diff --git a/Options.hs b/Options.hs
index 075b587be..36cb31126 100644
--- a/Options.hs
+++ b/Options.hs
@@ -16,13 +16,15 @@ ledgerFilePath = findFileFromOpts "~/ledger.dat" "LEDGER"
 options :: [OptDescr Flag]
 options = [
  Option ['f'] ["file"]     (ReqArg File "FILE") "ledger file; - means use standard input",
- Option ['s'] ["showsubs"] (NoArg ShowSubs)     "balance report: show subaccounts" -- register: show subtotals
+ Option ['s'] ["showsubs"] (NoArg ShowSubs)     "balance report: show subaccounts", -- register: show subtotals
+ Option ['h'] ["help"]     (NoArg Help)         "show this help"
  --Option ['V'] ["version"]  (NoArg Version)      "show version"
  ]
 
 data Flag = 
     File String | 
     ShowSubs |
+    Help |
     Version
     deriving (Show,Eq)
 
diff --git a/hledger.hs b/hledger.hs
index 4640665d3..8f915c78e 100644
--- a/hledger.hs
+++ b/hledger.hs
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ main = do
   let (acctpats, descpats) = parseLedgerPatternArgs args
   run cmd opts acctpats descpats
   where run cmd opts acctpats descpats
+            | Help `elem` opts            = putStr usage
             | cmd `isPrefixOf` "register" = register opts acctpats descpats
             | cmd `isPrefixOf` "balance"  = balance opts acctpats descpats
             | cmd `isPrefixOf` "test"     = selftest