diff --git a/cmd/micro/view.go b/cmd/micro/view.go
index 91117b90..c1d97a7d 100644
--- a/cmd/micro/view.go
+++ b/cmd/micro/view.go
@@ -466,10 +466,16 @@ func (v *View) ClearAllGutterMessages() {
 
 // Opens the given help page in a new horizontal split
 func (v *View) openHelp(helpPage string) {
-	helpBuffer := NewBuffer([]byte(helpPages[helpPage]), helpPage+".md")
-	helpBuffer.Name = "Help"
-	v.HSplit(helpBuffer)
-	CurView().Help = true
+	if v.Help {
+		helpBuffer := NewBuffer([]byte(helpPages[helpPage]), helpPage+".md")
+		helpBuffer.Name = "Help"
+		v.OpenBuffer(helpBuffer)
+	} else {
+		helpBuffer := NewBuffer([]byte(helpPages[helpPage]), helpPage+".md")
+		helpBuffer.Name = "Help"
+		v.HSplit(helpBuffer)
+		CurView().Help = true
+	}
 }
 
 func (v *View) drawCell(x, y int, ch rune, combc []rune, style tcell.Style) {