diff --git a/packages/melos/bin/melos.dart b/packages/melos/bin/melos.dart
index 74d96ca74..cdc76c6df 100644
--- a/packages/melos/bin/melos.dart
+++ b/packages/melos/bin/melos.dart
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@ Future<void> main(List<String> arguments) async {
     return;
   }
   try {
-    final config = await MelosWorkspaceConfig.fromDirectory(Directory.current);
+    final config = shouldUseEmptyConfig(arguments)
+        ? MelosWorkspaceConfig.empty()
+        : await MelosWorkspaceConfig.fromDirectory(Directory.current);
     await MelosCommandRunner(config).run(arguments);
   } on MelosException catch (err) {
     stderr.writeln(err.toString());
@@ -53,3 +55,10 @@ Future<void> main(List<String> arguments) async {
     rethrow;
   }
 }
+
+bool shouldUseEmptyConfig(List<String> arguments) {
+  final willShowHelp = arguments.isEmpty ||
+      arguments.contains('--help') ||
+      arguments.contains('-h');
+  return willShowHelp;
+}
diff --git a/packages/melos/lib/src/workspace_configs.dart b/packages/melos/lib/src/workspace_configs.dart
index f41c027a8..43ab56902 100644
--- a/packages/melos/lib/src/workspace_configs.dart
+++ b/packages/melos/lib/src/workspace_configs.dart
@@ -554,6 +554,14 @@ class MelosWorkspaceConfig {
               : CommandConfigs.empty,
         );
 
+  MelosWorkspaceConfig.empty()
+      : this(
+          name: 'Melos',
+          packages: [],
+          path: Directory.current.path,
+          commands: CommandConfigs.empty,
+        );
+
   static Directory? _searchForAncestorDirectoryWithMelosYaml(Directory from) {
     for (var testedDirectory = from;
         testedDirectory.path != testedDirectory.parent.path;