diff --git a/tools/virsh.c b/tools/virsh.c
index 7477d322a3..032c8bf4ae 100644
--- a/tools/virsh.c
+++ b/tools/virsh.c
@@ -19896,7 +19896,6 @@ vshAllowedEscapeChar(char c)
 static bool
 vshParseArgv(vshControl *ctl, int argc, char **argv)
 {
-    bool help = false;
     int arg, len;
     struct option opt[] = {
         {"debug", required_argument, NULL, 'd'},
@@ -19923,7 +19922,8 @@ vshParseArgv(vshControl *ctl, int argc, char **argv)
             }
             break;
         case 'h':
-            help = true;
+            vshUsage();
+            exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
             break;
         case 'q':
             ctl->quiet = true;
@@ -19968,17 +19968,6 @@ vshParseArgv(vshControl *ctl, int argc, char **argv)
         }
     }
 
-    if (help) {
-        if (optind < argc) {
-            vshError(ctl, _("extra argument '%s'. See --help."), argv[optind]);
-            exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
-        }
-
-        /* list all command */
-        vshUsage();
-        exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
-    }
-
     if (argc > optind) {
         /* parse command */
         ctl->imode = false;