diff --git a/builtin/am.c b/builtin/am.c
index e94d08e04b2387..ab8a21d3fad50a 100644
--- a/builtin/am.c
+++ b/builtin/am.c
@@ -2427,8 +2427,7 @@ int cmd_am(int argc,
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(usage, options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, usage, options);
 
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 
diff --git a/builtin/backfill.c b/builtin/backfill.c
index d7c300dbe678f8..545b004d5cf53a 100644
--- a/builtin/backfill.c
+++ b/builtin/backfill.c
@@ -136,8 +136,8 @@ int cmd_backfill(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix, struct reposit
 		OPT_END(),
 	};
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(builtin_backfill_usage, options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  builtin_backfill_usage, options);
 
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options, builtin_backfill_usage,
 			     0);
diff --git a/builtin/branch.c b/builtin/branch.c
index 9a29de5bf1dd41..573c0476e5e337 100644
--- a/builtin/branch.c
+++ b/builtin/branch.c
@@ -784,8 +784,8 @@ int cmd_branch(int argc,
 	filter.kind = FILTER_REFS_BRANCHES;
 	filter.abbrev = -1;
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(builtin_branch_usage, options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  builtin_branch_usage, options);
 
 	/*
 	 * Try to set sort keys from config. If config does not set any,
diff --git a/builtin/check-ref-format.c b/builtin/check-ref-format.c
index cef1ffe3ceb719..acc4366d85b791 100644
--- a/builtin/check-ref-format.c
+++ b/builtin/check-ref-format.c
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ int cmd_check_ref_format(int argc,
 
 	BUG_ON_NON_EMPTY_PREFIX(prefix);
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage(builtin_check_ref_format_usage);
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+				     builtin_check_ref_format_usage);
 
 	if (argc == 3 && !strcmp(argv[1], "--branch"))
 		return check_ref_format_branch(argv[2]);
diff --git a/builtin/checkout--worker.c b/builtin/checkout--worker.c
index b81002a1dfb4bb..7093d1efd5d68c 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout--worker.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout--worker.c
@@ -128,9 +128,9 @@ int cmd_checkout__worker(int argc,
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(checkout_worker_usage,
-				   checkout_worker_options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  checkout_worker_usage,
+					  checkout_worker_options);
 
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, checkout_worker_options,
diff --git a/builtin/checkout-index.c b/builtin/checkout-index.c
index a81501098d9fdb..d928d6b5e30824 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout-index.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout-index.c
@@ -250,9 +250,9 @@ int cmd_checkout_index(int argc,
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(builtin_checkout_index_usage,
-				   builtin_checkout_index_options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  builtin_checkout_index_usage,
+					  builtin_checkout_index_options);
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	prefix_length = prefix ? strlen(prefix) : 0;
 
diff --git a/builtin/commit-tree.c b/builtin/commit-tree.c
index 2ca1a57ebbb230..2efc224d324bee 100644
--- a/builtin/commit-tree.c
+++ b/builtin/commit-tree.c
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ int cmd_commit_tree(int argc,
 
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 
-	if (argc < 2 || !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(commit_tree_usage, options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  commit_tree_usage, options);
 
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options, commit_tree_usage, 0);
 
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index a7315ed67ccb14..e92af32f53f60e 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -1559,8 +1559,8 @@ struct repository *repo UNUSED)
 		OPT_END(),
 	};
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(builtin_status_usage, builtin_status_options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  builtin_status_usage, builtin_status_options);
 
 	prepare_repo_settings(the_repository);
 	the_repository->settings.command_requires_full_index = 0;
@@ -1736,8 +1736,8 @@ int cmd_commit(int argc,
 	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(builtin_commit_usage, builtin_commit_options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  builtin_commit_usage, builtin_commit_options);
 
 	prepare_repo_settings(the_repository);
 	the_repository->settings.command_requires_full_index = 0;
diff --git a/builtin/credential.c b/builtin/credential.c
index 614b195b753ed8..722c4776121058 100644
--- a/builtin/credential.c
+++ b/builtin/credential.c
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ int cmd_credential(int argc,
 
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 
-	if (argc != 2 || !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, usage_msg);
+	if (argc != 2)
 		usage(usage_msg);
 	op = argv[1];
 
diff --git a/builtin/diff-files.c b/builtin/diff-files.c
index 604b04bb2c8694..f8816e0d9e6ae3 100644
--- a/builtin/diff-files.c
+++ b/builtin/diff-files.c
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@ int cmd_diff_files(int argc,
 	int result;
 	unsigned options = 0;
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage(diff_files_usage);
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, diff_files_usage);
 
 	git_config(git_diff_basic_config, NULL); /* no "diff" UI options */
 
diff --git a/builtin/diff-index.c b/builtin/diff-index.c
index ebc824602e02e6..a1759b82918c00 100644
--- a/builtin/diff-index.c
+++ b/builtin/diff-index.c
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ int cmd_diff_index(int argc,
 	int i;
 	int result;
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage(diff_cache_usage);
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, diff_cache_usage);
 
 	git_config(git_diff_basic_config, NULL); /* no "diff" UI options */
 
diff --git a/builtin/diff-tree.c b/builtin/diff-tree.c
index 40804e7b48e319..fc7c02655554b5 100644
--- a/builtin/diff-tree.c
+++ b/builtin/diff-tree.c
@@ -122,8 +122,7 @@ int cmd_diff_tree(int argc,
 	int read_stdin = 0;
 	int merge_base = 0;
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage(diff_tree_usage);
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, diff_tree_usage);
 
 	git_config(git_diff_basic_config, NULL); /* no "diff" UI options */
 
diff --git a/builtin/fast-import.c b/builtin/fast-import.c
index 4a6c7ab52accfe..d30d878942f68b 100644
--- a/builtin/fast-import.c
+++ b/builtin/fast-import.c
@@ -3565,8 +3565,7 @@ int cmd_fast_import(int argc,
 {
 	unsigned int i;
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage(fast_import_usage);
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, fast_import_usage);
 
 	reset_pack_idx_option(&pack_idx_opts);
 	git_pack_config();
diff --git a/builtin/fetch-pack.c b/builtin/fetch-pack.c
index bed2816c2d4a21..9bd4b29c5b6314 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch-pack.c
@@ -176,6 +176,9 @@ int cmd_fetch_pack(int argc,
 			list_objects_filter_set_no_filter(&args.filter_options);
 			continue;
 		}
+
+		if (!strcmp(arg, "-h"))
+			show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(2, &arg - 1, fetch_pack_usage);
 		usage(fetch_pack_usage);
 	}
 	if (deepen_not.nr)
diff --git a/builtin/fsmonitor--daemon.c b/builtin/fsmonitor--daemon.c
index 029dc64d6c70fd..dabf190bbe776c 100644
--- a/builtin/fsmonitor--daemon.c
+++ b/builtin/fsmonitor--daemon.c
@@ -1598,8 +1598,8 @@ int cmd_fsmonitor__daemon(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix UNUSED
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(builtin_fsmonitor__daemon_usage, options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  builtin_fsmonitor__daemon_usage, options);
 
 	die(_("fsmonitor--daemon not supported on this platform"));
 }
diff --git a/builtin/gc.c b/builtin/gc.c
index dfc821fcc28bc7..d99941b715ae2f 100644
--- a/builtin/gc.c
+++ b/builtin/gc.c
@@ -711,8 +711,8 @@ struct repository *repo UNUSED)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(builtin_gc_usage, builtin_gc_options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  builtin_gc_usage, builtin_gc_options);
 
 	strvec_pushl(&reflog, "reflog", "expire", "--all", NULL);
 	strvec_pushl(&repack, "repack", "-d", "-l", NULL);
diff --git a/builtin/get-tar-commit-id.c b/builtin/get-tar-commit-id.c
index 6bec0d1854c03e..033a205ba430e4 100644
--- a/builtin/get-tar-commit-id.c
+++ b/builtin/get-tar-commit-id.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ static const char builtin_get_tar_commit_id_usage[] =
 #define HEADERSIZE (2 * RECORDSIZE)
 
 int cmd_get_tar_commit_id(int argc,
-			  const char **argv UNUSED,
+			  const char **argv,
 			  const char *prefix,
 			  struct repository *repo UNUSED)
 {
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ int cmd_get_tar_commit_id(int argc,
 
 	BUG_ON_NON_EMPTY_PREFIX(prefix);
 
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, builtin_get_tar_commit_id_usage);
+
 	if (argc != 1)
 		usage(builtin_get_tar_commit_id_usage);
 
diff --git a/builtin/index-pack.c b/builtin/index-pack.c
index 0bef61c57232e1..be19deff1ccc97 100644
--- a/builtin/index-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/index-pack.c
@@ -1900,8 +1900,7 @@ int cmd_index_pack(int argc,
 	 */
 	fetch_if_missing = 0;
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage(index_pack_usage);
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, index_pack_usage);
 
 	disable_replace_refs();
 	fsck_options.walk = mark_link;
diff --git a/builtin/ls-files.c b/builtin/ls-files.c
index 15499cd12b6bd5..9efe92b7c0088a 100644
--- a/builtin/ls-files.c
+++ b/builtin/ls-files.c
@@ -644,8 +644,8 @@ int cmd_ls_files(int argc,
 	};
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(ls_files_usage, builtin_ls_files_options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  ls_files_usage, builtin_ls_files_options);
 
 	prepare_repo_settings(the_repository);
 	the_repository->settings.command_requires_full_index = 0;
diff --git a/builtin/mailsplit.c b/builtin/mailsplit.c
index 41dd3047313e6c..9e11bffdfb0cd1 100644
--- a/builtin/mailsplit.c
+++ b/builtin/mailsplit.c
@@ -284,6 +284,8 @@ int cmd_mailsplit(int argc,
 
 	BUG_ON_NON_EMPTY_PREFIX(prefix);
 
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, git_mailsplit_usage);
+
 	for (argp = argv+1; *argp; argp++) {
 		const char *arg = *argp;
 
@@ -297,8 +299,6 @@ int cmd_mailsplit(int argc,
 			continue;
 		} else if ( arg[1] == 'f' ) {
 			nr = strtol(arg+2, NULL, 10);
-		} else if ( arg[1] == 'h' ) {
-			usage(git_mailsplit_usage);
 		} else if ( arg[1] == 'b' && !arg[2] ) {
 			allow_bare = 1;
 		} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--keep-cr")) {
diff --git a/builtin/merge-index.c b/builtin/merge-index.c
index 342699edb77c97..f243a55d3274a4 100644
--- a/builtin/merge-index.c
+++ b/builtin/merge-index.c
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ static void merge_all(void)
 	}
 }
 
+static const char usage_string[] =
+"git merge-index [-o] [-q] <merge-program> (-a | [--] [<filename>...])";
+
 int cmd_merge_index(int argc,
 		    const char **argv,
 		    const char *prefix UNUSED,
@@ -87,8 +90,10 @@ int cmd_merge_index(int argc,
 	 */
 	signal(SIGCHLD, SIG_DFL);
 
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, usage_string);
+
 	if (argc < 3)
-		usage("git merge-index [-o] [-q] <merge-program> (-a | [--] [<filename>...])");
+		usage(usage_string);
 
 	repo_read_index(the_repository);
 
diff --git a/builtin/merge-ours.c b/builtin/merge-ours.c
index 3ecd9172f18466..ab78fffb52617f 100644
--- a/builtin/merge-ours.c
+++ b/builtin/merge-ours.c
@@ -23,8 +23,7 @@ int cmd_merge_ours(int argc,
 		   const char *prefix UNUSED,
 		   struct repository *repo UNUSED)
 {
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage(builtin_merge_ours_usage);
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, builtin_merge_ours_usage);
 
 	/*
 	 * The contents of the current index becomes the tree we
diff --git a/builtin/merge-recursive.c b/builtin/merge-recursive.c
index 1dd295558b207d..b71c7e1c2f05f6 100644
--- a/builtin/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/builtin/merge-recursive.c
@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@ int cmd_merge_recursive(int argc,
 	if (argv[0] && ends_with(argv[0], "-subtree"))
 		o.subtree_shift = "";
 
+	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h")) {
+		struct strbuf msg = STRBUF_INIT;
+		strbuf_addf(&msg, builtin_merge_recursive_usage, argv[0]);
+		show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, msg.buf);
+	}
+
 	if (argc < 4)
 		usagef(builtin_merge_recursive_usage, argv[0]);
 
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index 5f67007bbad833..95d798fc89b408 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -1300,8 +1300,8 @@ int cmd_merge(int argc,
 	void *branch_to_free;
 	int orig_argc = argc;
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(builtin_merge_usage, builtin_merge_options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  builtin_merge_usage, builtin_merge_options);
 
 	prepare_repo_settings(the_repository);
 	the_repository->settings.command_requires_full_index = 0;
diff --git a/builtin/pack-redundant.c b/builtin/pack-redundant.c
index e046575871956b..ce2e1fde8d7160 100644
--- a/builtin/pack-redundant.c
+++ b/builtin/pack-redundant.c
@@ -595,8 +595,7 @@ int cmd_pack_redundant(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix UNUSED, s
 	struct strbuf idx_name = STRBUF_INIT;
 	char buf[GIT_MAX_HEXSZ + 2]; /* hex hash + \n + \0 */
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage(pack_redundant_usage);
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, pack_redundant_usage);
 
 	for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
diff --git a/builtin/rebase.c b/builtin/rebase.c
index 0498fff3c96d57..cb49323c4457b2 100644
--- a/builtin/rebase.c
+++ b/builtin/rebase.c
@@ -1223,9 +1223,9 @@ int cmd_rebase(int argc,
 	};
 	int i;
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(builtin_rebase_usage,
-				   builtin_rebase_options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  builtin_rebase_usage,
+					  builtin_rebase_options);
 
 	prepare_repo_settings(the_repository);
 	the_repository->settings.command_requires_full_index = 0;
diff --git a/builtin/remote-ext.c b/builtin/remote-ext.c
index 33c8ae0fc7d638..f7591e77017341 100644
--- a/builtin/remote-ext.c
+++ b/builtin/remote-ext.c
@@ -202,6 +202,8 @@ int cmd_remote_ext(int argc,
 {
 	BUG_ON_NON_EMPTY_PREFIX(prefix);
 
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, usage_msg);
+
 	if (argc != 3)
 		usage(usage_msg);
 
diff --git a/builtin/remote-fd.c b/builtin/remote-fd.c
index ae896eda57b86d..1a1aa65273ba12 100644
--- a/builtin/remote-fd.c
+++ b/builtin/remote-fd.c
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ int cmd_remote_fd(int argc,
 
 	BUG_ON_NON_EMPTY_PREFIX(prefix);
 
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, usage_msg);
 	if (argc != 3)
 		usage(usage_msg);
 
diff --git a/builtin/rev-list.c b/builtin/rev-list.c
index 8a7db9b546196c..2e046688975222 100644
--- a/builtin/rev-list.c
+++ b/builtin/rev-list.c
@@ -542,8 +542,7 @@ int cmd_rev_list(int argc,
 	const char *show_progress = NULL;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage(rev_list_usage);
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, rev_list_usage);
 
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 	repo_init_revisions(the_repository, &revs, prefix);
diff --git a/builtin/rev-parse.c b/builtin/rev-parse.c
index 949747a6b6c7f8..f4c2b1b000520c 100644
--- a/builtin/rev-parse.c
+++ b/builtin/rev-parse.c
@@ -713,6 +713,8 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc,
 	int seen_end_of_options = 0;
 	enum format_type format = FORMAT_DEFAULT;
 
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, builtin_rev_parse_usage);
+
 	if (argc > 1 && !strcmp("--parseopt", argv[1]))
 		return cmd_parseopt(argc - 1, argv + 1, prefix);
 
diff --git a/builtin/unpack-file.c b/builtin/unpack-file.c
index 6da282575391b9..307351af5524dc 100644
--- a/builtin/unpack-file.c
+++ b/builtin/unpack-file.c
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ static char *create_temp_file(struct object_id *oid)
 	return path;
 }
 
+static const char usage_msg[] =
+"git unpack-file <blob>";
+
 int cmd_unpack_file(int argc,
 		    const char **argv,
 		    const char *prefix UNUSED,
@@ -33,8 +36,9 @@ int cmd_unpack_file(int argc,
 {
 	struct object_id oid;
 
-	if (argc != 2 || !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage("git unpack-file <blob>");
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, usage_msg);
+	if (argc != 2)
+		usage(usage_msg);
 	if (repo_get_oid(the_repository, argv[1], &oid))
 		die("Not a valid object name %s", argv[1]);
 
diff --git a/builtin/unpack-objects.c b/builtin/unpack-objects.c
index 842a90353a50b6..a446558a82f319 100644
--- a/builtin/unpack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin/unpack-objects.c
@@ -620,6 +620,8 @@ int cmd_unpack_objects(int argc,
 
 	quiet = !isatty(2);
 
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, unpack_usage);
+
 	for (i = 1 ; i < argc; i++) {
 		const char *arg = argv[i];
 
diff --git a/builtin/update-index.c b/builtin/update-index.c
index 74bbad9f87d86d..b0e2ad4970ce22 100644
--- a/builtin/update-index.c
+++ b/builtin/update-index.c
@@ -1045,8 +1045,8 @@ int cmd_update_index(int argc,
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(update_index_usage, options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  update_index_usage, options);
 
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
 
diff --git a/builtin/upload-archive.c b/builtin/upload-archive.c
index 9e9343f1213be7..42d8f671745512 100644
--- a/builtin/upload-archive.c
+++ b/builtin/upload-archive.c
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ int cmd_upload_archive_writer(int argc,
 	const char *arg_cmd = "argument ";
 	int ret;
 
-	if (argc != 2 || !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, upload_archive_usage);
+	if (argc != 2)
 		usage(upload_archive_usage);
 
 	if (!enter_repo(argv[1], 0))
@@ -92,8 +93,7 @@ struct repository *repo UNUSED)
 
 	BUG_ON_NON_EMPTY_PREFIX(prefix);
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage(upload_archive_usage);
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, upload_archive_usage);
 
 	/*
 	 * Set up sideband subprocess.
diff --git a/builtin/var.c b/builtin/var.c
index 50d024de66604a..b5cdfd2e25bd4b 100644
--- a/builtin/var.c
+++ b/builtin/var.c
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ int cmd_var(int argc,
 	const struct git_var *git_var;
 	char *val;
 
+	show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv, var_usage);
 	if (argc != 2)
 		usage(var_usage);
 
diff --git a/git-compat-util.h b/git-compat-util.h
index f8c6aedc2ee2ca..212ffe26d28d8a 100644
--- a/git-compat-util.h
+++ b/git-compat-util.h
@@ -701,6 +701,8 @@ int error_errno(const char *err, ...) __attribute__((format (printf, 1, 2)));
 void warning(const char *err, ...) __attribute__((format (printf, 1, 2)));
 void warning_errno(const char *err, ...) __attribute__((format (printf, 1, 2)));
 
+void show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(int ac, const char **av, const char *err);
+
 #ifndef NO_OPENSSL
 #ifdef APPLE_COMMON_CRYPTO
 #include "compat/apple-common-crypto.h"
diff --git a/parse-options.c b/parse-options.c
index 3ff6a5d1fac125..5f05397be42b64 100644
--- a/parse-options.c
+++ b/parse-options.c
@@ -1319,6 +1319,16 @@ void NORETURN usage_with_options(const char * const *usagestr,
 	exit(129);
 }
 
+void show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(int ac, const char **av,
+				       const char * const *usagestr,
+				       const struct option *opts)
+{
+	if (ac == 2 && !strcmp(av[1], "-h")) {
+		usage_with_options_internal(NULL, usagestr, opts, 0, 0);
+		exit(129);
+	}
+}
+
 void NORETURN usage_msg_opt(const char *msg,
 		   const char * const *usagestr,
 		   const struct option *options)
diff --git a/parse-options.h b/parse-options.h
index d01361ca97fd72..6af4ee148a0213 100644
--- a/parse-options.h
+++ b/parse-options.h
@@ -402,6 +402,10 @@ int parse_options(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix,
 NORETURN void usage_with_options(const char * const *usagestr,
 				 const struct option *options);
 
+void show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(int ac, const char **av,
+				      const char * const *usage,
+				      const struct option *options);
+
 NORETURN void usage_msg_opt(const char *msg,
 			    const char * const *usagestr,
 			    const struct option *options);
diff --git a/t/helper/test-simple-ipc.c b/t/helper/test-simple-ipc.c
index fb5927775daef8..d7a41cd0539eb5 100644
--- a/t/helper/test-simple-ipc.c
+++ b/t/helper/test-simple-ipc.c
@@ -612,8 +612,8 @@ int cmd__simple_ipc(int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (argc < 2)
 		usage_with_options(simple_ipc_usage, options);
 
-	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
-		usage_with_options(simple_ipc_usage, options);
+	show_usage_help_and_exit_if_asked(argc, argv,
+					  simple_ipc_usage, options);
 
 	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "SUPPORTS_SIMPLE_IPC"))
 		return 0;
diff --git a/t/t0012-help.sh b/t/t0012-help.sh
index 1d273d91c2125a..d3a0967e9d0752 100755
--- a/t/t0012-help.sh
+++ b/t/t0012-help.sh
@@ -255,8 +255,9 @@ do
 		(
 			GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=$(pwd) &&
 			export GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES &&
-			test_expect_code 129 git -C sub $builtin -h >output 2>&1
+			test_expect_code 129 git -C sub $builtin -h >output 2>err
 		) &&
+		test_must_be_empty err &&
 		test_grep usage output
 	'
 done <builtins
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index ef54cff4faa8d3..2a8df292196468 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge -h with invalid index' '
 		cd broken &&
 		git init &&
 		>.git/index &&
-		test_expect_code 129 git merge -h 2>usage
+		test_expect_code 129 git merge -h >usage
 	) &&
 	test_grep "[Uu]sage: git merge" broken/usage
 '
diff --git a/usage.c b/usage.c
index 47709006c15f67..26cd54a5111c9a 100644
--- a/usage.c
+++ b/usage.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #include "gettext.h"
 #include "trace2.h"
 
-static void vreportf(const char *prefix, const char *err, va_list params)
+static void vfdreportf(int fd, const char *prefix, const char *err, va_list params)
 {
 	char msg[4096];
 	char *p, *pend = msg + sizeof(msg);
@@ -32,8 +32,14 @@ static void vreportf(const char *prefix, const char *err, va_list params)
 	}
 
 	*(p++) = '\n'; /* we no longer need a NUL */
-	fflush(stderr);
-	write_in_full(2, msg, p - msg);
+	if (fd == 2)
+		fflush(stderr);
+	write_in_full(fd, msg, p - msg);
+}
+
+static void vreportf(const char *prefix, const char *err, va_list params)
+{
+	vfdreportf(2, prefix, err, params);
 }
 
 static NORETURN void usage_builtin(const char *err, va_list params)
@@ -173,6 +179,22 @@ void NORETURN usage(const char *err)
 	usagef("%s", err);
 }
 
+static void show_usage_and_exit_if_asked_helper(const char *err, ...)
+{
+	va_list params;
+
+	va_start(params, err);
+	vfdreportf(1, _("usage: "), err, params);
+	va_end(params);
+	exit(129);
+}
+
+void show_usage_and_exit_if_asked(int ac, const char **av, const char *err)
+{
+	if (ac == 2 && !strcmp(av[1], "-h"))
+		show_usage_and_exit_if_asked_helper(err);
+}
+
 void NORETURN die(const char *err, ...)
 {
 	va_list params;