
 
-def test_single_process(tmp_path):
+def test_all_stages(tmp_path):
     """Verify that a socket can store "start" messages
 
     After a socket has been been bound but before it has started listening
@@ -110,7 +109,7 @@ def test_single_process(tmp_path):
         assert expected == third.receive()
 
 
-def test_single_process_threaded(tmp_path):
+def test_all_stages_threaded(tmp_path):
     """Verify that arbitrary "start" order works"""
 
     # in milliseconds
@@ -183,7 +182,7 @@ def syncer(index: int, name: str):
         assert expected == sync_storage[5].receive()
 
 
-def test_single_process_exception(tmp_path):
+def test_all_stages_exception(tmp_path):
     """Verify that exceptions log messages produce a valid warning message"""
     with mock.patch.object(
         ci_socket, "DEFAULT_RUN_DIR", tmp_path