diff --git a/doc/openocd.texi b/doc/openocd.texi
index 5977c4094..45b341c41 100644
--- a/doc/openocd.texi
+++ b/doc/openocd.texi
@@ -4714,12 +4714,15 @@ and possibly stale information.
 
 @anchor{flashprotect}
 @deffn Command {flash protect} num first last (@option{on}|@option{off})
-Enable (@option{on}) or disable (@option{off}) protection of flash sectors
-in flash bank @var{num}, starting at sector @var{first}
+Enable (@option{on}) or disable (@option{off}) protection of flash blocks
+in flash bank @var{num}, starting at protection block @var{first}
 and continuing up to and including @var{last}.
-Providing a @var{last} sector of @option{last}
+Providing a @var{last} block of @option{last}
 specifies "to the end of the flash bank".
 The @var{num} parameter is a value shown by @command{flash banks}.
+The protection block is usually identical to a flash sector.
+Some devices may utilize a protection block distinct from flash sector.
+See @command{flash info} for a list of protection blocks.
 @end deffn
 
 @deffn Command {flash padded_value} num value
diff --git a/src/flash/nor/core.c b/src/flash/nor/core.c
index 8f6306f25..ab69a328b 100644
--- a/src/flash/nor/core.c
+++ b/src/flash/nor/core.c
@@ -50,10 +50,17 @@ int flash_driver_erase(struct flash_bank *bank, int first, int last)
 int flash_driver_protect(struct flash_bank *bank, int set, int first, int last)
 {
 	int retval;
+	int num_blocks;
+
+	if (bank->num_prot_blocks)
+		num_blocks = bank->num_prot_blocks;
+	else
+		num_blocks = bank->num_sectors;
+
 
 	/* callers may not supply illegal parameters ... */
-	if (first < 0 || first > last || last >= bank->num_sectors) {
-		LOG_ERROR("illegal sector range");
+	if (first < 0 || first > last || last >= num_blocks) {
+		LOG_ERROR("illegal protection block range");
 		return ERROR_FAIL;
 	}
 
@@ -69,11 +76,11 @@ int flash_driver_protect(struct flash_bank *bank, int set, int first, int last)
 	 * the target could have reset, power cycled, been hot plugged,
 	 * the application could have run, etc.
 	 *
-	 * Drivers only receive valid sector range.
+	 * Drivers only receive valid protection block range.
 	 */
 	retval = bank->driver->protect(bank, set, first, last);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK)
-		LOG_ERROR("failed setting protection for areas %d to %d", first, last);
+		LOG_ERROR("failed setting protection for blocks %d to %d", first, last);
 
 	return retval;
 }
diff --git a/src/flash/nor/tcl.c b/src/flash/nor/tcl.c
index 69368229d..0b72a1232 100644
--- a/src/flash/nor/tcl.c
+++ b/src/flash/nor/tcl.c
@@ -936,10 +936,11 @@ static const struct command_registration flash_exec_command_handlers[] = {
 		.name = "protect",
 		.handler = handle_flash_protect_command,
 		.mode = COMMAND_EXEC,
-		.usage = "bank_id first_sector [last_sector|'last'] "
+		.usage = "bank_id first_block [last_block|'last'] "
 			"('on'|'off')",
-		.help = "Turn protection on or off for a range of sectors "
-			"in a given flash bank.",
+		.help = "Turn protection on or off for a range of protection "
+			"blocks or sectors in a given flash bank. "
+			"See 'flash info' output for a list of blocks.",
 	},
 	{
 		.name = "padded_value",