diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 112c3ba2..1bd497ac 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ objects = ctree.o disk-io.o radix-tree.o extent-tree.o print-tree.o \
 	  extent-cache.o extent_io.o volumes.o utils.o repair.o \
 	  qgroup.o raid6.o free-space-cache.o list_sort.o props.o \
 	  ulist.o qgroup-verify.o backref.o string-table.o task-utils.o \
-	  inode.o file.o find-root.o free-space-tree.o
+	  inode.o file.o find-root.o free-space-tree.o help.o
 cmds_objects = cmds-subvolume.o cmds-filesystem.o cmds-device.o cmds-scrub.o \
 	       cmds-inspect.o cmds-balance.o cmds-send.o cmds-receive.o \
 	       cmds-quota.o cmds-qgroup.o cmds-replace.o cmds-check.o \
@@ -260,9 +260,9 @@ btrfs-%: $(objects) $(libs_static) btrfs-%.o
 	$(Q)$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -o $@ $(objects) $@.o $(libs_static) \
 		$(LDFLAGS) $(LIBS) $($(subst -,_,$@-libs))
 
-btrfs: $(objects) btrfs.o help.o $(cmds_objects) $(libs_static)
+btrfs: $(objects) btrfs.o $(cmds_objects) $(libs_static)
 	@echo "    [LD]     $@"
-	$(Q)$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -o btrfs btrfs.o help.o $(cmds_objects) \
+	$(Q)$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -o btrfs btrfs.o $(cmds_objects) \
 		$(objects) $(libs_static) $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBS)
 
 btrfs.static: $(static_objects) btrfs.static.o help.static.o $(static_cmds_objects) $(static_libbtrfs_objects)
diff --git a/utils.c b/utils.c
index ad3ada08..3df8b42a 100644
--- a/utils.c
+++ b/utils.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include <sys/vfs.h>
 #include <sys/statfs.h>
 #include <linux/magic.h>
+#include <getopt.h>
 
 #include "kerncompat.h"
 #include "radix-tree.h"
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@
 #include "utils.h"
 #include "volumes.h"
 #include "ioctl.h"
+#include "commands.h"
 
 #ifndef BLKDISCARD
 #define BLKDISCARD	_IO(0x12,119)
@@ -3119,3 +3121,29 @@ int string_is_numerical(const char *str)
 		return 0;
 	return 1;
 }
+
+/*
+ * Preprocess @argv with getopt_long to reorder options and consume the "--"
+ * option separator.
+ * Unknown short and long options are reported, optionally the @usage is printed
+ * before exit.
+ */
+void clean_args_no_options(int argc, char *argv[], const char * const *usagestr)
+{
+	static const struct option long_options[] = {
+		{NULL, 0, NULL, 0}
+	};
+
+	while (1) {
+		int c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "", long_options, NULL);
+
+		if (c < 0)
+			break;
+
+		switch (c) {
+		default:
+			if (usagestr)
+				usage(usagestr);
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/utils.h b/utils.h
index e522a8c3..d53357a2 100644
--- a/utils.h
+++ b/utils.h
@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ const char *get_argv0_buf(void);
 	"-t|--tbytes        show sizes in TiB, or TB with --si"
 
 unsigned int get_unit_mode_from_arg(int *argc, char *argv[], int df_mode);
+void clean_args_no_options(int argc, char *argv[], const char * const *usage);
 int string_is_numerical(const char *str);
 
 __attribute__ ((format (printf, 1, 2)))