diff --git a/src/tools/mdbx_chk.c b/src/tools/mdbx_chk.c
index 745468a4..dfabd470 100644
--- a/src/tools/mdbx_chk.c
+++ b/src/tools/mdbx_chk.c
@@ -759,8 +759,8 @@ bailout:
 
 static void usage(char *prog) {
   fprintf(stderr,
-          "usage: %s dbpath [-V] [-v] [-n] [-q] [-w] [-c] [-d] [-s subdb]\n"
-          "  -V\t\tshow version\n"
+          "usage: %s [-V] [-v] [-n] [-q] [-w] [-c] [-d] [-s subdb] dbpath\n"
+          "  -V\t\tprint version and exit\n"
           "  -v\t\tmore verbose, could be used multiple times\n"
           "  -n\t\tNOSUBDIR mode for open\n"
           "  -q\t\tbe quiet\n"
diff --git a/src/tools/mdbx_copy.c b/src/tools/mdbx_copy.c
index a58fd740..b3d0ea58 100644
--- a/src/tools/mdbx_copy.c
+++ b/src/tools/mdbx_copy.c
@@ -43,6 +43,19 @@ static void signal_handler(int sig) {
 
 #endif /* !WINDOWS */
 
+static void usage(const char *prog) {
+  fprintf(stderr,
+          "usage: %s [-V] [-q] [-c] [-n] src_path [dest_path]\n"
+          "  -V\t\tprint version and exit\n"
+          "  -q\t\tbe quiet\n"
+          "  -c\t\tenable compactification (skip unused pages)\n"
+          "  -n\t\tNOSUBDIR mode for open\n"
+          "  src_path\tsource database\n"
+          "  dest_path\tdestination (stdout if not specified)\n",
+          prog);
+  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+}
+
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
   int rc;
   MDBX_env *env = NULL;
@@ -58,6 +71,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
       cpflags |= MDBX_CP_COMPACT;
     else if (argv[1][1] == 'q' && argv[1][2] == '\0')
       quiet = true;
+    else if ((argv[1][1] == 'h' && argv[1][2] == '\0') ||
+             strcmp(argv[1], "--help") == 0)
+      usage(progname);
     else if (argv[1][1] == 'V' && argv[1][2] == '\0') {
       printf("mdbx_copy version %d.%d.%d.%d\n"
              " - source: %s %s, commit %s, tree %s\n"
@@ -76,11 +92,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
       argc = 0;
   }
 
-  if (argc < 2 || argc > 3) {
-    fprintf(stderr, "usage: %s [-V] [-q] [-c] [-n] srcpath [dstpath]\n",
-            progname);
-    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
-  }
+  if (argc < 2 || argc > 3)
+    usage(progname);
 
 #if defined(_WIN32) || defined(_WIN64)
   SetConsoleCtrlHandler(ConsoleBreakHandlerRoutine, true);
diff --git a/src/tools/mdbx_dump.c b/src/tools/mdbx_dump.c
index adeaae4c..79dcce59 100644
--- a/src/tools/mdbx_dump.c
+++ b/src/tools/mdbx_dump.c
@@ -160,7 +160,18 @@ static int dumpit(MDBX_txn *txn, MDBX_dbi dbi, char *name) {
 
 static void usage(char *prog) {
   fprintf(stderr,
-          "usage: %s [-V] [-f output] [-l] [-n] [-p] [-a|-s subdb] dbpath\n",
+          "usage: %s [-V] [-q] [-f output] [-l] [-p] [-a|-s subdb] [-r] [-n] "
+          "dbpath\n"
+          "  -V\t\tprint version and exit\n"
+          "  -q\t\tbe quiet\n"
+          "  -f\t\twrite to file instead of stdout\n"
+          "  -l\t\tlist subDBs and exit\n"
+          "  -p\t\tuse printable characters\n"
+          "  -a\t\tdump main DB and all subDBs,\n"
+          "    \t\tby default dump only the main DB\n"
+          "  -s\t\tdump only the named subDB\n"
+          "  -r\t\trescure mode (ignore errors to dump corrupted DB)\n"
+          "  -n\t\tNOSUBDIR mode for open\n",
           prog);
   exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 }
@@ -178,14 +189,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
   if (argc < 2)
     usage(prog);
 
-  /* -a: dump main DB and all subDBs
-   * -s: dump only the named subDB
-   * -n: use NOSUBDIR flag on env_open
-   * -p: use printable characters
-   * -f: write to file instead of stdout
-   * -V: print version and exit
-   * (default) dump only the main DB
-   */
   while ((i = getopt(argc, argv, "af:lnps:Vrq")) != EOF) {
     switch (i) {
     case 'V':
diff --git a/src/tools/mdbx_load.c b/src/tools/mdbx_load.c
index 4d60fb32..e75b7a6f 100644
--- a/src/tools/mdbx_load.c
+++ b/src/tools/mdbx_load.c
@@ -307,7 +307,17 @@ static int readline(MDBX_val *out, MDBX_val *buf) {
 
 static void usage(void) {
   fprintf(stderr,
-          "usage: %s [-V] [-a] [-f input] [-n] [-s name] [-N] [-T] dbpath\n",
+          "usage: %s [-V] [-q] [-a] [-f file] [-s name] [-N] [-T] [-r] [-n] "
+          "dbpath\n"
+          "  -V\t\tprint version and exit\n"
+          "  -q\t\tbe quiet\n"
+          "  -a\t\tappend records in input order\n"
+          "  -f file\tread from file instead of stdin\n"
+          "  -s name\tload into named subDB\n"
+          "  -N\t\tuse NOOVERWRITE on puts\n"
+          "  -T\t\tread plaintext\n"
+          "  -r\t\trescure mode (ignore errors to load corrupted DB dump)\n"
+          "  -n\t\tNOSUBDIR mode for open\n",
           prog);
   exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 }
@@ -335,14 +345,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
   if (argc < 2)
     usage();
 
-  /* -a: append records in input order
-   * -f: load file instead of stdin
-   * -n: use NOSUBDIR flag on env_open
-   * -s: load into named subDB
-   * -N: use NOOVERWRITE on puts
-   * -T: read plaintext
-   * -V: print version and exit
-   */
   while ((i = getopt(argc, argv, "af:ns:NTVrq")) != EOF) {
     switch (i) {
     case 'V':
diff --git a/src/tools/mdbx_stat.c b/src/tools/mdbx_stat.c
index 04c1fb93..1f0289c4 100644
--- a/src/tools/mdbx_stat.c
+++ b/src/tools/mdbx_stat.c
@@ -54,7 +54,15 @@ static void prstat(MDBX_stat *ms) {
 
 static void usage(char *prog) {
   fprintf(stderr,
-          "usage: %s [-V] [-n] [-e] [-r[r]] [-f[f[f]]] [-a|-s subdb] dbpath\n",
+          "usage: %s [-V] [-e] [-r[r]] [-f[f[f]]] [-a|-s name] [-n] dbpath\n"
+          "  -V\t\tprint version and exit\n"
+          "  -a\t\tprint stat of main DB and all subDBs\n"
+          "  -s name\tprint stat of only the named subDB\n"
+          "  -e\t\tshow whole DB info\n"
+          "  -f\t\tshow GC info\n"
+          "  -r\t\tshow readers\n"
+          "  \t\t(default) print stat of only the main DB\n"
+          "  -n\t\tNOSUBDIR mode for open\n",
           prog);
   exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 }
@@ -95,15 +103,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
   if (argc < 2)
     usage(prog);
 
-  /* -a: print stat of main DB and all subDBs
-   * -s: print stat of only the named subDB
-   * -e: print env info
-   * -f: print freelist info
-   * -r: print reader info
-   * -n: use NOSUBDIR flag on env_open
-   * -V: print version and exit
-   * (default) print stat of only the main DB
-   */
   while ((o = getopt(argc, argv, "Vaefnrs:")) != EOF) {
     switch (o) {
     case 'V':