diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 54ed84263..4ef4bb735 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -24,3 +24,4 @@ env:
 
 notifications:
   email: false
+  irc: "chat.freenode.net#letsencrypt"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 85b176b58..320943156 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -116,32 +116,10 @@ documentation:
 
 ## Command line usage
 
+The letsencrypt commandline tool has a builtin help:
+
 ```
-usage: sudo letsencrypt.py [-h] [-d DOMAIN [DOMAIN ...]] [-s SERVER] [-p PRIVKEY]
-                      [-c CSR] [-b ROLLBACK] [-k] [-v] [-r] [-n] [-e] [-t]
-                      [--test]
-
-An ACME client that can update Apache configurations.
-
-optional arguments:
-  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
-  -d DOMAIN [DOMAIN ...], --domains DOMAIN [DOMAIN ...]
-  -s SERVER, --server SERVER
-                        The ACME CA server address.
-  -p PRIVKEY, --privkey PRIVKEY
-                        Path to the private key file for certificate
-                        generation.
-  -b N, --rollback N    Revert configuration N number of checkpoints.
-  -k, --revoke          Revoke a certificate.
-  -v, --view-config-changes
-                        View checkpoints and associated configuration changes.
-  -r, --redirect        Automatically redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS for
-                        the newly authenticated vhost.
-  -n, --no-redirect     Skip the HTTPS redirect question, allowing both HTTP
-                        and HTTPS.
-  -e, --agree-eula      Skip the end user license agreement screen.
-  -t, --text            Use the text output instead of the curses UI.
-  --test                Run in test mode.
+letsencrypt --help
 ```
 
 ## More Information
diff --git a/letsencrypt/scripts/main.py b/letsencrypt/scripts/main.py
index 6d7f0d336..95c5cc8b6 100755
--- a/letsencrypt/scripts/main.py
+++ b/letsencrypt/scripts/main.py
@@ -18,11 +18,6 @@ from letsencrypt.client import log
 
 def main():  # pylint: disable=too-many-statements,too-many-branches
     """Command line argument parsing and main script execution."""
-    if not os.geteuid() == 0:
-        sys.exit(
-            "{0}Root is required to run letsencrypt.  Please use sudo.{0}"
-            .format(os.linesep))
-
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description="An ACME client that can update Apache configurations.")
 
@@ -62,8 +57,15 @@ def main():  # pylint: disable=too-many-statements,too-many-branches
     parser.add_argument("--test", dest="test", action="store_true",
                         help="Run in test mode.")
 
+    # note: arg parser internally handles --help (and exits afterwards)
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
+    # note: check is done after arg parsing as --help should work w/o root also.
+    if not os.geteuid() == 0:
+        sys.exit(
+            "{0}Root is required to run letsencrypt.  Please use sudo.{0}"
+            .format(os.linesep))
+
     # Set up logging
     logger = logging.getLogger()
     logger.setLevel(logging.INFO)