Replace toys.exithelp with help_exit() in lib.

29 files changed, 102 insertions, 173 deletions

diff --git a/lib/args.c b/lib/args.c
index d5fbb17d..594a1b47 100644
--- a/lib/args.c
+++ b/lib/args.c
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ static int gotflag(struct getoptflagstate *gof, struct opts *opt)
   // Did we recognize this option?
   if (!opt) {
     if (gof->noerror) return 1;
-    error_exit("Unknown option %s", gof->arg);
+    help_exit("Unknown option %s", gof->arg);
   }
 
   // Might enabling this switch off something else?
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ static int gotflag(struct getoptflagstate *gof, struct opts *opt)
       if (opt == bad || !(i & toys.optflags)) continue;
       if (toys.optflags & bad->dex[2]) break;
     }
-    error_exit("No '%c' with '%c'", opt->c, bad->c);
+    help_exit("No '%c' with '%c'", opt->c, bad->c);
   }
 
   // Does this option take an argument?
@@ -187,10 +187,10 @@ static int gotflag(struct getoptflagstate *gof, struct opts *opt)
       char *s = "Missing argument to ";
       struct longopts *lo;
 
-      if (opt->c != -1) error_exit("%s-%c", s, opt->c);
+      if (opt->c != -1) help_exit("%s-%c", s, opt->c);
 
       for (lo = gof->longopts; lo->opt != opt; lo = lo->next);
-      error_exit("%s--%.*s", s, lo->len, lo->str);
+      help_exit("%s--%.*s", s, lo->len, lo->str);
     }
 
     if (type == ':') *(opt->arg) = (long)arg;
@@ -204,8 +204,8 @@ static int gotflag(struct getoptflagstate *gof, struct opts *opt)
     } else if (type == '#' || type == '-') {
       long l = atolx(arg);
       if (type == '-' && !ispunct(*arg)) l*=-1;
-      if (l < opt->val[0].l) error_exit("-%c < %ld", opt->c, opt->val[0].l);
-      if (l > opt->val[1].l) error_exit("-%c > %ld", opt->c, opt->val[1].l);
+      if (l < opt->val[0].l) help_exit("-%c < %ld", opt->c, opt->val[0].l);
+      if (l > opt->val[1].l) help_exit("-%c > %ld", opt->c, opt->val[1].l);
 
       *(opt->arg) = l;
     } else if (CFG_TOYBOX_FLOAT && type == '.') {
@@ -213,9 +213,9 @@ static int gotflag(struct getoptflagstate *gof, struct opts *opt)
 
       *f = strtod(arg, &arg);
       if (opt->val[0].l != LONG_MIN && *f < opt->val[0].f)
-        error_exit("-%c < %lf", opt->c, (double)opt->val[0].f);
+        help_exit("-%c < %lf", opt->c, (double)opt->val[0].f);
       if (opt->val[1].l != LONG_MAX && *f > opt->val[1].f)
-        error_exit("-%c > %lf", opt->c, (double)opt->val[1].f);
+        help_exit("-%c > %lf", opt->c, (double)opt->val[1].f);
     }
 
     if (!gof->nodash_now) gof->arg = "";
@@ -384,7 +384,6 @@ void get_optflags(void)
   // Option parsing is a two stage process: parse the option string into
   // a struct opts list, then use that list to process argv[];
 
-  toys.exithelp++;
   // Allocate memory for optargs
   saveflags = 0;
   while (toys.argv[saveflags++]);
@@ -475,10 +474,10 @@ notflag:
 
   // Sanity check
   if (toys.optc<gof.minargs)
-    error_exit("Need%s %d argument%s", letters[!!(gof.minargs-1)],
+    help_exit("Need%s %d argument%s", letters[!!(gof.minargs-1)],
       gof.minargs, letters[!(gof.minargs-1)]);
   if (toys.optc>gof.maxargs)
-    error_exit("Max %d argument%s", gof.maxargs, letters[!(gof.maxargs-1)]);
+    help_exit("Max %d argument%s", gof.maxargs, letters[!(gof.maxargs-1)]);
   if (gof.requires && !(gof.requires & toys.optflags)) {
     struct opts *req;
     char needs[32], *s = needs;
@@ -487,9 +486,8 @@ notflag:
       if (req->flags & 1) *(s++) = req->c;
     *s = 0;
 
-    error_exit("Needs %s-%s", s[1] ? "one of " : "", needs);
+    help_exit("Needs %s-%s", s[1] ? "one of " : "", needs);
   }
-  toys.exithelp = 0;
 
   if (CFG_TOYBOX_FREE) {
     llist_traverse(gof.opts, free);
diff --git a/lib/help.c b/lib/help.c
index b5d8f6b9..29965043 100644
--- a/lib/help.c
+++ b/lib/help.c
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include "toys.h"
 
 #if !CFG_TOYBOX_HELP
-void show_help(void) {;}
+void show_help(FILE *out) {;}
 #else
 #include "generated/help.h"
 
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ static char *help_data =
 #include "generated/newtoys.h"
 ;
 
-void show_help(void)
+void show_help(FILE *out)
 {
   int i = toys.which-toy_list;
   char *s;
@@ -33,6 +33,6 @@ void show_help(void)
     i = toy_find(++s)-toy_list;
   }
 
-  fprintf(toys.exithelp ? stderr : stdout, "%s", s);
+  fprintf(out, "%s", s);
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/lib.c b/lib/lib.c
index c5fca3f7..9e0a3a52 100644
--- a/lib/lib.c
+++ b/lib/lib.c
@@ -13,10 +13,12 @@ void verror_msg(char *msg, int err, va_list va)
   if (msg) vfprintf(stderr, msg, va);
   else s+=2;
   if (err) fprintf(stderr, s, strerror(err));
-  putc('\n', stderr);
+  if (msg || err) putc('\n', stderr);
   if (!toys.exitval) toys.exitval++;
 }
 
+// These functions don't collapse together because of the va_stuff.
+
 void error_msg(char *msg, ...)
 {
   va_list va;
@@ -40,7 +42,19 @@ void error_exit(char *msg, ...)
 {
   va_list va;
 
-  if (CFG_TOYBOX_HELP && toys.exithelp) show_help();
+  va_start(va, msg);
+  verror_msg(msg, 0, va);
+  va_end(va);
+
+  xexit();
+}
+
+// Exit with an error message after showing help text.
+void help_exit(char *msg, ...)
+{
+  va_list va;
+
+  if (CFG_TOYBOX_HELP) show_help(stderr);
 
   va_start(va, msg);
   verror_msg(msg, 0, va);
diff --git a/lib/lib.h b/lib/lib.h
index 5bfba22a..2b49dc17 100644
--- a/lib/lib.h
+++ b/lib/lib.h
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ struct dirtree *dirtree_read(char *path, int (*callback)(struct dirtree *node));
 
 // help.c
 
-void show_help(void);
+void show_help(FILE *out);
 
 // xwrap.c
 void xstrncpy(char *dest, char *src, size_t size);
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ void verror_msg(char *msg, int err, va_list va);
 void error_msg(char *msg, ...) printf_format;
 void perror_msg(char *msg, ...) printf_format;
 void error_exit(char *msg, ...) printf_format noreturn;
+void help_exit(char *msg, ...) printf_format noreturn;
 void perror_exit(char *msg, ...) printf_format noreturn;
 ssize_t readall(int fd, void *buf, size_t len);
 ssize_t writeall(int fd, void *buf, size_t len);
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 0738a178..dcd486eb 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ static void toy_singleinit(struct toy_list *which, char *argv[])
   if (CFG_TOYBOX_HELP_DASHDASH && argv[1] && !strcmp(argv[1], "--help")) {
     if (CFG_TOYBOX && toys.which == toy_list && toys.argv[2])
       if (!(toys.which = toy_find(toys.argv[2]))) return;
-    show_help();
+    show_help(stdout);
     xexit();
   }
 
@@ -110,10 +110,7 @@ void toy_init(struct toy_list *which, char *argv[])
     } else if (CFG_TOYBOX_DEBUG && uid && which != toy_list)
       error_msg("Not installed suid root");
 
-    if ((which->flags & TOYFLAG_NEEDROOT) && euid) {
-      toys.exithelp++;
-      error_exit("Not root");
-    }
+    if ((which->flags & TOYFLAG_NEEDROOT) && euid) help_exit("Not root");
   }
 
   // Free old toys contents (to be reentrant), but leave rebound if any
diff --git a/scripts/config2help.c b/scripts/config2help.c
index 1c2bcdcb..2ed189aa 100644
--- a/scripts/config2help.c
+++ b/scripts/config2help.c
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // Humor toys.h
 struct toy_context toys;
 char libbuf[4096], toybuf[4096];
-void show_help(void) {;}
+void show_help(FILE *out) {;}
 void toy_exec(char *argv[]) {;}
 
 // Parse config files into data structures.
diff --git a/toys.h b/toys.h
index 79754257..6b539554 100644
--- a/toys.h
+++ b/toys.h
@@ -125,7 +125,6 @@ extern struct toy_context {
   unsigned optflags;       // Command line option flags from get_optflags()
   int exitval;             // Value error_exit feeds to exit()
   int optc;                // Count of optargs
-  int exithelp;            // Should error_exit print a usage message first?
   int old_umask;           // Old umask preserved by TOYFLAG_UMASK
   int toycount;            // Total number of commands in this build
   int signal;              // generic_signal() records what signal it saw here
diff --git a/toys/lsb/killall.c b/toys/lsb/killall.c
index e8927559..3b316ecc 100644
--- a/toys/lsb/killall.c
+++ b/toys/lsb/killall.c
@@ -83,10 +83,7 @@ void killall_main(void)
     }
   }
 
-  if (!(toys.optflags & FLAG_l) && !toys.optc) {
-    toys.exithelp++;
-    error_exit("no name");
-  }
+  if (!(toys.optflags & FLAG_l) && !toys.optc) help_exit("no name");
 
   TT.cur_pid = getpid();
 
diff --git a/toys/other/blockdev.c b/toys/other/blockdev.c
index 79b4d6f9..e5a504e6 100644
--- a/toys/other/blockdev.c
+++ b/toys/other/blockdev.c
@@ -43,10 +43,7 @@ void blockdev_main(void)
   char **ss;
   long long val = 0;
 
-  if (!toys.optflags) {
-    toys.exithelp = 1;
-    error_exit("need --option");
-  }
+  if (!toys.optflags) help_exit("need --option");
 
   for (ss = toys.optargs;  *ss; ss++) {
     int fd = xopen(*ss, O_RDONLY), i;
diff --git a/toys/other/help.c b/toys/other/help.c
index 15f8271e..4722528c 100644
--- a/toys/other/help.c
+++ b/toys/other/help.c
@@ -37,12 +37,12 @@ static void do_help(struct toy_list *t)
     xprintf("<a name=\"%s\"><h1>%s</h1><blockquote><pre>\n", t->name, t->name);
 
   toys.which = t;
-  show_help();
+  show_help(stdout);
 
   if (toys.optflags & FLAG_h) xprintf("</blockquote></pre>\n");
 }
 
-// The simple help is just toys.which = toy_find("name"); show_help();
+// The simple help is just toys.which = toy_find("name"); show_help(stdout);
 // But iterating through html output and all commands is a big more 
 
 void help_main(void)
diff --git a/toys/other/ifconfig.c b/toys/other/ifconfig.c
index 948043e2..bfd9a306 100644
--- a/toys/other/ifconfig.c
+++ b/toys/other/ifconfig.c
@@ -403,10 +403,7 @@ void ifconfig_main(void)
           p = ptr = toybuf;
         }
       }
-      if (!sock->sa_family || !argv[1]) {
-        toys.exithelp++;
-        error_exit("bad hw '%s'", *argv);
-      }
+      if (!sock->sa_family || !argv[1]) help_exit("bad hw '%s'", *argv);
       hw_addr = *++argv;
 
       // Parse and verify address.
@@ -447,10 +444,7 @@ void ifconfig_main(void)
       } ifre6;
       int plen, fd6 = xsocket(AF_INET6, SOCK_DGRAM, 0);
 
-      if (!argv[1]) {
-        toys.exithelp++;
-        error_exit("%s", *argv);
-      }
+      if (!argv[1]) help_exit("%s", *argv);
 
       plen = get_addrinfo(argv[1], AF_INET6, &ifre6.addr);
       if (plen < 0) plen = 128;
@@ -517,10 +511,7 @@ void ifconfig_main(void)
 
       break;
     }
-    if (i == sizeof(try)/sizeof(*try)) {
-      toys.exithelp++;
-      error_exit("bad argument '%s'", *argv);
-    }
+    if (i == sizeof(try)/sizeof(*try)) help_exit("bad argument '%s'", *argv);
   }
   close(TT.sockfd);
 }
diff --git a/toys/other/losetup.c b/toys/other/losetup.c
index 9568627e..a40d9e42 100644
--- a/toys/other/losetup.c
+++ b/toys/other/losetup.c
@@ -180,10 +180,8 @@ void losetup_main(void)
   } else {
     char *file = (toys.optflags & (FLAG_d|FLAG_c)) ? NULL : toys.optargs[1];
 
-    if (!toys.optc || (file && toys.optc != 2)) {
-      toys.exithelp++;
-      perror_exit("needs %d arg%s", 1+!!file, file ? "s" : "");
-    }
+    if (!toys.optc || (file && toys.optc != 2)) 
+      help_exit("needs %d arg%s", 1+!!file, file ? "s" : "");
     for (s = toys.optargs; *s; s++) {
       loopback_setup(*s, file);
       if (file) break;
diff --git a/toys/other/lsattr.c b/toys/other/lsattr.c
index 39945ef0..ceb14bdf 100644
--- a/toys/other/lsattr.c
+++ b/toys/other/lsattr.c
@@ -186,12 +186,6 @@ static struct _chattr {
   unsigned char vflag, recursive;
 } chattr;
 
-static inline void chattr_help(void)
-{
-  toys.exithelp++;
-  error_exit("Invalid Argument");
-}
-
 // Set file flags on a Linux second extended file system.
 static inline int ext2_setflag(int fd, struct stat *sb, unsigned long flag)
 {
@@ -208,8 +202,7 @@ static unsigned long get_flag_val(char ch)
 
   for (; ptr->name; ptr++)
     if (ptr->opt == ch) return ptr->flag;
-  chattr_help(); // if no match found then Show help
-  return 0; // silent warning.
+  help_exit("bad '%c'", ch);
 }
 
 // Parse command line argument and fill the chattr structure.
@@ -229,7 +222,7 @@ static void parse_cmdline_arg(char ***argv)
 
             errno = 0;
             arg = *(*argv += 1);
-            if (!arg) chattr_help();
+            if (!arg) help_exit("bad -v");
             if (*arg == '-') perror_exit("Invalid Number '%s'", arg);
             chattr.version = strtoul(arg, &endptr, 0);
             if (errno || *endptr) perror_exit("bad version '%s'", arg);
@@ -309,12 +302,12 @@ void chattr_main(void)
 
   memset(&chattr, 0, sizeof(struct _chattr));
   parse_cmdline_arg(&argv);
-  if (!*argv) chattr_help();
+  if (!*argv) help_exit("no file");
   if (chattr.set && (chattr.add || chattr.rm))
-    error_exit("'=' is incompatible with '-' and '+'");
-  if (chattr.rm & chattr.add) error_exit("Can't set and unset same flag.");
+    error_exit("no '=' with '-' or '+'");
+  if (chattr.rm & chattr.add) error_exit("set/unset same flag");
   if (!(chattr.add || chattr.rm || chattr.set || chattr.vflag))
-    error_exit(("Must use '-v', '=', '-' or '+'"));
+    error_exit("need '-v', '=', '-' or '+'");
   for (; *argv; argv++) dirtree_read(*argv, update_attr);
   toys.exitval = 0; //always set success at this point.
 }
diff --git a/toys/other/netcat.c b/toys/other/netcat.c
index 9d0c3cf3..3cc3f0a0 100644
--- a/toys/other/netcat.c
+++ b/toys/other/netcat.c
@@ -91,11 +91,9 @@ void netcat_main(void)
 
   // The argument parsing logic can't make "<2" conditional on other
   // arguments like -f and -l, so we do it by hand here.
-  if (toys.optflags&FLAG_f) {
-    if (toys.optc) toys.exithelp++;
-  } else if (!(toys.optflags&(FLAG_l|FLAG_L)) && toys.optc!=2) toys.exithelp++;
-
-  if (toys.exithelp) error_exit("Argument count wrong");
+  if ((toys.optflags&FLAG_f) ? toys.optc :
+      (!(toys.optflags&(FLAG_l|FLAG_L)) && toys.optc!=2))
+        help_exit("Argument count wrong");
 
   if (TT.filename) pollfds[0].fd = xopen(TT.filename, O_RDWR);
   else {
diff --git a/toys/pending/brctl.c b/toys/pending/brctl.c
index e3b1526c..60178518 100644
--- a/toys/pending/brctl.c
+++ b/toys/pending/brctl.c
@@ -320,20 +320,14 @@ void brctl_main(void)
       if (strcmp(t->cmd, *toys.optargs)) continue;
 
       toys.optargs++, toys.optc--;
-      if (toys.optc < t->nargs) {            
-        toys.exithelp++;
-        error_exit("check args");
-      }
+      if (toys.optc < t->nargs) help_exit("check args");
       t->f(toys.optargs);
       toys.optargs += t->nargs;
       toys.optc -= t->nargs;
       break;
     }
 
-    if (i == ARRAY_LEN(cc)) {
-      toys.exithelp++;
-      error_exit("invalid option '%s'", *toys.optargs);
-    }
+    if (i == ARRAY_LEN(cc)) help_exit("invalid option '%s'", *toys.optargs);
   }
   xclose(TT.sockfd);
 }
diff --git a/toys/pending/crontab.c b/toys/pending/crontab.c
index 05c98f2b..67c8a543 100644
--- a/toys/pending/crontab.c
+++ b/toys/pending/crontab.c
@@ -346,20 +346,15 @@ void crontab_main(void)
 
   if (!toys.optc) {
     if (!FLAG_elr) {
-      if (toys.optflags & FLAG_u) {
-        toys.exithelp++;
-        error_exit("file name must be specified for replace");
-      }
+      if (toys.optflags & FLAG_u) 
+        help_exit("file name must be specified for replace");
       do_replace(pwd->pw_name);
     }
     else if (toys.optflags & FLAG_e) do_edit(pwd);
     else if (toys.optflags & FLAG_l) do_list(pwd->pw_name);
     else if (toys.optflags & FLAG_r) do_remove(pwd->pw_name);
   } else {
-    if (FLAG_elr) {
-      toys.exithelp++;
-      error_exit("no arguments permitted after this option");
-    }
+    if (FLAG_elr) help_exit("no arguments permitted after this option");
     do_replace(pwd->pw_name);
   }
   if (!(toys.optflags & FLAG_c)) free(TT.cdir);
diff --git a/toys/pending/dd.c b/toys/pending/dd.c
index 366d3c54..24d95657 100644
--- a/toys/pending/dd.c
+++ b/toys/pending/dd.c
@@ -297,10 +297,7 @@ void dd_main()
   while (*toys.optargs) {
     if (!(arg = strchr(*toys.optargs, '='))) error_exit("unknown arg %s", *toys.optargs);
     *arg++ = '\0';
-    if (!*arg) {
-      toys.exithelp = 1;
-      error_exit("");
-    }
+    if (!*arg) help_exit(0);
     key.name = *toys.optargs;
     if (!(res = bsearch(&key, operands, ARRAY_LEN(operands), sizeof(struct pair),
             comp))) error_exit("unknown arg %s", key.name);
diff --git a/toys/pending/fdisk.c b/toys/pending/fdisk.c
index 3ee9f598..d000c055 100644
--- a/toys/pending/fdisk.c
+++ b/toys/pending/fdisk.c
@@ -151,9 +151,9 @@ static void read_sec_sz()
   if (ioctl(dev_fd, BLKSSZGET, &arg) == 0) g_sect_size = arg;
   if (toys.optflags & FLAG_b) {
     if (TT.sect_sz !=  512 && TT.sect_sz != 1024 && TT.sect_sz != 2048 &&
-        TT.sect_sz != 4096) {
-      toys.exithelp++;
-      error_exit("bad sector size");
+        TT.sect_sz != 4096)
+    {
+      help_exit("bad sector size");
     }
     g_sect_size = TT.sect_sz;
   }
@@ -1486,11 +1486,7 @@ void fdisk_main(void)
     toys.exitval = 0;
     return;
   } else {
-    if (!toys.optc || toys.optc > 1 ) {
-      toys.exitval = toys.exithelp = 1;
-      show_help();
-      return;
-    }
+    if (toys.optc != 1) help_exit(stdout);
     if (read_mbr(toys.optargs[0], 1)) return;
     while (1) {
       xputc('\n');
diff --git a/toys/pending/groupadd.c b/toys/pending/groupadd.c
index 615c12f8..30468c94 100644
--- a/toys/pending/groupadd.c
+++ b/toys/pending/groupadd.c
@@ -62,10 +62,8 @@ void groupadd_main(void)
   struct group *grp = NULL;
   char *entry = NULL;
 
-  if (toys.optflags && toys.optc == 2) {
-    toys.exithelp = 1;
-    error_exit("options, user and group can't be together");
-  }
+  if (toys.optflags && toys.optc == 2)
+    help_exit("options, user and group can't be together");
 
   if (toys.optc == 2) {  //add user to group
     //toys.optargs[0]- user, toys.optargs[1] - group
diff --git a/toys/pending/ip.c b/toys/pending/ip.c
index 9a01d953..90f73308 100644
--- a/toys/pending/ip.c
+++ b/toys/pending/ip.c
@@ -137,12 +137,6 @@ static char *idx_to_string(int idx, struct arglist *list)
   return NULL;
 }
 
-static void iphelp(void)
-{
-  toys.exithelp = 1;
-  error_exit(NULL);
-}
-
 static void send_nlmesg(int type, int flags, int family,
     void *buf, int blen)
 {
@@ -519,16 +513,16 @@ static void vlan_parse_opt(char **argv, struct nlmsghdr *n, unsigned int size)
   for (; *argv; argv++) {
     int param, proto;
 
-    if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*argv++, vlan_optlist)) == -1) iphelp();
+    if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*argv++, vlan_optlist)) == -1) help_exit(0);
     switch (idx) {
       case 0: // ARG_id
-        if (!*argv) iphelp();
+        if (!*argv) help_exit(0);
         param = atolx(*argv);
         add_string_to_rtattr(n, size, IFLA_VLAN_ID, &param, sizeof(param));
         break;
       case 1: // ARG_protocol
         if (!*argv) error_exit("Invalid vlan id.");
-        if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*argv, vlan_protolist)) == -1) iphelp();
+        if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*argv, vlan_protolist)) == -1) help_exit(0);
         if (!idx) proto = ETH_P_8021Q; // PROTO_8021Q - 0
         else if (idx == 1) proto = 0x88A8; // ETH Protocol - 8021AD
         // IFLA VLAN PROTOCOL - 5
@@ -536,7 +530,7 @@ static void vlan_parse_opt(char **argv, struct nlmsghdr *n, unsigned int size)
         break;
       case 2: // ARG_reorder_hdr
       case 3: // ARG_gvrp
-        if ((param = substring_to_idx(*argv, on_off)) == -1) iphelp();
+        if ((param = substring_to_idx(*argv, on_off)) == -1) help_exit(0);
 
         flags.mask |= (idx -1); // VLAN FLAG REORDER Header              
         flags.flags &= ~(idx -1); // VLAN FLAG REORDER Header            
@@ -650,7 +644,7 @@ static int link_set(char **argv)
   fd = xsocket(AF_INET, SOCK_DGRAM, 0);
   xioctl(fd, SIOCGIFINDEX, &req);
   for (++argv; *argv;) {
-    if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*argv++, cmd_objectlist)) == -1) iphelp();
+    if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*argv++, cmd_objectlist)) == -1) help_exit(0);
     switch(idx) {
       case 0:
         flags |= IFF_UP; break;
@@ -659,7 +653,7 @@ static int link_set(char **argv)
       case 2:
       case 3:
       case 4:
-        if (!*argv) iphelp();
+        if (!*argv) help_exit(0);
         else if (!strcmp(*argv, "on")) {
           if (idx == 2) {
             masks &= ~case_flags[idx-2];
@@ -670,7 +664,7 @@ static int link_set(char **argv)
             masks |= case_flags[idx-2];
             flags |= case_flags[idx-2];
           } else masks &= ~case_flags[idx-2];
-        } else iphelp();
+        } else help_exit(0);
         ++argv;
         break;
       case 5:
@@ -941,7 +935,8 @@ static int iplink(char **argv)
     {"set", 1}, {"show", 2}, {"list", 2}, {"lst", 2}, {NULL,-1}};
 
   if (!*argv) idx = 2;
-  else if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*argv++, cmd_objectlist)) == -1) iphelp();
+  else if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*argv++, cmd_objectlist)) == -1)
+    help_exit(0);
   ipcmd = cmdobjlist[idx];
   return ipcmd(argv);
 }
@@ -1431,7 +1426,8 @@ static int ipaddr(char **argv)
 
   TT.is_addr++;
   if (!*argv) idx = 1;
-  else if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*argv++, cmd_objectlist)) == -1) iphelp();
+  else if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*argv++, cmd_objectlist)) == -1)
+    help_exit(0);
 
   ipcmd = cmdobjlist[idx];
   return ipcmd(argv);
@@ -2757,7 +2753,7 @@ void ip_main(void)
                   struct arglist ip_aflist[] = {{"inet", AF_INET},
                     {"inet6", AF_INET6}, {"link", AF_PACKET}, {NULL, -1}};
 
-                  if (!*++optargv) iphelp();
+                  if (!*++optargv) help_exit(0);
                   if ((TT.addressfamily = string_to_idx(*optargv, ip_aflist)) == -1)
                     error_exit("wrong family '%s'", *optargv);
                 }
@@ -2766,7 +2762,7 @@ void ip_main(void)
       case 2:
               TT.stats++;
               break;
-      default: iphelp();
+      default: help_exit(0);
                break; // unreachable code.
     }
   }
@@ -2778,15 +2774,15 @@ void ip_main(void)
       struct arglist ip_objectlist[] = { {"address", 0}, {"link", 1},
         {"route", 2}, {"rule", 3}, {"tunnel", 4}, {"tunl", 4}, {NULL, -1}};
 
-      if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*optargv, ip_objectlist)) == -1) iphelp();
+      if ((idx = substring_to_idx(*optargv, ip_objectlist)) == -1) help_exit(0);
       ipcmd = cmdobjlist[idx];
       toys.exitval = ipcmd(++optargv);
-    } else iphelp();
+    } else help_exit(0);
   } else {
     struct arglist ip_objectlist[] = { {"ipaddr", 0}, {"iplink", 1},
       {"iproute", 2}, {"iprule", 3}, {"iptunnel", 4}, {NULL, -1}};
     if ((idx = string_to_idx(toys.which->name, ip_objectlist)) == -1)
-      iphelp();
+      help_exit(0);
     ipcmd = cmdobjlist[idx];
     toys.exitval = ipcmd(optargv);
   }
diff --git a/toys/pending/ipcrm.c b/toys/pending/ipcrm.c
index 21f436d3..cec1b12f 100644
--- a/toys/pending/ipcrm.c
+++ b/toys/pending/ipcrm.c
@@ -83,9 +83,6 @@ void ipcrm_main(void)
     for (tmp = TT.qid; tmp; tmp = tmp->next) do_ipcrm(0, 2, tmp->arg);
     for (tmp = TT.skey; tmp; tmp = tmp->next) do_ipcrm(1, 3, tmp->arg);
     for (tmp = TT.sid; tmp; tmp = tmp->next) do_ipcrm(0, 3, tmp->arg);
-    if (toys.optc) {
-      toys.exithelp++;
-      error_exit("unknown argument: %s", *toys.optargs);
-    }
+    if (toys.optc) help_exit("unknown argument: %s", *toys.optargs);
   }
 }
diff --git a/toys/pending/ipcs.c b/toys/pending/ipcs.c
index d974a519..b5986af7 100644
--- a/toys/pending/ipcs.c
+++ b/toys/pending/ipcs.c
@@ -425,10 +425,7 @@ void ipcs_main(void)
     if (flag(m)) show_shm_id();
     else if (flag(s)) show_sem_id();
     else if (flag(q)) show_msg_id();
-    else {
-      toys.exithelp++;
-      error_exit(NULL);
-    }
+    else help_exit(0);
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/toys/pending/modprobe.c b/toys/pending/modprobe.c
index 07c53fc2..6813dec3 100644
--- a/toys/pending/modprobe.c
+++ b/toys/pending/modprobe.c
@@ -495,8 +495,7 @@ void modprobe_main(void)
   if ((toys.optc < 1) && (((flags & FLAG_r) && (flags & FLAG_l))
         ||(!((flags & FLAG_r)||(flags & FLAG_l)))))
   {
-	  toys.exithelp++;
-	  error_exit("bad syntax");
+	  help_exit("bad syntax");
   }
   // Check for -r flag without arg if yes then do auto remove.
   if ((flags & FLAG_r) && !toys.optc) {
diff --git a/toys/pending/pgrep.c b/toys/pending/pgrep.c
index 59767b9f..9117a6d5 100644
--- a/toys/pending/pgrep.c
+++ b/toys/pending/pgrep.c
@@ -91,14 +91,10 @@ void pgrep_main(void)
         error_exit("Unknown signal '%s'", arg);
     } else signum = SIGTERM;
   }
-  if (!(flag_chk(FLAG_s) || flag_chk(FLAG_P)) && !*toys.optargs) {
-    toys.exithelp++;
-    error_exit("missing argument");
-  }
-  if (*(toys.optargs+1) && !(flag_chk(FLAG_s) || flag_chk(FLAG_P))) {
-    toys.exithelp++;
-    error_exit("max argument > 1");
-  }
+  if (!(flag_chk(FLAG_s) || flag_chk(FLAG_P)) && !*toys.optargs)
+    help_exit("missing argument");
+  if (*(toys.optargs+1) && !(flag_chk(FLAG_s) || flag_chk(FLAG_P)))
+    help_exit("max argument > 1");
   if (*toys.optargs) { /* compile regular expression(PATTERN) */
     if ((eval = regcomp(&rp, *toys.optargs, REG_EXTENDED | REG_NOSUB)) != 0) {
       char errbuf[256];
diff --git a/toys/pending/route.c b/toys/pending/route.c
index ac1bbef5..02b59cfb 100644
--- a/toys/pending/route.c
+++ b/toys/pending/route.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ GLOBALS(
 #define INVALID_ADDR 0xffffffffUL
 #define IPV6_ADDR_LEN 40 //32 + 7 (':') + 1 ('\0')
 
-#define TEST_ARGV(argv) if (!*argv) show_route_help()
+#define TEST_ARGV(argv) if (!*argv) help_exit(0)
 
 struct _arglist {
   char *arg;
@@ -49,13 +49,6 @@ static struct _arglist arglist2[] = {
   { NULL, 0 }
 };
 
-// display help info and exit.
-static void show_route_help(void)
-{
-  toys.exithelp = 1;
-  error_exit("Invalid Argument");
-}
-
 // to get the host name from the given ip.
 static int get_hostname(char *ipstr, struct sockaddr_in *sockin)
 {
@@ -205,7 +198,7 @@ static void get_next_params(char **argv, struct rtentry *rt, char **netmask)
       //when adding a network route, the netmask to be used.
       struct sockaddr sock;
       unsigned int addr_mask = (((struct sockaddr_in *)&((rt)->rt_genmask))->sin_addr.s_addr);
-      if (addr_mask) show_route_help();
+      if (addr_mask) help_exit("dup netmask");
       argv++;
       TEST_ARGV(argv);
       *netmask = *argv;
@@ -224,7 +217,7 @@ static void get_next_params(char **argv, struct rtentry *rt, char **netmask)
           argv++;
         } else if (ishost < 0) perror_exit("resolving '%s'", *argv);
         else perror_exit("gateway '%s' is a NETWORK", *argv);
-      } else show_route_help();
+      } else help_exit("dup gw");
     } else if (!strcmp(*argv, "mss")) {
       //set the TCP Maximum Segment Size for connections over this route.
       argv++;
@@ -265,7 +258,7 @@ static void get_next_params(char **argv, struct rtentry *rt, char **netmask)
     } else if (!strcmp(*argv, "reinstate")) {
       rt->rt_flags |= RTF_REINSTATE;
       argv++;
-    } else show_route_help();  //No match found; exit form the application.
+    } else help_exit("no '%s'", *argv);  //No match found; exit form the application.
   }//end of while loop.
 
   if (!rt->rt_dev && (rt->rt_flags & RTF_REJECT)) rt->rt_dev = (char *)"lo";
@@ -295,10 +288,10 @@ static void setroute(char **argv)
   int is_net_or_host = 0, sokfd, arg2_action;
   int action = get_action(&argv, arglist1); //verify the arg for add/del.
 
-  if (!action || !*argv) show_route_help();
+  if (!action || !*argv) help_exit("setroute");
 
   arg2_action = get_action(&argv, arglist2); //verify the arg for -net or -host
-  if (!*argv) show_route_help(); 
+  if (!*argv) help_exit("setroute");
 
   memset(&rt, 0, sizeof(struct rtentry));
   targetip = *argv++;
@@ -364,7 +357,7 @@ static void get_next_params_inet6(char **argv, struct sockaddr_in6 *sock_in6, st
           rt->rtmsg_flags |= RTF_GATEWAY;
           argv++;
         } else perror_exit("resolving '%s'", *argv);
-      } else show_route_help();
+      } else help_exit(0);
     } else if (!strcmp(*argv, "dev")) {
       argv++;
       TEST_ARGV(argv);
@@ -376,7 +369,7 @@ static void get_next_params_inet6(char **argv, struct sockaddr_in6 *sock_in6, st
     } else if (!strcmp(*argv, "dyn")) {
       rt->rtmsg_flags |= RTF_DYNAMIC;
       argv++;
-    } else show_route_help();
+    } else help_exit(0);
   }//end of while loop.
 }
 
@@ -388,7 +381,7 @@ static void setroute_inet6(char **argv)
   char *targetip;
   int sockfd, action = get_action(&argv, arglist1);
 
-  if (!action || !*argv) show_route_help();
+  if (!action || !*argv) help_exit(0);
   memset(&sock_in6, 0, sizeof(struct sockaddr_in6));
   memset(&rt, 0, sizeof(struct in6_rtmsg));
   targetip = *argv++;
@@ -418,7 +411,7 @@ static void setroute_inet6(char **argv)
     if (action == 1) xioctl(sockfd, SIOCADDRT, &rt);
     else xioctl(sockfd, SIOCDELRT, &rt);
     xclose(sockfd);
-  } else show_route_help();
+  } else help_exit(0);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -489,7 +482,7 @@ void route_main(void)
   if (!*toys.optargs) {
     if (!strcmp(TT.family, "inet")) display_routes();
     else if (!strcmp(TT.family, "inet6")) display_routes6();
-    else show_route_help();
+    else help_exit(0);
     return;
   }//End of if statement.
 
diff --git a/toys/pending/tftpd.c b/toys/pending/tftpd.c
index 31af44be..806326eb 100644
--- a/toys/pending/tftpd.c
+++ b/toys/pending/tftpd.c
@@ -242,10 +242,7 @@ void tftpd_main(void)
   char *buf = toybuf;
 
   memset(&srcaddr, 0, sizeof(srcaddr));
-  if (getsockname(0, (struct sockaddr *)&srcaddr, &socklen)) {
-    toys.exithelp = 1;
-    error_exit(NULL);
-  }
+  if (getsockname(0, (struct sockaddr *)&srcaddr, &socklen)) help_exit(0);
 
   if (TT.user) TT.pw = xgetpwnam(TT.user);
   if (*toys.optargs) xchroot(*toys.optargs);
diff --git a/toys/pending/useradd.c b/toys/pending/useradd.c
index 4d4c671e..d0ad03ab 100644
--- a/toys/pending/useradd.c
+++ b/toys/pending/useradd.c
@@ -46,10 +46,7 @@ void useradd_main(void)
 
   // Act like groupadd?
   if (toys.optc == 2) {
-    if (toys.optflags) {
-      toys.exithelp = 1;
-      error_exit("options with USER GROUP");
-    }
+    if (toys.optflags) help_exit("options with USER GROUP");
     xexec((char *[]){"groupadd", toys.optargs[0], toys.optargs[1], 0});
   }
 
diff --git a/toys/posix/kill.c b/toys/posix/kill.c
index 72113878..3fcd36a1 100644
--- a/toys/posix/kill.c
+++ b/toys/posix/kill.c
@@ -136,10 +136,7 @@ void kill_main(void)
   } else {
 
     // "<1" in optstr wouldn't cover this because "-SIGNAL"
-    if (!*args) {
-      toys.exithelp++;
-      error_exit("missing argument");
-    }
+    if (!*args) help_exit("missing argument");
 
     while (*args) {
       char *arg = *(args++);
diff --git a/www/code.html b/www/code.html
index a1c08efe..6050aa1a 100644
--- a/www/code.html
+++ b/www/code.html
@@ -404,9 +404,6 @@ the first argument, not the command name.  Use toys.which->name for the command
 name.</p></li>
 <li><p>int <b>optc</b> - Optarg count, equivalent to argc but for
 optargs[].<p></li>
-<li><p>int <b>exithelp</b> - Whether error_exit() should print a usage message
-via help_main() before exiting.  (True during option parsing, defaults to
-false afterwards.)</p></li>
 </ul>
 
 <a name="toy_union" />