diff --git a/test/help-test b/test/help-test
index f7df725e..bd0111c9 100755
--- a/test/help-test
+++ b/test/help-test
@@ -9,4 +9,13 @@ test_expect_success 'notmuch help' 'notmuch help'
 test_expect_success 'notmuch help tag' 'notmuch help tag'
 test_expect_success 'notmuch --version' 'notmuch --version'
 
+test_begin_subtest "notmuch --stderr=stderr help %"
+notmuch --stderr=stderr help %
+test_expect_equal "$(cat stderr)" "
+Sorry, % is not a known command. There's not much I can do to help."
+
+test_begin_subtest "notmuch --stderr=- help %"
+test_expect_equal "$(notmuch --stderr=- help %)" "
+Sorry, % is not a known command. There's not much I can do to help."
+
 test_done