diff --git a/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp b/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
index 2d66448d8..380b8dadd 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ using namespace std;
 
 static const char DEFAULT_RPCCONNECT[] = "127.0.0.1";
 static const int DEFAULT_HTTP_CLIENT_TIMEOUT=900;
+static const int CONTINUE_EXECUTION=-1;
 
 std::string HelpMessageCli()
 {
@@ -67,7 +68,11 @@ public:
 
 };
 
-static bool AppInitRPC(int argc, char* argv[])
+//
+// This function returns either one of EXIT_ codes when it's expected to stop the process or
+// CONTINUE_EXECUTION when it's expected to continue further.
+//
+static int AppInitRPC(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
     //
     // Parameters
@@ -85,31 +90,35 @@ static bool AppInitRPC(int argc, char* argv[])
         }
 
         fprintf(stdout, "%s", strUsage.c_str());
-        return false;
+        if (argc < 2) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Error: too few parameters\n");
+            return EXIT_FAILURE;
+        }
+        return EXIT_SUCCESS;
     }
     if (!boost::filesystem::is_directory(GetDataDir(false))) {
         fprintf(stderr, "Error: Specified data directory \"%s\" does not exist.\n", mapArgs["-datadir"].c_str());
-        return false;
+        return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
     try {
         ReadConfigFile(GetArg("-conf", BITCOIN_CONF_FILENAME), mapArgs, mapMultiArgs);
     } catch (const std::exception& e) {
         fprintf(stderr,"Error reading configuration file: %s\n", e.what());
-        return false;
+        return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
     // Check for -testnet or -regtest parameter (BaseParams() calls are only valid after this clause)
     try {
         SelectBaseParams(ChainNameFromCommandLine());
     } catch (const std::exception& e) {
         fprintf(stderr, "Error: %s\n", e.what());
-        return false;
+        return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
     if (GetBoolArg("-rpcssl", false))
     {
         fprintf(stderr, "Error: SSL mode for RPC (-rpcssl) is no longer supported.\n");
-        return false;
+        return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
-    return true;
+    return CONTINUE_EXECUTION;
 }
 
 
@@ -354,8 +363,9 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
 
     try {
-        if(!AppInitRPC(argc, argv))
-            return EXIT_FAILURE;
+        int ret = AppInitRPC(argc, argv);
+        if (ret != CONTINUE_EXECUTION)
+            return ret;
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e) {
         PrintExceptionContinue(&e, "AppInitRPC()");
diff --git a/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp b/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
index e09afd632..ecc19c44a 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
@@ -30,8 +30,13 @@ using namespace std;
 
 static bool fCreateBlank;
 static map<string,UniValue> registers;
+static const int CONTINUE_EXECUTION=-1;
 
-static bool AppInitRawTx(int argc, char* argv[])
+//
+// This function returns either one of EXIT_ codes when it's expected to stop the process or
+// CONTINUE_EXECUTION when it's expected to continue further.
+//
+static int AppInitRawTx(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
     //
     // Parameters
@@ -89,9 +94,13 @@ static bool AppInitRawTx(int argc, char* argv[])
         strUsage += HelpMessageOpt("set=NAME:JSON-STRING", _("Set register NAME to given JSON-STRING"));
         fprintf(stdout, "%s", strUsage.c_str());
 
-        return false;
+        if (argc < 2) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Error: too few parameters\n");
+            return EXIT_FAILURE;
+        }
+        return EXIT_SUCCESS;
     }
-    return true;
+    return CONTINUE_EXECUTION;
 }
 
 static void RegisterSetJson(const string& key, const string& rawJson)
@@ -678,8 +687,9 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     SetupEnvironment();
 
     try {
-        if(!AppInitRawTx(argc, argv))
-            return EXIT_FAILURE;
+        int ret = AppInitRawTx(argc, argv);
+        if (ret != CONTINUE_EXECUTION)
+            return ret;
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e) {
         PrintExceptionContinue(&e, "AppInitRawTx()");
diff --git a/src/bitcoind.cpp b/src/bitcoind.cpp
index 351463c25..a0d039359 100644
--- a/src/bitcoind.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoind.cpp
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ bool AppInit(int argc, char* argv[])
         }
 
         fprintf(stdout, "%s", strUsage.c_str());
-        return false;
+        return true;
     }
 
     try
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
index 9986af495..fb66ff007 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     {
         HelpMessageDialog help(NULL, mapArgs.count("-version"));
         help.showOrPrint();
-        return 1;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     /// 5. Now that settings and translations are available, ask user for data directory
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     } catch (const std::exception& e) {
         QMessageBox::critical(0, QObject::tr(PACKAGE_NAME),
                               QObject::tr("Error: Cannot parse configuration file: %1. Only use key=value syntax.").arg(e.what()));
-        return false;
+        return 1;
     }
 
     /// 7. Determine network (and switch to network specific options)