diff --git a/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/chat_handlers/ask.py b/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/chat_handlers/ask.py
index 064fb5bda..79736f2cb 100644
--- a/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/chat_handlers/ask.py
+++ b/packages/jupyter-ai/jupyter_ai/chat_handlers/ask.py
@@ -63,13 +63,7 @@ async def process_message(self, message: HumanChatMessage):
         args = self.parse_args(message)
         if args is None:
             return
-
-        if args.help:
-            self.reply(self.parser.format_help(), message)
-            return
-
         query = " ".join(args.query)
-
         if not query:
             self.reply(f"{self.parser.format_usage()}", message)
             return