diff --git a/bin/lib/getOptions.js b/bin/lib/getOptions.js
index b20020e78..9190815aa 100644
--- a/bin/lib/getOptions.js
+++ b/bin/lib/getOptions.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export default async function getOptions({ argv, env, flags, log, packageJson })
     exitZeroOnChanges: flags.exitZeroOnChanges === '' ? true : flags.exitZeroOnChanges,
     exitOnceUploaded: flags.exitOnceUploaded === '' ? true : flags.exitOnceUploaded,
     ignoreLastBuildOnBranch: flags.ignoreLastBuildOnBranch,
-    preserveMissingSpecs: flags.preserveMissing,
+    preserveMissingSpecs: flags.preserveMissing || !!flags.only,
     originalArgv: argv,
 
     buildScriptName: flags.buildScriptName,
diff --git a/bin/lib/parseArgs.js b/bin/lib/parseArgs.js
index 1a879a33b..ea63e8716 100644
--- a/bin/lib/parseArgs.js
+++ b/bin/lib/parseArgs.js
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ export default function parseArgs(argv) {
       --exit-once-uploaded [branch]  Exit with 0 once the built version has been published to Chromatic. Only for [branch], if specified. Globs are supported via picomatch.
       --exit-zero-on-changes [branch]  If all snapshots render but there are visual changes, exit with code 0 rather than the usual exit code 1. Only for [branch], if specified. Globs are supported via picomatch.
       --ignore-last-build-on-branch <branch>  Do not use the last build on this branch as a baseline if it is no longer in history (i.e. branch was rebased). Globs are supported via picomatch.
-      --only <storypath>  Only run a single story or a subset of stories. Story paths typically look like "Path/To/Story". Globs are supported via picomatch. All other snapshots will be inherited from the prior commit.
       --only-changed [branch]  Only run stories affected by files changed since the baseline build. Only for [branch], if specified. Globs are supported via picomatch. All other snapshots will be inherited from the prior commit.
       --patch-build <headbranch...basebranch>  Create a patch build to fix a missing PR comparison.
       --preserve-missing  Treat missing stories as unchanged rather than deleted when comparing to the baseline.
@@ -33,6 +32,7 @@ export default function parseArgs(argv) {
       --junit-report [filepath]  Write build results to a JUnit XML file. {buildNumber} will be replaced with the actual build number. [chromatic-build-{buildNumber}.xml]
       --list  List available stories. This requires running a full build.
       --no-interactive  Don't ask interactive questions about your setup and don't overwrite output. Always true in non-TTY environments.
+      --only <storypath>  Only run a single story or a subset of stories. Story paths typically look like "Path/To/Story". Globs are supported via picomatch. All other snapshots will be inherited from the prior commit. This option implies --preserve-missing.
     `,
     {
       argv,