diff --git a/resources/scenarios/commander.py b/resources/scenarios/commander.py
index 8a50b2fc5..8cfe99180 100644
--- a/resources/scenarios/commander.py
+++ b/resources/scenarios/commander.py
@@ -25,23 +25,32 @@
 from test_framework.test_node import TestNode
 from test_framework.util import PortSeed, get_rpc_proxy
 
-# Figure out what namespace we are in
-with open("/var/run/secrets/kubernetes.io/serviceaccount/namespace") as f:
-    NAMESPACE = f.read().strip()
-
-# Get the in-cluster k8s client to determine what we have access to
-config.load_incluster_config()
-sclient = client.CoreV1Api()
+NAMESPACE = None
+pods = client.V1PodList(items=[])
+cmaps = client.V1ConfigMapList(items=[])
 
 try:
-    # An admin with cluster access can list everything.
-    # A wargames player with namespaced access will get a FORBIDDEN error here
-    pods = sclient.list_pod_for_all_namespaces()
-    cmaps = sclient.list_config_map_for_all_namespaces()
+    # Get the in-cluster k8s client to determine what we have access to
+    config.load_incluster_config()
+    sclient = client.CoreV1Api()
+
+    # Figure out what namespace we are in
+    with open("/var/run/secrets/kubernetes.io/serviceaccount/namespace") as f:
+        NAMESPACE = f.read().strip()
+
+    try:
+        # An admin with cluster access can list everything.
+        # A wargames player with namespaced access will get a FORBIDDEN error here
+        pods = sclient.list_pod_for_all_namespaces()
+        cmaps = sclient.list_config_map_for_all_namespaces()
+    except Exception:
+        # Just get whatever we have access to in this namespace only
+        pods = sclient.list_namespaced_pod(namespace=NAMESPACE)
+        cmaps = sclient.list_namespaced_config_map(namespace=NAMESPACE)
 except Exception:
-    # Just get whatever we have access to in this namespace only
-    pods = sclient.list_namespaced_pod(namespace=NAMESPACE)
-    cmaps = sclient.list_namespaced_config_map(namespace=NAMESPACE)
+    # If there is no cluster config, the user might just be
+    # running the scenario file locally with --help
+    pass
 
 WARNET = {"tanks": [], "lightning": [], "channels": []}
 for pod in pods.items:
diff --git a/test/scenarios_test.py b/test/scenarios_test.py
index dfb8d6b2d..9d89cf8ed 100755
--- a/test/scenarios_test.py
+++ b/test/scenarios_test.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ def __init__(self):
 
     def run_test(self):
         try:
+            self.check_help()
             self.setup_network()
             self.run_and_check_miner_scenario_from_file()
             self.run_and_check_scenario_from_file()
@@ -73,6 +74,14 @@ def check_blocks(self, target_blocks, start: int = 0):
 
         return count >= start + target_blocks
 
+    def check_help(self):
+        scenario_file = self.scen_dir / "miner_std.py"
+        self.log.info(f"Running scenario from file with -- --help: {scenario_file}")
+        help_text = self.warnet(f"run {scenario_file} -- --help")
+        assert "usage" in help_text
+        # no commander pods actually deployed
+        assert len(scenarios_deployed()) == 0
+
     def run_and_check_miner_scenario_from_file(self):
         scenario_file = self.scen_dir / "miner_std.py"
         self.log.info(f"Running scenario from file: {scenario_file}")