diff --git a/buildtest/cli/show.py b/buildtest/cli/show.py
index 93562c82d..8e52a0c9b 100644
--- a/buildtest/cli/show.py
+++ b/buildtest/cli/show.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ def print_buildspec_show():
         "buildtest buildspec find --pager", "Paginate output of buildspec cache"
     )
     table.add_row(
-        "buildtest buildspec find --directory /tmp --rebuild",
+        "buildtest buildspec find --search /tmp --search $BUILDTEST_ROOT/tutorials/sleep.yml --rebuild",
         "Discover buildspecs in /tmp and rebuild buildspec cache",
     )
     table.add_row(
diff --git a/buildtest/main.py b/buildtest/main.py
index 03c18a539..fd2ca1c08 100644
--- a/buildtest/main.py
+++ b/buildtest/main.py
@@ -251,8 +251,7 @@ def setup(args):
 
     # build buildspec cache file automatically if it doesn't exist
     if not is_file(BUILDSPEC_CACHE_FILE):
-        root_buildspecs = []
-        buildspec_files = []
+        search_buildspecs = []
         if hasattr(args, "search"):
             search_buildspecs = args.search
 
diff --git a/buildtest/schemas/examples/settings.schema.json/valid/local-executor.yml b/buildtest/schemas/examples/settings.schema.json/valid/local-executor.yml
index 2fd4b1b4e..545bb7918 100644
--- a/buildtest/schemas/examples/settings.schema.json/valid/local-executor.yml
+++ b/buildtest/schemas/examples/settings.schema.json/valid/local-executor.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ system:
       format: "name,description"
       # enable terse mode
       terse: False
+      # search for buildspecs in these directories
+      search: ["$BUILDTEST_ROOT/tutorials/containers"]
 
     report:
       count: 25