diff --git a/notmuch-client.h b/notmuch-client.h
index 8643a63f..f820791f 100644
--- a/notmuch-client.h
+++ b/notmuch-client.h
@@ -485,11 +485,9 @@ print_status_gzbytes (const char *loc,
 
 #include "command-line-arguments.h"
 
-extern const char *notmuch_requested_db_uuid;
 extern const notmuch_opt_desc_t notmuch_shared_options [];
-void notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch_database_t *notmuch);
 
-void notmuch_process_shared_options (const char *subcommand_name);
+void notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, const char *subcommand_name);
 int notmuch_minimal_options (const char *subcommand_name,
 			     int argc, char **argv);
 
diff --git a/notmuch-compact.c b/notmuch-compact.c
index 2648434e..40ffb428 100644
--- a/notmuch-compact.c
+++ b/notmuch-compact.c
@@ -45,12 +45,7 @@ notmuch_compact_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    if (notmuch_requested_db_uuid) {
-	fprintf (stderr, "Error: --uuid not implemented for compact\n");
-	return EXIT_FAILURE;
-    }
-
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (NULL, argv[0]);
 
     if (! quiet)
 	printf ("Compacting database...\n");
diff --git a/notmuch-config.c b/notmuch-config.c
index 4de55e5f..80a207f6 100644
--- a/notmuch-config.c
+++ b/notmuch-config.c
@@ -708,10 +708,6 @@ notmuch_config_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    if (notmuch_requested_db_uuid)
-	fprintf (stderr, "Warning: ignoring --uuid=%s\n",
-		 notmuch_requested_db_uuid);
-
     /* skip at least subcommand argument */
     argc -= opt_index;
     argv += opt_index;
diff --git a/notmuch-count.c b/notmuch-count.c
index 5ac4292b..e8c545e3 100644
--- a/notmuch-count.c
+++ b/notmuch-count.c
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ notmuch_count_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, argv[0]);
 
     if (input_file_name) {
 	batch = true;
@@ -201,8 +201,6 @@ notmuch_count_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
 
-    notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
-
     query_str = query_string_from_args (notmuch, argc - opt_index, argv + opt_index);
     if (query_str == NULL) {
 	fprintf (stderr, "Out of memory.\n");
diff --git a/notmuch-dump.c b/notmuch-dump.c
index ae89e4da..5c8213be 100644
--- a/notmuch-dump.c
+++ b/notmuch-dump.c
@@ -366,8 +366,6 @@ notmuch_dump_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     const char *query_str = NULL;
     int ret;
 
-    notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
-
     const char *output_file_name = NULL;
     int opt_index;
 
@@ -394,7 +392,7 @@ notmuch_dump_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, argv[0]);
 
     if (include == 0)
 	include = DUMP_INCLUDE_CONFIG | DUMP_INCLUDE_TAGS | DUMP_INCLUDE_PROPERTIES;
diff --git a/notmuch-insert.c b/notmuch-insert.c
index e3d87e4a..72e2e35f 100644
--- a/notmuch-insert.c
+++ b/notmuch-insert.c
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ notmuch_insert_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, argv[0]);
 
     mail_root = notmuch_config_get (notmuch, NOTMUCH_CONFIG_MAIL_ROOT);
 
@@ -550,8 +550,6 @@ notmuch_insert_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
 
-    notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
-
     status = notmuch_process_shared_indexing_options (notmuch);
     if (status != NOTMUCH_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
 	fprintf (stderr, "Error: Failed to process index options. (%s)\n",
diff --git a/notmuch-new.c b/notmuch-new.c
index 1ee498fa..b7a5f2ea 100644
--- a/notmuch-new.c
+++ b/notmuch-new.c
@@ -1142,7 +1142,7 @@ notmuch_new_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, argv[0]);
 
     /* quiet trumps verbose */
     if (quiet)
@@ -1197,8 +1197,6 @@ notmuch_new_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
 	    return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
 
-    notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
-
     if (notmuch_database_get_revision (notmuch, NULL) == 0) {
 	int count = 0;
 	count_files (mail_root, &count, &add_files_state);
diff --git a/notmuch-reindex.c b/notmuch-reindex.c
index a7380a4b..b40edbb6 100644
--- a/notmuch-reindex.c
+++ b/notmuch-reindex.c
@@ -108,9 +108,7 @@ notmuch_reindex_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
-
-    notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, argv[0]);
 
     status = notmuch_process_shared_indexing_options (notmuch);
     if (status != NOTMUCH_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
diff --git a/notmuch-reply.c b/notmuch-reply.c
index ebb621e0..13e38c20 100644
--- a/notmuch-reply.c
+++ b/notmuch-reply.c
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ notmuch_reply_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, argv[0]);
 
     notmuch_exit_if_unsupported_format ();
 
@@ -761,8 +761,6 @@ notmuch_reply_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
 
-    notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
-
     query = notmuch_query_create (notmuch, query_string);
     if (query == NULL) {
 	fprintf (stderr, "Out of memory\n");
diff --git a/notmuch-restore.c b/notmuch-restore.c
index 1a81212f..1cce004a 100644
--- a/notmuch-restore.c
+++ b/notmuch-restore.c
@@ -272,8 +272,7 @@ notmuch_restore_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
 	goto DONE;
     }
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
-    notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, argv[0]);
 
     if (include == 0) {
 	include = DUMP_INCLUDE_CONFIG | DUMP_INCLUDE_PROPERTIES | DUMP_INCLUDE_TAGS;
diff --git a/notmuch-search.c b/notmuch-search.c
index 244817a9..375a247d 100644
--- a/notmuch-search.c
+++ b/notmuch-search.c
@@ -709,8 +709,6 @@ _notmuch_search_prepare (search_context_t *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 
     notmuch_exit_if_unsupported_format ();
 
-    notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (ctx->notmuch);
-
     query_str = query_string_from_args (ctx->notmuch, argc, argv);
     if (query_str == NULL) {
 	fprintf (stderr, "Out of memory.\n");
@@ -827,7 +825,7 @@ notmuch_search_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, argv[0]);
 
     if (ctx->output != OUTPUT_FILES && ctx->output != OUTPUT_MESSAGES &&
 	ctx->dupe != -1) {
@@ -893,7 +891,7 @@ notmuch_address_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, argv[0]);
 
     if (! (ctx->output & (OUTPUT_SENDER | OUTPUT_RECIPIENTS)))
 	ctx->output |= OUTPUT_SENDER;
diff --git a/notmuch-setup.c b/notmuch-setup.c
index 28f4b7de..9382e279 100644
--- a/notmuch-setup.c
+++ b/notmuch-setup.c
@@ -147,10 +147,6 @@ notmuch_setup_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch,
     if (notmuch_minimal_options ("setup", argc, argv) < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    if (notmuch_requested_db_uuid)
-	fprintf (stderr, "Warning: ignoring --uuid=%s\n",
-		 notmuch_requested_db_uuid);
-
     config = notmuch_conffile_open (notmuch,
 				    notmuch_config_path (notmuch), true);
     if (! config)
diff --git a/notmuch-show.c b/notmuch-show.c
index c8f1a40f..667fbee8 100644
--- a/notmuch-show.c
+++ b/notmuch-show.c
@@ -1287,7 +1287,7 @@ notmuch_show_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, argv[0]);
 
     /* explicit decryption implies verification */
     if (params.crypto.decrypt == NOTMUCH_DECRYPT_NOSTASH ||
@@ -1353,8 +1353,6 @@ notmuch_show_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
 	}
     }
 
-    notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
-
     query_string = query_string_from_args (notmuch, argc - opt_index, argv + opt_index);
     if (query_string == NULL) {
 	fprintf (stderr, "Out of memory\n");
diff --git a/notmuch-tag.c b/notmuch-tag.c
index de428c8e..aa886032 100644
--- a/notmuch-tag.c
+++ b/notmuch-tag.c
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ notmuch_tag_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < 0)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (argv[0]);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, argv[0]);
 
     if (input_file_name) {
 	batch = true;
@@ -261,8 +261,6 @@ notmuch_tag_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[])
 	}
     }
 
-    notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
-
     if (print_status_database (
 	    "notmuch restore",
 	    notmuch,
diff --git a/notmuch.c b/notmuch.c
index 1404b70c..3824bf19 100644
--- a/notmuch.c
+++ b/notmuch.c
@@ -49,8 +49,11 @@ notmuch_command (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, int argc, char *argv[]);
 static int
 _help_for (const char *topic);
 
+static void
+notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch_database_t *notmuch);
+
 static bool print_version = false, print_help = false;
-const char *notmuch_requested_db_uuid = NULL;
+static const char *notmuch_requested_db_uuid = NULL;
 
 const notmuch_opt_desc_t notmuch_shared_options [] = {
     { .opt_bool = &print_version, .name = "version" },
@@ -61,10 +64,11 @@ const notmuch_opt_desc_t notmuch_shared_options [] = {
 
 /* any subcommand wanting to support these options should call
  * inherit notmuch_shared_options and call
- * notmuch_process_shared_options (subcommand_name);
+ * notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch, subcommand_name);
+ * with notmuch = an open database, or NULL.
  */
 void
-notmuch_process_shared_options (const char *subcommand_name)
+notmuch_process_shared_options (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, const char *subcommand_name)
 {
     if (print_version) {
 	printf ("notmuch " STRINGIFY (NOTMUCH_VERSION) "\n");
@@ -75,6 +79,14 @@ notmuch_process_shared_options (const char *subcommand_name)
 	int ret = _help_for (subcommand_name);
 	exit (ret);
     }
+
+    if (notmuch) {
+	notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch);
+    } else {
+	if (notmuch_requested_db_uuid)
+	    fprintf (stderr, "Warning: ignoring --uuid=%s\n",
+		     notmuch_requested_db_uuid);
+    }
 }
 
 /* This is suitable for subcommands that do not actually open the
@@ -97,7 +109,7 @@ notmuch_minimal_options (const char *subcommand_name,
 	return -1;
 
     /* We can't use argv here as it is sometimes NULL */
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (subcommand_name);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (NULL, subcommand_name);
     return opt_index;
 }
 
@@ -280,7 +292,7 @@ be supported in the future.\n", notmuch_format_version);
     }
 }
 
-void
+static void
 notmuch_exit_if_unmatched_db_uuid (notmuch_database_t *notmuch)
 {
     const char *uuid = NULL;
@@ -480,7 +492,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
     if (opt_index < argc)
 	command_name = argv[opt_index];
 
-    notmuch_process_shared_options (command_name);
+    notmuch_process_shared_options (NULL, command_name);
 
     command = find_command (command_name);
     /* if command->function is NULL, try external command */
diff --git a/test/random-corpus.c b/test/random-corpus.c
index 7cde22c5..8ae08971 100644
--- a/test/random-corpus.c
+++ b/test/random-corpus.c
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ const notmuch_opt_desc_t notmuch_shared_options[] = {
 const char *notmuch_requested_db_uuid = NULL;
 
 void
-notmuch_process_shared_options (unused (const char *dummy))
+notmuch_process_shared_options (unused (notmuch_database_t *notmuch),
+				unused (const char *dummy))
 {
 }