diff --git a/zebra-utils/src/bin/zebra-checkpoints/args.rs b/zebra-utils/src/bin/zebra-checkpoints/args.rs
index e71b9710..f0e3a21c 100644
--- a/zebra-utils/src/bin/zebra-checkpoints/args.rs
+++ b/zebra-utils/src/bin/zebra-checkpoints/args.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
+//! zebra-checkpoints arguments
+//!
+//! For usage please refer to the program help: `zebra-checkpoints --help`
+
+#![deny(missing_docs)]
+#![allow(clippy::try_err)]
+
 use structopt::StructOpt;
 
+/// zebra-checkpoints arguments
 #[derive(Debug, StructOpt)]
 pub struct Args {
     /// Path to zcash-cli command
diff --git a/zebra-utils/src/bin/zebra-checkpoints/main.rs b/zebra-utils/src/bin/zebra-checkpoints/main.rs
index fa7ba457..56da8b46 100644
--- a/zebra-utils/src/bin/zebra-checkpoints/main.rs
+++ b/zebra-utils/src/bin/zebra-checkpoints/main.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
 //! zebra-consensus accepts an ordered list of checkpoints, starting with the
 //! genesis block. Checkpoint heights can be chosen arbitrarily.
 
+#![deny(missing_docs)]
 #![allow(clippy::try_err)]
+
 use color_eyre::eyre::Result;
 use serde_json::Value;
 use std::process::Stdio;
@@ -30,7 +32,14 @@ const MAX_CHECKPOINT_BYTE_COUNT: u64 = 256 * 1024 * 1024;
 /// zcashd reorg limit.
 const BLOCK_REORG_LIMIT: BlockHeight = BlockHeight(100);
 
-// Passthrough arguments if needed
+/// Initialise tracing using its defaults.
+fn init_tracing() {
+    tracing_subscriber::Registry::default()
+        .with(tracing_error::ErrorLayer::default())
+        .init();
+}
+
+/// Add passthrough arguments to `cmd`, if present in `args`.
 fn passthrough(mut cmd: std::process::Command, args: &args::Args) -> std::process::Command {
     if !args.zcli_args.is_empty() {
         cmd.args(&args.zcli_args);
@@ -119,9 +128,3 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
 
     Ok(())
 }
-
-fn init_tracing() {
-    tracing_subscriber::Registry::default()
-        .with(tracing_error::ErrorLayer::default())
-        .init();
-}
diff --git a/zebra-utils/src/lib.rs b/zebra-utils/src/lib.rs
index 31e1bb20..c126771c 100644
--- a/zebra-utils/src/lib.rs
+++ b/zebra-utils/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+//! A Zebra utilities crate.
+
+// TODO: split this crate up into crates with meaningful names.
+
+#![deny(missing_docs)]
+#![allow(clippy::try_err)]
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     #[test]