diff --git a/builtin/submodule--helper.c b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
index 566a5b6a6f..a78b003c25 100644
--- a/builtin/submodule--helper.c
+++ b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
@@ -1222,9 +1222,8 @@ static struct cmd_struct commands[] = {
 int cmd_submodule__helper(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	int i;
-	if (argc < 2)
-		die(_("submodule--helper subcommand must be "
-		      "called with a subcommand"));
+	if (argc < 2 || !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
+		usage("git submodule--helper <command>");
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(commands); i++) {
 		if (!strcmp(argv[1], commands[i].cmd)) {