diff --git a/src/bin/bat/app.rs b/src/bin/bat/app.rs
index b3d48cba..c784eabf 100644
--- a/src/bin/bat/app.rs
+++ b/src/bin/bat/app.rs
@@ -57,15 +57,27 @@ impl App {
     }
 
     fn matches(interactive_output: bool) -> Result<ArgMatches> {
+        // Check if we should skip config file processing for special arguments
+        // that don't require full application setup (help, version, diagnostic)
+        let should_skip_config = wild::args_os().any(|arg| {
+            matches!(arg.to_str(), Some("-h" | "--help" | "-V" | "--version" | "--diagnostic" | "--diagnostics"))
+        });
+
         let args = if wild::args_os().nth(1) == Some("cache".into()) {
             // Skip the config file and env vars
 
             wild::args_os().collect::<Vec<_>>()
-        } else if wild::args_os().any(|arg| arg == "--no-config") {
-            // Skip the arguments in bats config file
+        } else if wild::args_os().any(|arg| arg == "--no-config") || should_skip_config {
+            // Skip the arguments in bats config file when --no-config is present
+            // or when user requests help, version, or diagnostic information
 
             let mut cli_args = wild::args_os();
-            let mut args = get_args_from_env_vars();
+            let mut args = if should_skip_config {
+                // For special commands, don't even try to load env vars that might fail
+                vec![]
+            } else {
+                get_args_from_env_vars()
+            };
 
             // Put the zero-th CLI argument (program name) first
             args.insert(0, cli_args.next().unwrap());
diff --git a/tests/integration_tests.rs b/tests/integration_tests.rs
index f0ebef12..6b9d7263 100644
--- a/tests/integration_tests.rs
+++ b/tests/integration_tests.rs
@@ -1286,6 +1286,81 @@ fn diagnostic_sanity_check() {
         .stderr("");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn help_works_with_invalid_config() {
+    let tmp_dir = tempdir().expect("can create temporary directory");
+    let tmp_config_path = tmp_dir.path().join("invalid-config.conf");
+
+    // Write an invalid config file
+    std::fs::write(&tmp_config_path, "--invalid-option").expect("can write config file");
+
+    // --help should work despite invalid config
+    bat_with_config()
+        .env("BAT_CONFIG_PATH", tmp_config_path.to_str().unwrap())
+        .arg("--help")
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("A cat(1) clone with syntax highlighting"));
+
+    // -h should also work
+    bat_with_config()
+        .env("BAT_CONFIG_PATH", tmp_config_path.to_str().unwrap())
+        .arg("-h")
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("A cat(1) clone with wings"));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn version_works_with_invalid_config() {
+    let tmp_dir = tempdir().expect("can create temporary directory");
+    let tmp_config_path = tmp_dir.path().join("invalid-config.conf");
+
+    // Write an invalid config file
+    std::fs::write(&tmp_config_path, "--invalid-option").expect("can write config file");
+
+    // --version should work despite invalid config
+    bat_with_config()
+        .env("BAT_CONFIG_PATH", tmp_config_path.to_str().unwrap())
+        .arg("--version")
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("bat "));
+
+    // -V should also work
+    bat_with_config()
+        .env("BAT_CONFIG_PATH", tmp_config_path.to_str().unwrap())
+        .arg("-V")
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("bat "));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn diagnostic_works_with_invalid_config() {
+    let tmp_dir = tempdir().expect("can create temporary directory");
+    let tmp_config_path = tmp_dir.path().join("invalid-config.conf");
+
+    // Write an invalid config file
+    std::fs::write(&tmp_config_path, "--invalid-option").expect("can write config file");
+
+    // --diagnostic should work despite invalid config
+    bat_with_config()
+        .env("BAT_CONFIG_PATH", tmp_config_path.to_str().unwrap())
+        .arg("--diagnostic")
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("#### Software version"));
+
+    // --diagnostics (alias) should also work
+    bat_with_config()
+        .env("BAT_CONFIG_PATH", tmp_config_path.to_str().unwrap())
+        .arg("--diagnostics")
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("#### Software version"));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn config_location_test() {
     bat_with_config()