diff --git a/ocrd/ocrd/decorators/__init__.py b/ocrd/ocrd/decorators/__init__.py
index 833c6c1f4..1a5d6777b 100644
--- a/ocrd/ocrd/decorators/__init__.py
+++ b/ocrd/ocrd/decorators/__init__.py
@@ -30,14 +30,14 @@ def ocrd_cli_wrap_processor(
     overwrite=False,
     **kwargs
 ):
+    if not sys.argv[1:]:
+        processorClass(workspace=None, show_help=True)
+        sys.exit(1)
     if dump_json or help or version:
         processorClass(workspace=None, dump_json=dump_json, show_help=help, show_version=version)
         sys.exit()
     else:
         LOG = getLogger('ocrd_cli_wrap_processor')
-        if not mets or (is_local_filename(mets) and not isfile(get_local_filename(mets))):
-            processorClass(workspace=None, show_help=True)
-            sys.exit(1)
         initLogging()
         # LOG.info('kwargs=%s' % kwargs)
         # Merge parameter overrides and parameters
diff --git a/tests/base.py b/tests/base.py
index b788764f1..3d60e1d3c 100644
--- a/tests/base.py
+++ b/tests/base.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ def invoke_cli(self, cli, args):
         """
         self.capture_out_err()  # XXX snapshot just before executing the CLI
         code = 0
+        sys.argv[1:] = args # XXX necessary because sys.argv reflects pytest args not cli args
         try:
             cli.main(args=args)
         except SystemExit as e:
diff --git a/tests/test_decorators.py b/tests/test_decorators.py
index 92f4457fa..62928f9d2 100644
--- a/tests/test_decorators.py
+++ b/tests/test_decorators.py
@@ -68,7 +68,9 @@ def test_processor_no_mets(self):
         https://github.com/OCR-D/spec/pull/156
         """
         _, out_help, _ = self.invoke_cli(cli_dummy_processor, ['--help'])
-        exit_code, out_none, _ = self.invoke_cli(cli_dummy_processor, [])
+        exit_code, out_none, err = self.invoke_cli(cli_dummy_processor, [])
+        print("exit_code=%s\nout=%s\nerr=%s" % (exit_code, out_none, err))
+        #  assert 0
         self.assertEqual(exit_code, 1)
         self.assertEqual(out_help, out_none)