diff --git a/gp2040ce_bintools/__init__.py b/gp2040ce_bintools/__init__.py
index cc20164..b6bee79 100644
--- a/gp2040ce_bintools/__init__.py
+++ b/gp2040ce_bintools/__init__.py
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 # parse flags that are common to many tools (e.g. adding paths for finding .proto files)
 core_parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(add_help=False)
-core_parser.add_argument('-v', '--version', action='version', version=f"%(prog)s {__version__}")
+core_parser.add_argument('-v', '--version', action='version', version=f"%(prog)s {__version__}",
+                         help="show version information and exit")
 core_parser.add_argument('-d', '--debug', action='store_true', help="enable debug logging")
 core_parser.add_argument('-P', '--proto-files-path', type=pathlib.Path, default=list(), action='append',
                          help="path to .proto files to read, including dependencies; you will likely need "