diff --git a/src/libutil/args.cc b/src/libutil/args.cc
index 217495c26..ba15ea571 100644
--- a/src/libutil/args.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/args.cc
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ MultiCommand::MultiCommand(const Commands & commands)
         if (i == commands.end())
             throw UsageError("'%s' is not a recognised command", ss[0]);
         command = i->second();
+        command->_name = ss[0];
     }});
 }
 
@@ -246,6 +247,7 @@ void MultiCommand::printHelp(const string & programName, std::ostream & out)
     Table2 table;
     for (auto & i : commands) {
         auto command = i.second();
+        command->_name = i.first;
         auto descr = command->description();
         if (!descr.empty())
             table.push_back(std::make_pair(command->name(), descr));
diff --git a/src/libutil/args.hh b/src/libutil/args.hh
index 8497eaf71..a083c4ce8 100644
--- a/src/libutil/args.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/args.hh
@@ -195,7 +195,10 @@ struct Command : virtual Args
 private:
     std::string _name;
 
+    friend class MultiCommand;
+
 public:
+
     std::string name() { return _name; }
 
     virtual void prepare() { };