diff --git a/notmuch.c b/notmuch.c
index 0fac0997..1717e8b3 100644
--- a/notmuch.c
+++ b/notmuch.c
@@ -315,7 +315,13 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
     }
 
     if (print_help) {
-	ret = notmuch_help_command (NULL, argc - 1, &argv[1]);
+	/*
+	 * Pass the first positional argument as argv[1] so the help
+	 * command can give help for it. The help command ignores the
+	 * argv[0] passed to it.
+	 */
+	ret = notmuch_help_command (NULL, argc - opt_index + 1,
+				    argv + opt_index - 1);
 	goto DONE;
     }