diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index 115ff995f..f89088a75 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -224,6 +224,12 @@ You may specify custom flags by passing an additional parameter to the `version`
 program.version('0.0.1', '-v, --version');
 ```
 
+You can also override the help description for the version command.
+
+```js
+program.version('0.0.1', '-v, --version', 'output the current version');
+```
+
 
 
 ## Command-specific options
@@ -433,6 +439,15 @@ function make_red(txt) {
 }
 ```
 
+## .helpOption(flags, description)
+
+  Override the default help flags and description.
+
+```js
+program
+  .helpOption('-e, --HELP', 'read more information');
+```
+
 ## .help(cb)
 
   Output help information and exit immediately.
diff --git a/examples/custom-help-description b/examples/custom-help-description
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9892a912a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/custom-help-description
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+/**
+ * Module dependencies.
+ */
+
+var program = require('../');
+
+program
+  .helpOption('-c, --HELP', 'custom help message')
+  .option('-s, --sessions', 'add session support')
+  .option('-t, --template <engine>', 'specify template engine (jade|ejs) [jade]', 'jade');
+
+program
+  .command('child')
+  .option('--gender', 'specific gender of child')
+  .action((cmd) => {
+    console.log('Childsubcommand...');
+  });
+
+program.parse(process.argv);
diff --git a/examples/custom-version b/examples/custom-version
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..11043a06f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/custom-version
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+/**
+ * Module dependencies.
+ */
+
+var program = require('../');
+
+program
+  .version('0.0.1', '-v, --VERSION', 'new version message')
+  .option('-s, --sessions', 'add session support')
+  .option('-t, --template <engine>', 'specify template engine (jade|ejs) [jade]', 'jade')
+  .parse(process.argv);
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index da594e9cd..8fd53074b 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ function Command(name) {
   this._allowUnknownOption = false;
   this._args = [];
   this._name = name || '';
+
+  this._helpFlags = '-h, --help';
+  this._helpDescription = 'output usage information';
+  this._helpShortFlag = '-h';
+  this._helpLongFlag = '--help';
 }
 
 /**
@@ -182,6 +187,10 @@ Command.prototype.command = function(name, desc, opts) {
     if (opts.isDefault) this.defaultExecutable = cmd._name;
   }
   cmd._noHelp = !!opts.noHelp;
+  cmd._helpFlags = this._helpFlags;
+  cmd._helpDescription = this._helpDescription;
+  cmd._helpShortFlag = this._helpShortFlag;
+  cmd._helpLongFlag = this._helpLongFlag;
   this.commands.push(cmd);
   cmd.parseExpectedArgs(args);
   cmd.parent = this;
@@ -466,7 +475,7 @@ Command.prototype.parse = function(argv) {
   // github-style sub-commands with no sub-command
   if (this.executables && argv.length < 3 && !this.defaultExecutable) {
     // this user needs help
-    argv.push('--help');
+    argv.push(this._helpLongFlag);
   }
 
   // process argv
@@ -519,7 +528,7 @@ Command.prototype.executeSubCommand = function(argv, args, unknown) {
   // <cmd> --help
   if (args[0] === 'help') {
     args[0] = args[1];
-    args[1] = '--help';
+    args[1] = this._helpLongFlag;
   }
 
   // executable
@@ -846,17 +855,21 @@ Command.prototype.variadicArgNotLast = function(name) {
  * This method auto-registers the "-V, --version" flag
  * which will print the version number when passed.
  *
+ * You can optionally supply the  flags and description to override the defaults.
+ *
  * @param {String} str
  * @param {String} [flags]
+ * @param {String} [description]
  * @return {Command} for chaining
  * @api public
  */
 
-Command.prototype.version = function(str, flags) {
+Command.prototype.version = function(str, flags, description) {
   if (arguments.length === 0) return this._version;
   this._version = str;
   flags = flags || '-V, --version';
-  var versionOption = new Option(flags, 'output the version number');
+  description = description || 'output the version number';
+  var versionOption = new Option(flags, description);
   this._versionOptionName = versionOption.long.substr(2) || 'version';
   this.options.push(versionOption);
   this.on('option:' + this._versionOptionName, function() {
@@ -990,8 +1003,9 @@ Command.prototype.largestCommandLength = function() {
 Command.prototype.largestOptionLength = function() {
   var options = [].slice.call(this.options);
   options.push({
-    flags: '-h, --help'
+    flags: this._helpFlags
   });
+
   return options.reduce(function(max, option) {
     return Math.max(max, option.flags.length);
   }, 0);
@@ -1048,7 +1062,7 @@ Command.prototype.optionHelp = function() {
   return this.options.map(function(option) {
     return pad(option.flags, width) + '  ' + option.description +
       ((option.bool && option.defaultValue !== undefined) ? ' (default: ' + JSON.stringify(option.defaultValue) + ')' : '');
-  }).concat([pad('-h, --help', width) + '  ' + 'output usage information'])
+  }).concat([pad(this._helpFlags, width) + '  ' + this._helpDescription])
     .join('\n');
 };
 
@@ -1129,7 +1143,10 @@ Command.prototype.helpInformation = function() {
 };
 
 /**
- * Output help information for this command
+ * Output help information for this command.
+ *
+ * When listener(s) are available for the helpLongFlag
+ * those callbacks are invoked.
  *
  * @api public
  */
@@ -1145,12 +1162,36 @@ Command.prototype.outputHelp = function(cb) {
     throw new Error('outputHelp callback must return a string or a Buffer');
   }
   process.stdout.write(cbOutput);
-  this.emit('--help');
+  this.emit(this._helpLongFlag);
+};
+
+/**
+ * You can pass in flags and a description to override the help
+ * flags and help description for your command.
+ *
+ * @param {String} [flags]
+ * @param {String} [description]
+ * @return {Command}
+ * @api public
+ */
+
+Command.prototype.helpOption = function(flags, description) {
+  this._helpFlags = flags || this._helpFlags;
+  this._helpDescription = description || this._helpDescription;
+
+  var splitFlags = this._helpFlags.split(/[ ,|]+/);
+
+  if (splitFlags.length > 1) this._helpShortFlag = splitFlags.shift();
+
+  this._helpLongFlag = splitFlags.shift();
+
+  return this;
 };
 
 /**
  * Output help information and exit.
  *
+ * @param {Function} [cb]
  * @api public
  */
 
@@ -1197,8 +1238,9 @@ function pad(str, width) {
 
 function outputHelpIfNecessary(cmd, options) {
   options = options || [];
+
   for (var i = 0; i < options.length; i++) {
-    if (options[i] === '--help' || options[i] === '-h') {
+    if (options[i] === cmd._helpLongFlag || options[i] === cmd._helpShortFlag) {
       cmd.outputHelp();
       process.exit(0);
     }
diff --git a/test/test.command.helpInformation.custom.js b/test/test.command.helpInformation.custom.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..50ad9ab91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test.command.helpInformation.custom.js
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+var program = require('../')
+  , sinon = require('sinon').sandbox.create()
+  , should = require('should');
+
+sinon.stub(process, 'exit');
+sinon.stub(process.stdout, 'write');
+
+program.helpOption('-c, --HELP', 'custom help output');
+program.command('somecommand');
+program.command('anothercommand [options]');
+
+var expectedHelpInformation = [
+  'Usage:  [options] [command]',
+  '',
+  'Options:',
+  '  -c, --HELP                custom help output',
+  '',
+  'Commands:',
+  '  somecommand',
+  '  anothercommand [options]',
+  ''
+].join('\n');
+
+program.helpInformation().should.equal(expectedHelpInformation);
+
+// Test arguments
+var expectedCommandHelpInformation = [
+  'Usage: test [options] [command]',
+  '',
+  'Options:',
+  '  -c, --HELP                custom help output',
+  '',
+  'Commands:',
+  '  somecommand',
+  '  anothercommand [options]',
+  ''
+].join('\n');
+
+program.parse(['node', 'test', '--HELP']);
+
+process.stdout.write.called.should.equal(true);
+
+var output = process.stdout.write.args[0];
+output[0].should.equal(expectedCommandHelpInformation);
+
+sinon.restore();
diff --git a/test/test.command.helpSubCommand.customFlags.js b/test/test.command.helpSubCommand.customFlags.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c2d7575d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test.command.helpSubCommand.customFlags.js
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+var program = require('../'),
+  sinon = require('sinon').sandbox.create(),
+  should = require('should');
+
+sinon.stub(process, 'exit');
+sinon.stub(process.stdout, 'write');
+
+// Test that subcommands inherit the help flags
+// but can also override help flags
+program
+  .helpOption('-i, --ihelp', 'foo foo');
+
+program
+  .command('child')
+  .option('--gender', 'specific gender of child')
+  .action((cmd) => {
+    console.log('Childsubcommand...');
+  });
+
+program
+  .command('family')
+  .helpOption('-h, --help')
+  .action((cmd) => {
+    console.log('Familysubcommand...');
+  });
+
+// Test arguments
+var expectedCommandHelpInformation = [
+  'Usage: child [options]',
+  '',
+  'Options:',
+  '  --gender     specific gender of child',
+  '  -i, --ihelp  foo foo',
+  ''
+].join('\n');
+
+program.parse(['node', 'test', 'child', '-i']);
+
+process.stdout.write.called.should.equal(true);
+
+var output = process.stdout.write.args[0];
+output[0].should.equal(expectedCommandHelpInformation);
+
+// Test other command
+sinon.restore();
+
+sinon.stub(process, 'exit');
+sinon.stub(process.stdout, 'write');
+
+var expectedFamilyCommandHelpInformation = [
+  'Usage: family [options]',
+  '',
+  'Options:',
+  '  -h, --help  foo foo',
+  ''
+].join('\n');
+
+program.parse(['node', 'test', 'family', '-h']);
+
+process.stdout.write.called.should.equal(true);
+
+var output2 = process.stdout.write.args[0];
+output2[0].should.equal(expectedFamilyCommandHelpInformation);
+
+sinon.restore();
diff --git a/test/test.options.version.customHelpDescription.js b/test/test.options.version.customHelpDescription.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7471e7310
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test.options.version.customHelpDescription.js
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+var program = require('../')
+  , sinon = require('sinon').sandbox.create()
+  , should = require('should');
+
+program.version('1.0.0', undefined, 'custom version output');
+program.command('somecommand');
+program.command('anothercommand [options]');
+
+var expectedHelpInformation = [
+  'Usage:  [options] [command]',
+  '',
+  'Options:',
+  '  -V, --version             custom version output',
+  '  -h, --help                output usage information',
+  '',
+  'Commands:',
+  '  somecommand',
+  '  anothercommand [options]',
+  ''
+].join('\n');
+
+program.helpInformation().should.equal(expectedHelpInformation);
diff --git a/typings/index.d.ts b/typings/index.d.ts
index bcda2771e..d2a5332a0 100644
--- a/typings/index.d.ts
+++ b/typings/index.d.ts
@@ -36,16 +36,15 @@ declare namespace local {
     constructor(name?: string);
 
     /**
-     * Set the program version to `str`.
+     * Set the program version to `str`. 
      *
      * This method auto-registers the "-V, --version" flag
      * which will print the version number when passed.
+     * 
+     * You can optionally supply the  flags and description to override the defaults.
      *
-     * @param {string} str
-     * @param {string} [flags]
-     * @returns {Command} for chaining
      */
-    version(str: string, flags?: string): Command;
+    version(str: string, flags?: string, description?: string): Command;
 
     /**
      * Add command `name`.
@@ -268,13 +267,21 @@ declare namespace local {
     /**
      * Output help information for this command.
      *
+     * When listener(s) are available for the helpLongFlag
+     * those callbacks are invoked.
+     * 
      * @param {(str: string) => string} [cb]
      */
     outputHelp(cb?: (str: string) => string): void;
 
-    /** Output help information and exit.
-     *
-     * @param {(str: string) => string} [cb]
+    /**
+     * You can pass in flags and a description to override the help
+     * flags and help description for your command.
+     */
+    helpOption(flags?: string, description?: string): Command;
+
+    /** 
+     * Output help information and exit.
      */
     help(cb?: (str: string) => string): never;
   }