diff --git a/roles/home-cli/files/virtinst.sh b/roles/home-cli/files/virtinst.sh
index 459bcc1..cc22e2d 100755
--- a/roles/home-cli/files/virtinst.sh
+++ b/roles/home-cli/files/virtinst.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ _acp_vm_root="$HOME/virt/images"
 _acp_vm_session=qemu:///session
 _acp_vm_name=$1
 
-case "$_acp_vm_name" in
+case "${_acp_vm_name:---help}" in
     "--help" | -*)
         echo "Usage: virtinst vmname --cdrom install.iso [other virt-install options]" >&2
         exit 1