diff --git a/lib/command.js b/lib/command.js
index 7a637cb77..0ff063685 100644
--- a/lib/command.js
+++ b/lib/command.js
@@ -1084,6 +1084,26 @@ Expecting one of '${allowedValues.join("', '")}'`);
     return hookResult;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Invoke help directly if possible, or dispatch if necessary.
+   * e.g. help foo
+   *
+   * @api private
+   */
+
+  _dispatchHelpCommand(subcommandName) {
+    if (!subcommandName) {
+      this.help();
+    }
+    const subCommand = this._findCommand(subcommandName);
+    if (subCommand && !subCommand._executableHandler) {
+      subCommand.help();
+    }
+
+    // Fallback to parsing the help flag to invoke the help.
+    return this._dispatchSubcommand(subcommandName, [], [this._helpLongFlag]);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Check this.args against expected this._args.
    *
@@ -1248,10 +1268,7 @@ Expecting one of '${allowedValues.join("', '")}'`);
       return this._dispatchSubcommand(operands[0], operands.slice(1), unknown);
     }
     if (this._hasImplicitHelpCommand() && operands[0] === this._helpCommandName) {
-      if (operands.length === 1) {
-        this.help();
-      }
-      return this._dispatchSubcommand(operands[1], [], [this._helpLongFlag]);
+      return this._dispatchHelpCommand(operands[1]);
     }
     if (this._defaultCommandName) {
       outputHelpIfRequested(this, unknown); // Run the help for default command from parent rather than passing to default command
diff --git a/tests/command.helpCommand.test.js b/tests/command.helpCommand.test.js
index 8699dff30..bbf9f4502 100644
--- a/tests/command.helpCommand.test.js
+++ b/tests/command.helpCommand.test.js
@@ -123,4 +123,41 @@ describe('help command processed on correct command', () => {
       program.parse('node test.js help'.split(' '));
     }).toThrow('program');
   });
+
+  test('when no long help flag then "help sub" works', () => {
+    const program = new commander.Command();
+    program.exitOverride();
+    program.helpOption('-H');
+    const sub = program.command('sub');
+    // Patch help for easy way to check called.
+    sub.help = () => { throw new Error('sub help'); };
+    expect(() => {
+      program.parse(['help', 'sub'], { from: 'user' });
+    }).toThrow('sub help');
+  });
+
+  test('when no help options in sub then "help sub" works', () => {
+    const program = new commander.Command();
+    program.exitOverride();
+    const sub = program.command('sub')
+      .helpOption(false);
+    // Patch help for easy way to check called.
+    sub.help = () => { throw new Error('sub help'); };
+    expect(() => {
+      program.parse(['help', 'sub'], { from: 'user' });
+    }).toThrow('sub help');
+  });
+
+  test('when different help options in sub then "help sub" works', () => {
+    const program = new commander.Command();
+    program.exitOverride();
+    const sub = program.command('sub');
+    program.helpOption('-h, --help');
+    sub.helpOption('-a, --assist');
+    // Patch help for easy way to check called.
+    sub.help = () => { throw new Error('sub help'); };
+    expect(() => {
+      program.parse(['help', 'sub'], { from: 'user' });
+    }).toThrow('sub help');
+  });
 });