diff --git a/spec/commands_spec.lua b/spec/commands_spec.lua
index c105caa..7ae8851 100644
--- a/spec/commands_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/commands_spec.lua
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ describe("tests related to commands", function()
       local parser = Parser "name"
       parser:command "install"
 
+      assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{} end, "a command is required")
+
+      parser:require_command(false)
       local args = parser:parse{}
       assert.same({}, args)
-
-      parser:require_command(true)
-      assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{} end, "a command is required")
    end)
 
    it("Detects wrong commands", function()
diff --git a/spec/help_spec.lua b/spec/help_spec.lua
index fe8aad5..5f777c0 100644
--- a/spec/help_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/help_spec.lua
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ Sets verbosity level.
       run:option "--where"
 
       assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo [-q] [-h] [<command>] ...",
+         "Usage: foo [-q] [-h] <command> ...",
          "",
          "Options: ",
          "   -q, --quiet",
diff --git a/spec/script b/spec/script
index f687587..7573e6b 100755
--- a/spec/script
+++ b/spec/script
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ local Parser = require "argparse"
 
 local parser = Parser "test"
    :description "A testing program. "
+   :require_command(false)
 
 parser:argument "input"
 
diff --git a/spec/usage_spec.lua b/spec/usage_spec.lua
index 90626cc..06c8577 100644
--- a/spec/usage_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/usage_spec.lua
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ describe("tests related to usage message generation", function()
       run:option "--where"
 
       assert.equal(
-         [=[Usage: foo [-q] [<command>] ...]=],
+         [=[Usage: foo [-q] <command> ...]=],
          parser:prepare():get_usage()
       )
    end)
diff --git a/src/argparse.lua b/src/argparse.lua
index 92c307f..dffc6bf 100644
--- a/src/argparse.lua
+++ b/src/argparse.lua
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ local Parser = class {
    _arguments = {},
    _options = {},
    _commands = {},
-   _require_command = false,
+   _require_command = true,
    _add_help = true,
    _fields = {
       "name", "description", "require_command",