fix(cli): handle mise help without requiring tasks

e2e/cli/test_help_without_tasks

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Test that `mise help` works even when no tasks are defined
+# This validates the fix for https://github.com/jdx/mise/discussions/6947
+
+echo "Testing 'mise help' command without tasks defined..."
+
+# Test in a temporary directory without any mise config
+TEMP_DIR=$(mktemp -d)
+cd "$TEMP_DIR"
+
+# Test 1: `mise help` should work without tasks
+echo "Test 1: mise help (without tasks)"
+assert_contains "mise help" "Usage: mise"
+
+# Test 2: `mise --help` should work (baseline)
+echo "Test 2: mise --help"
+assert_contains "mise --help" "Usage: mise"
+
+# Test 3: `mise -h` should work (baseline)
+echo "Test 3: mise -h"
+assert_contains "mise -h" "Usage: mise"
+
+# Test 4: All three should produce similar output
+echo "Test 4: Verify all help variants work consistently"
+if mise help >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+	ok "mise help succeeded"
+else
+	fail "mise help failed"
+fi
+if mise --help >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+	ok "mise --help succeeded"
+else
+	fail "mise --help failed"
+fi
+if mise -h >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+	ok "mise -h succeeded"
+else
+	fail "mise -h failed"
+fi
+
+# Cleanup
+cd - >/dev/null
+rm -rf "$TEMP_DIR"
+
+echo ""
+echo "All help command tests passed!"

src/cli/mod.rs

@@ -413,6 +413,11 @@ fn preprocess_args_for_naked_run(cmd: &clap::Command, args: &[String]) -> Vec<St
         return args.to_vec();
     }
 
+    // Special case: "help" should print help, not be treated as a task
+    if args[i] == "help" || args[i] == "-h" || args[i] == "--help" {
+        return args.to_vec();
+    }
+
     // This is a naked run - inject "run" subcommand so clap routes it correctly
     // Format: ["mise", "-q", "task", "arg1"] becomes ["mise", "-q", "run", "task", "arg1"]
     // This preserves global flags while making it an explicit run command
@@ -467,6 +472,12 @@ impl Cli {
             Ok(cmd)
         } else {
             if let Some(task) = self.task {
+                // Handle special case: "help", "-h", or "--help" as task should print help
+                if task == "help" || task == "-h" || task == "--help" {
+                    Cli::command().print_help()?;
+                    exit(0);
+                }
+
                 let config = Config::get().await?;
 
                 // Expand :task pattern to match tasks in current directory's config root