diff --git a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
index faf81dd..e34bf99 100644
--- a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ fn parse_args(args: &[String]) -> Result<CliAction, String> {
     let mut compact = false;
     let mut base_commit: Option<String> = None;
     let mut reasoning_effort: Option<String> = None;
-    let mut rest = Vec::new();
+    let mut rest: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
     let mut index = 0;
 
     while index < args.len() {
@@ -391,6 +391,31 @@ fn parse_args(args: &[String]) -> Result<CliAction, String> {
                 wants_help = true;
                 index += 1;
             }
+            "--help" | "-h"
+                if !rest.is_empty()
+                    && matches!(
+                        rest[0].as_str(),
+                        "prompt"
+                            | "login"
+                            | "logout"
+                            | "version"
+                            | "state"
+                            | "init"
+                            | "export"
+                            | "commit"
+                            | "pr"
+                            | "issue"
+                    ) =>
+            {
+                // `--help` following a subcommand that would otherwise forward
+                // the arg to the API (e.g. `claw prompt --help`) should show
+                // top-level help instead. Subcommands that consume their own
+                // args (agents, mcp, plugins, skills) and local help-topic
+                // subcommands (status, sandbox, doctor) must NOT be intercepted
+                // here — they handle --help in their own dispatch paths.
+                wants_help = true;
+                index += 1;
+            }
             "--version" | "-V" => {
                 wants_version = true;
                 index += 1;