diff --git a/internal/flag_parser.go b/internal/flag_parser.go
index 9e3e91f..cae1599 100644
--- a/internal/flag_parser.go
+++ b/internal/flag_parser.go
@@ -64,20 +64,37 @@ Flags:`)
 		fs.PrintDefaults()
 	}
 
-	// -? is not a valid flag name; handle it before fs.Parse.
+	// -? is not a valid pflag name; strip it before fs.Parse so other flags
+	// (like -D) are still parsed and returned alongside ErrHelp.
+	helpQuestion := false
 	for _, a := range osArgs {
 		if a == "-?" {
-			fs.Usage()
-			return OpsFlags{}, nil, ErrHelp
+			helpQuestion = true
+			break
 		}
 	}
+	if helpQuestion {
+		filtered := make([]string, 0, len(osArgs))
+		for _, a := range osArgs {
+			if a != "-?" {
+				filtered = append(filtered, a)
+			}
+		}
+		osArgs = filtered
+	}
 
 	if err := fs.Parse(osArgs); err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, pflag.ErrHelp) {
-			return OpsFlags{}, nil, ErrHelp
+			return OpsFlags{Directory: *dir, DryRun: *dryRun, List: *list, Silent: *silent, Version: *ver}, nil, ErrHelp
 		}
 		return OpsFlags{}, nil, err
 	}
+
+	if helpQuestion {
+		fs.Usage()
+		return OpsFlags{Directory: *dir, DryRun: *dryRun, List: *list, Silent: *silent, Version: *ver}, nil, ErrHelp
+	}
+
 	return OpsFlags{Directory: *dir, DryRun: *dryRun, List: *list, Silent: *silent, Version: *ver}, fs.Args(), nil
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/flag_parser_test.go b/internal/flag_parser_test.go
index 1350a3c..ba9fe34 100644
--- a/internal/flag_parser_test.go
+++ b/internal/flag_parser_test.go
@@ -125,6 +125,24 @@ func TestParseOpsFlags(t *testing.T) {
 			input:   []string{"-?", "prod", "cmd"},
 			wantErr: ErrHelp,
 		},
+		{
+			name:      "-D combined with --help preserves Directory",
+			input:     []string{"-D", "/some/path", "--help"},
+			wantFlags: OpsFlags{Directory: "/some/path"},
+			wantErr:   ErrHelp,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "-D combined with -? preserves Directory",
+			input:     []string{"-D", "/some/path", "-?"},
+			wantFlags: OpsFlags{Directory: "/some/path"},
+			wantErr:   ErrHelp,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "-D combined with -h preserves Directory",
+			input:     []string{"-D", "/some/path", "-h"},
+			wantFlags: OpsFlags{Directory: "/some/path"},
+			wantErr:   ErrHelp,
+		},
 		{
 			name:      "-D with empty string value",
 			input:     []string{"-D", "", "prod", "cmd"},
@@ -163,6 +181,7 @@ func TestParseOpsFlags(t *testing.T) {
 
 			if tc.wantErr != nil {
 				require.ErrorIs(t, err, tc.wantErr)
+				assert.Equal(t, tc.wantFlags, gotFlags)
 				return
 			}
 			if tc.wantErrSub != "" {