diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index fbac86321..fcb995ab3 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ program
   .addCommand(build.makeBuildCommand());
 ```
 
-Configuration options can be passed with the call to `.command()`. Specifying `true` for `opts.noHelp` will remove the command from the generated help output. Specifying `true` for `opts.isDefault` will run the subcommand if no other subcommand is specified ([example](./examples/defaultCommand.js)).
+Configuration options can be passed with the call to `.command()` and `.addCommand()`. Specifying `true` for `opts.hidden` will remove the command from the generated help output. Specifying `true` for `opts.isDefault` will run the subcommand if no other subcommand is specified ([example](./examples/defaultCommand.js)).
 
 ### Specify the argument syntax
 
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 8b6448fbb..f58565586 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class Command extends EventEmitter {
     this._exitCallback = null;
     this._alias = null;
 
-    this._noHelp = false;
+    this._hidden = false;
     this._helpFlags = '-h, --help';
     this._helpDescription = 'display help for command';
     this._helpShortFlag = '-h';
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class Command extends EventEmitter {
     }
     if (opts.isDefault) this._defaultCommandName = cmd._name;
 
-    cmd._noHelp = !!opts.noHelp;
+    cmd._hidden = !!(opts.noHelp || opts.hidden);
     cmd._helpFlags = this._helpFlags;
     cmd._helpDescription = this._helpDescription;
     cmd._helpShortFlag = this._helpShortFlag;
@@ -216,11 +216,12 @@ class Command extends EventEmitter {
    * See .command() for creating an attached subcommand which inherits settings from its parent.
    *
    * @param {Command} cmd - new subcommand
+   * @param {Object} [opts] - configuration options
    * @return {Command} `this` command for chaining
    * @api public
    */
 
-  addCommand(cmd) {
+  addCommand(cmd, opts) {
     if (!cmd._name) throw new Error('Command passed to .addCommand() must have a name');
 
     // To keep things simple, block automatic name generation for deeply nested executables.
@@ -235,6 +236,10 @@ class Command extends EventEmitter {
     }
     checkExplicitNames(cmd.commands);
 
+    opts = opts || {};
+    if (opts.isDefault) this._defaultCommandName = cmd._name;
+    if (opts.noHelp || opts.hidden) cmd._hidden = true; // modifying passed command due to existing implementation
+
     this.commands.push(cmd);
     cmd.parent = this;
     return this;
@@ -1275,7 +1280,7 @@ class Command extends EventEmitter {
 
   prepareCommands() {
     const commandDetails = this.commands.filter((cmd) => {
-      return !cmd._noHelp;
+      return !cmd._hidden;
     }).map((cmd) => {
       const args = cmd._args.map((arg) => {
         return humanReadableArgName(arg);
diff --git a/tests/command.default.test.js b/tests/command.default.test.js
index 80edb0616..6f1d79210 100644
--- a/tests/command.default.test.js
+++ b/tests/command.default.test.js
@@ -44,13 +44,47 @@ describe('default action command', () => {
     expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
-  test('when default subcommand and unrecognised argument then call default with argument', () => {
+  test('when default subcommand and unrecognised argument then call default', () => {
     const { program, actionMock } = makeProgram();
     program.parse('node test.js an-argument'.split(' '));
     expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
-  test('when default subcommand and unrecognised option then call default with option', () => {
+  test('when default subcommand and unrecognised option then call default', () => {
+    const { program, actionMock } = makeProgram();
+    program.parse('node test.js --an-option'.split(' '));
+    expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('default added command', () => {
+  function makeProgram() {
+    const actionMock = jest.fn();
+    const defaultCmd = new commander.Command('default')
+      .allowUnknownOption()
+      .action(actionMock);
+
+    const program = new commander.Command();
+    program
+      .command('other');
+    program
+      .addCommand(defaultCmd, { isDefault: true });
+    return { program, actionMock };
+  }
+
+  test('when default subcommand and no command then call default', () => {
+    const { program, actionMock } = makeProgram();
+    program.parse('node test.js'.split(' '));
+    expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  test('when default subcommand and unrecognised argument then call default', () => {
+    const { program, actionMock } = makeProgram();
+    program.parse('node test.js an-argument'.split(' '));
+    expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  test('when default subcommand and unrecognised option then call default', () => {
     const { program, actionMock } = makeProgram();
     program.parse('node test.js --an-option'.split(' '));
     expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalled();
diff --git a/tests/command.help.test.js b/tests/command.help.test.js
index 5ed1daa42..f484254a7 100644
--- a/tests/command.help.test.js
+++ b/tests/command.help.test.js
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ test('when call outputHelp(cb) then display cb output', () => {
   writeSpy.mockClear();
 });
 
+// noHelp is now named hidden, not officially deprecated yet
 test('when command sets noHelp then not displayed in helpInformation', () => {
   const program = new commander.Command();
   program
@@ -95,3 +96,21 @@ test('when command sets noHelp then not displayed in helpInformation', () => {
   const helpInformation = program.helpInformation();
   expect(helpInformation).not.toMatch('secret');
 });
+
+test('when command sets hidden then not displayed in helpInformation', () => {
+  const program = new commander.Command();
+  program
+    .command('secret', 'secret description', { hidden: true });
+  const helpInformation = program.helpInformation();
+  expect(helpInformation).not.toMatch('secret');
+});
+
+test('when addCommand with hidden:true then not displayed in helpInformation', () => {
+  const secretCmd = new commander.Command('secret');
+
+  const program = new commander.Command();
+  program
+    .addCommand(secretCmd, { hidden: true });
+  const helpInformation = program.helpInformation();
+  expect(helpInformation).not.toMatch('secret');
+});
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/pm b/tests/fixtures/pm
index 41ca23bd1..40fbd396d 100755
--- a/tests/fixtures/pm
+++ b/tests/fixtures/pm
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ program
   .command('list', 'list packages installed').alias('lst')
   .command('listen', 'listen for supported signal events').alias('l')
   .command('publish', 'publish or update package').alias('p')
-  .command('default', 'default command', { noHelp: true, isDefault: true })
+  .command('default', 'default command', { hidden: true, isDefault: true })
   .command('specifyInstall', 'specify install subcommand', { executableFile: 'pm-install' })
   .command('specifyPublish', 'specify publish subcommand', { executableFile: 'pm-publish' })
   .command('silent', 'silently succeed')
diff --git a/typings/commander-tests.ts b/typings/commander-tests.ts
index cd9067103..5ceda8e13 100644
--- a/typings/commander-tests.ts
+++ b/typings/commander-tests.ts
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ const versionThis3: commander.Command = program.version('1.2.3', '-r,--revision'
 
 // command (and CommandOptions)
 const commandNew1: commander.Command = program.command('action');
-const commandNew2: commander.Command = program.command('action', { isDefault: true, noHelp: true });
+const commandNew2: commander.Command = program.command('action', { isDefault: true, hidden: true, noHelp: true });
 const commandThis1: commander.Command = program.command('exec', 'exec description');
-const commandThis2: commander.Command = program.command('exec', 'exec description', { isDefault: true, noHelp: true, executableFile: 'foo' });
+const commandThis2: commander.Command = program.command('exec', 'exec description', { isDefault: true, hidden: true, noHelp: true, executableFile: 'foo' });
 
 // addCommand
 const addCommandThis: commander.Command = program.addCommand(new commander.Command('abc'));
diff --git a/typings/index.d.ts b/typings/index.d.ts
index 69c432e07..d6b4eed41 100644
--- a/typings/index.d.ts
+++ b/typings/index.d.ts
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ declare namespace commander {
      * @param opts - configuration options
      * @returns `this` command for chaining
      */
-    command(nameAndArgs: string, description: string, opts?: commander.CommandOptions): this;
+    command(nameAndArgs: string, description: string, opts?: commander.ExecutableCommandOptions): this;
 
     /**
      * Factory routine to create a new unattached command.
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ declare namespace commander {
      *
      * @returns `this` command for chaining
      */
-    addCommand(cmd: Command): this;
+    addCommand(cmd: Command, opts?: CommandOptions): this;
 
     /**
      * Define argument syntax for command.
@@ -343,8 +343,11 @@ declare namespace commander {
   type CommandConstructor = new (name?: string) => Command;
 
   interface CommandOptions {
-    noHelp?: boolean;
+    noHelp?: boolean; // old name for hidden
+    hidden?: boolean;
     isDefault?: boolean;
+  }
+  interface ExecutableCommandOptions extends CommandOptions {
     executableFile?: string;
   }