diff --git a/lib/command.js b/lib/command.js
index 4a552d231..6e8ce0361 100644
--- a/lib/command.js
+++ b/lib/command.js
@@ -1531,10 +1531,7 @@ Expecting one of '${allowedValues.join("', '")}'`);
       // - any other option unknown to this command,
       // - or a command-argument.
 
-      if (maybeOption(arg)) {
-        // An unknown option means further arguments also classified as unknown so can be reprocessed by subcommands.
-        dest = unknown;
-      } else if (!reprocessedBySubcommand) {
+      if (!reprocessedBySubcommand) {
         const onlyKnownOptionsSoFar = operands.length === 0 && unknown.length === 0;
         if (onlyKnownOptionsSoFar) {
           reprocessedBySubcommand = true; // reset to false later if not entering subcommand
@@ -1563,6 +1560,11 @@ Expecting one of '${allowedValues.join("', '")}'`);
         }
       }
 
+      // An unknown option means further arguments also classified as unknown so can be reprocessed by subcommands.
+      if (maybeOption(arg)) {
+        dest = unknown;
+      }
+
       // If using passThroughOptions, stop processing options (except help) at first command-argument.
       // The processing is also stopped when an unknown option is encountered because
       // - either allowUnknownOption is on and so the option is treated as a command-argument,