diff --git a/mercurial/dispatch.py b/mercurial/dispatch.py
--- a/mercurial/dispatch.py
+++ b/mercurial/dispatch.py
@@ -394,9 +394,8 @@ def _callcatch(ui, func):
                     _reportsimilar(ui.warn, sim)
                     suggested = True
             if not suggested:
-                ui.pager('help')
                 ui.warn(nocmdmsg)
-                commands.help_(ui, 'shortlist')
+                ui.warn(_("(use 'hg help' for a list of commands)\n"))
     except IOError:
         raise
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
diff --git a/tests/test-extension.t b/tests/test-extension.t
--- a/tests/test-extension.t
+++ b/tests/test-extension.t
@@ -1683,6 +1683,7 @@ Prohibit registration of commands that d
   *** failed to import extension deprecatedcmd from $TESTTMP/deprecated/deprecatedcmd.py: missing attributes: norepo, optionalrepo, inferrepo
   *** (use @command decorator to register 'deprecatedcmd')
   hg: unknown command 'deprecatedcmd'
+  (use 'hg help' for a list of commands)
   [255]
 
  the extension shouldn't be loaded at all so the mq works:
diff --git a/tests/test-help.t b/tests/test-help.t
--- a/tests/test-help.t
+++ b/tests/test-help.t
@@ -652,29 +652,7 @@ Test command without options
 
   $ hg skjdfks
   hg: unknown command 'skjdfks'
-  Mercurial Distributed SCM
-  
-  basic commands:
-  
-   add           add the specified files on the next commit
-   annotate      show changeset information by line for each file
-   clone         make a copy of an existing repository
-   commit        commit the specified files or all outstanding changes
-   diff          diff repository (or selected files)
-   export        dump the header and diffs for one or more changesets
-   forget        forget the specified files on the next commit
-   init          create a new repository in the given directory
-   log           show revision history of entire repository or files
-   merge         merge another revision into working directory
-   pull          pull changes from the specified source
-   push          push changes to the specified destination
-   remove        remove the specified files on the next commit
-   serve         start stand-alone webserver
-   status        show changed files in the working directory
-   summary       summarize working directory state
-   update        update working directory (or switch revisions)
-  
-  (use 'hg help' for the full list of commands or 'hg -v' for details)
+  (use 'hg help' for a list of commands)
   [255]
 
 Typoed command gives suggestion
diff --git a/tests/test-status-color.t b/tests/test-status-color.t
--- a/tests/test-status-color.t
+++ b/tests/test-status-color.t
@@ -393,6 +393,7 @@ color coding of error message with curre
 
   $ hg unknowncommand > /dev/null
   hg: unknown command 'unknowncommand'
+  (use 'hg help' for a list of commands)
   [255]
 
 color coding of error message without curses
@@ -400,6 +401,7 @@ color coding of error message without cu
   $ echo 'raise ImportError' > curses.py
   $ PYTHONPATH=`pwd`:$PYTHONPATH hg unknowncommand > /dev/null
   hg: unknown command 'unknowncommand'
+  (use 'hg help' for a list of commands)
   [255]
 
   $ cd ..
diff --git a/tests/test-strict.t b/tests/test-strict.t
--- a/tests/test-strict.t
+++ b/tests/test-strict.t
@@ -15,29 +15,7 @@
 
   $ hg an a
   hg: unknown command 'an'
-  Mercurial Distributed SCM
-  
-  basic commands:
-  
-   add           add the specified files on the next commit
-   annotate      show changeset information by line for each file
-   clone         make a copy of an existing repository
-   commit        commit the specified files or all outstanding changes
-   diff          diff repository (or selected files)
-   export        dump the header and diffs for one or more changesets
-   forget        forget the specified files on the next commit
-   init          create a new repository in the given directory
-   log           show revision history of entire repository or files
-   merge         merge another revision into working directory
-   pull          pull changes from the specified source
-   push          push changes to the specified destination
-   remove        remove the specified files on the next commit
-   serve         start stand-alone webserver
-   status        show changed files in the working directory
-   summary       summarize working directory state
-   update        update working directory (or switch revisions)
-  
-  (use 'hg help' for the full list of commands or 'hg -v' for details)
+  (use 'hg help' for a list of commands)
   [255]
   $ hg annotate a
   0: a