diff --git a/kittens/ask/main.py b/kittens/ask/main.py
index 0d8efd55e..30752141b 100644
--- a/kittens/ask/main.py
+++ b/kittens/ask/main.py
@@ -91,9 +91,10 @@ def main(args):
     try:
         args, items = parse_args(args[1:], option_text, '', msg, 'kitty ask')
     except SystemExit as e:
-        print(e.args[0])
-        input('Press enter to quit...')
-        raise SystemExit(1)
+        if e.code != 0:
+            print(e.args[0])
+            input('Press enter to quit...')
+        raise SystemExit(e.code)
 
     readline.read_init_file()
     ans = {'items': items}
@@ -114,3 +115,10 @@ def handle_result(args, data, target_window_id, boss):
     if 'response' in data:
         func, *args = data['items']
         getattr(boss, func)(data['response'], *args)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    import sys
+    ans = main(sys.argv)
+    if ans:
+        print(ans)
diff --git a/kittens/hints/main.py b/kittens/hints/main.py
index 6f2670a85..27e8d22ea 100644
--- a/kittens/hints/main.py
+++ b/kittens/hints/main.py
@@ -206,8 +206,8 @@ def run(args, text):
 OPTIONS = partial('''\
 --program
 default=default
-What program to use to open matched URLs. Defaults
-to the default URL open program for the operating system.
+What program to use to open matched text. Defaults
+to the default open program for the operating system.
 Use a value of - to paste the URL into the terminal window
 instead.
 
@@ -227,16 +227,18 @@ Comma separated list of recognized URL prefixes. Defaults to:
 
 
 def main(args):
-    msg = 'Select text from the screen using the keyboard'
-    text = None
+    msg = 'Select text from the screen using the keyboard. Defaults to searching for URLs.'
+    text = ''
     if sys.stdin.isatty():
-        print('You must pass the text to be hinted on STDIN', file=sys.stderr)
-        input(_('Press Enter to quit'))
-        return
-    text = sys.stdin.buffer.read().decode('utf-8')
-    sys.stdin = open('/dev/tty')
+        if '--help' not in args and '-h' not in args:
+            print('You must pass the text to be hinted on STDIN', file=sys.stderr)
+            input(_('Press Enter to quit'))
+            return
+    else:
+        text = sys.stdin.buffer.read().decode('utf-8')
+        sys.stdin = open('/dev/tty')
     try:
-        args, items = parse_args(args[1:], OPTIONS, '', msg, 'url_hints')
+        args, items = parse_args(args[1:], OPTIONS, '', msg, 'hints')
     except SystemExit as e:
         if e.code != 0:
             print(e.args[0], file=sys.stderr)
@@ -260,7 +262,7 @@ def handle_result(args, data, target_window_id, boss):
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    # Run with kitty +kitten url_hints
+    # Run with kitty +kitten hints
     ans = main(sys.argv)
     if ans:
         print(ans)
diff --git a/kittens/unicode_input/main.py b/kittens/unicode_input/main.py
index 76c314eed..d0d21c909 100644
--- a/kittens/unicode_input/main.py
+++ b/kittens/unicode_input/main.py
@@ -474,3 +474,13 @@ def handle_result(args, current_char, target_window_id, boss):
     w = boss.window_id_map.get(target_window_id)
     if w is not None:
         w.paste(current_char)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    import sys
+    if '-h' in sys.argv or '--help' in sys.argv:
+        print('Choose a unicode character to input into the terminal')
+        raise SystemExit(0)
+    ans = main(sys.argv)
+    if ans:
+        print(ans)