diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 173d37d032e..f59169c1c87 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -3388,6 +3388,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "assert_cmd",
  "async-recursion",
  "async-trait",
+ "atty",
  "clap 4.3.2",
  "clap_complete",
  "clap_mangen",
diff --git a/implementations/rust/ockam/ockam_command/Cargo.toml b/implementations/rust/ockam/ockam_command/Cargo.toml
index 1c056572e6e..2a2360da77f 100644
--- a/implementations/rust/ockam/ockam_command/Cargo.toml
+++ b/implementations/rust/ockam/ockam_command/Cargo.toml
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ path = "src/bin/ockam.rs"
 anyhow = "1"
 async-recursion = { version = "1.0.0" }
 async-trait = "0.1"
+atty = "0.2.14"
 clap = { version = "4.3.2", features = ["derive", "cargo", "wrap_help"] }
 clap_complete = "4.3.1"
 clap_mangen = "0.2.12"
diff --git a/implementations/rust/ockam/ockam_command/src/lib.rs b/implementations/rust/ockam/ockam_command/src/lib.rs
index 3b1d8a59476..178f208b6fe 100644
--- a/implementations/rust/ockam/ockam_command/src/lib.rs
+++ b/implementations/rust/ockam/ockam_command/src/lib.rs
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@ use secure_channel::{listener::SecureChannelListenerCommand, SecureChannelComman
 use service::ServiceCommand;
 use space::SpaceCommand;
 use status::StatusCommand;
-use std::path::PathBuf;
-use std::sync::Mutex;
+use std::{ffi::OsString, path::Path, path::PathBuf, process, process::Stdio, sync::Mutex};
 use tcp::{
     connection::TcpConnectionCommand, inlet::TcpInletCommand, listener::TcpListenerCommand,
     outlet::TcpOutletCommand,
@@ -112,7 +111,7 @@ after_long_help = docs::after_help(AFTER_LONG_HELP),
 version,
 long_version = Version::long(),
 next_help_heading = "Global Options",
-disable_help_flag = true
+disable_help_flag = true,
 )]
 pub struct OckamCommand {
     #[command(subcommand)]
@@ -315,13 +314,16 @@ pub fn run() {
         .map(replace_hyphen_with_stdin)
         .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
-    let command = OckamCommand::parse_from(input);
-
-    if !command.global_args.test_argument_parser {
-        check_if_an_upgrade_is_available();
-    }
+    match OckamCommand::try_parse_from(input) {
+        Ok(command) => {
+            if !command.global_args.test_argument_parser {
+                check_if_an_upgrade_is_available();
+            }
 
-    command.run();
+            command.run();
+        }
+        Err(help) => show_help(help),
+    };
 }
 
 impl OckamCommand {
@@ -469,3 +471,78 @@ pub(crate) fn replace_hyphen_with_stdin(s: String) -> String {
         s
     }
 }
+
+const ENV_FORCE_COLOR: &str = "ockam_force_color";
+
+fn show_help(help: clap::Error) {
+    use std::env;
+    let mut try_fallback = false;
+    let preferred_pager = env::var_os("PAGER").unwrap_or_else(|| {
+        try_fallback = true;
+        OsString::from("less")
+    });
+
+    if preferred_pager == "false" {
+        use clap::{ColorChoice::*, CommandFactory};
+        let possibly_forced = if env::var_os(ENV_FORCE_COLOR).is_some() {
+            Always
+        } else {
+            Auto
+        };
+
+        help.with_cmd(&OckamCommand::command().color(possibly_forced))
+            .exit();
+    }
+
+    if let Ok(()) = paginate_with(preferred_pager, &help) {
+        return;
+    }
+    if try_fallback {
+        if let Ok(()) = paginate_with(OsString::from("more"), &help) {
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+    paginate_with(OsString::from("false"), &help)
+        .expect("displaying help without pagination should always work");
+}
+
+fn paginate_with(pager: OsString, help: &clap::Error) -> Result<()> {
+    let mut pager_invocation = process::Command::new(&pager);
+    if Path::new(&pager)
+        .file_name()
+        .map_or("", |s| s.to_str().unwrap_or(""))
+        == "less"
+    {
+        pager_invocation.env("LESS", "FRX");
+        // - F: no pagination if the text fits entirely into the window
+        // - R: allow ANSI escapes output formatting
+        // - X: prevents clearing the screen on exit
+        // - using env var in case a lesser `less` poses as `less`
+    }
+    let mut pager_process = pager_invocation.stdin(Stdio::piped()).spawn()?;
+    let pipe = Stdio::from(pager_process.stdin.take().expect("stdin open?"));
+
+    let exit_status = {
+        let mut my_args = std::env::args_os();
+        let my_exe_name = my_args.next().unwrap_or("ockam".into());
+
+        let mut rerun = process::Command::new(my_exe_name);
+        rerun.args(my_args).env("PAGER", "false");
+        use atty::Stream::*;
+        let output_stream = if help.use_stderr() {
+            rerun.stderr(pipe);
+            Stderr
+        } else {
+            rerun.stdout(pipe);
+            Stdout
+        };
+        if atty::is(output_stream) {
+            rerun.env(ENV_FORCE_COLOR, "_");
+        }
+        rerun.status()?.code().unwrap_or(exitcode::SOFTWARE)
+        // dropping owned pipe hands over pager control to the user
+    };
+
+    pager_process.wait()?;
+    process::exit(exit_status);
+}