diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index 6faaaacb68999db294d20ecbb30772223bfc1b57..f4f1de6dd7f313ffe123bcf86bd92b70f54d3f5d 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -2405,6 +2405,9 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 
 	git_extract_argv0_path(argv[0]);
 
+	if (argc == 2 && !strcmp(argv[1], "-h"))
+		usage(fast_import_usage);
+
 	setup_git_directory();
 	git_config(git_pack_config, NULL);
 	if (!pack_compression_seen && core_compression_seen)