diff --git a/app.go b/app.go
index 7da79d8..26dfd7d 100644
--- a/app.go
+++ b/app.go
@@ -89,7 +89,9 @@ func (a *App) Run(arguments []string) (err error) {
 
 	newCmds := []Command{}
 	for _, c := range a.Commands {
-		c.HelpName = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", a.HelpName, c.Name)
+		if c.HelpName == "" {
+			c.HelpName = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", a.HelpName, c.Name)
+		}
 		newCmds = append(newCmds, c)
 	}
 	a.Commands = newCmds
@@ -199,7 +201,9 @@ func (a *App) RunAsSubcommand(ctx *Context) (err error) {
 
 	newCmds := []Command{}
 	for _, c := range a.Commands {
-		c.HelpName = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", a.HelpName, c.Name)
+		if c.HelpName == "" {
+			c.HelpName = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", a.HelpName, c.Name)
+		}
 		newCmds = append(newCmds, c)
 	}
 	a.Commands = newCmds
diff --git a/command.go b/command.go
index 2851291..9491c30 100644
--- a/command.go
+++ b/command.go
@@ -157,7 +157,12 @@ func (c Command) startApp(ctx *Context) error {
 
 	// set the name and usage
 	app.Name = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", ctx.App.Name, c.Name)
-	app.HelpName = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", ctx.App.Name, c.Name)
+	if c.HelpName == "" {
+		app.HelpName = c.HelpName
+	} else {
+		app.HelpName = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", ctx.App.Name, c.Name)
+	}
+
 	if c.Description != "" {
 		app.Usage = c.Description
 	} else {