diff --git a/builtins/break/break.go b/builtins/break/break.go
index 1fdecfb9..9c489338 100644
--- a/builtins/break/break.go
+++ b/builtins/break/break.go
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ var Cmd = builtins.Command{
 }
 
 func run(_ context.Context, callCtx *builtins.CallContext, args []string) builtins.Result {
-	if len(args) > 0 && args[0] == "--help" {
+	if len(args) > 0 && (args[0] == "--help" || args[0] == "-h") {
 		callCtx.Outf("%s\n", helpText)
-		return builtins.Result{Code: 2}
+		return builtins.Result{}
 	}
 	return loopctl.LoopControl(callCtx, "break", args)
 }
diff --git a/builtins/continue/continue.go b/builtins/continue/continue.go
index ca107a79..143389b5 100644
--- a/builtins/continue/continue.go
+++ b/builtins/continue/continue.go
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ var Cmd = builtins.Command{
 }
 
 func run(_ context.Context, callCtx *builtins.CallContext, args []string) builtins.Result {
-	if len(args) > 0 && args[0] == "--help" {
+	if len(args) > 0 && (args[0] == "--help" || args[0] == "-h") {
 		callCtx.Outf("%s\n", helpText)
-		return builtins.Result{Code: 2}
+		return builtins.Result{}
 	}
 	return loopctl.LoopControl(callCtx, "continue", args)
 }
diff --git a/builtins/help/help.go b/builtins/help/help.go
index 2e6641df..ca2b93bc 100644
--- a/builtins/help/help.go
+++ b/builtins/help/help.go
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
 //
 // Exit codes:
 //
-//	0  Success.
-//	1  Unknown command or --help was requested.
+//	0  Success or --help was requested.
+//	1  Unknown command.
 package help
 
 import (
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func registerFlags(fs *builtins.FlagSet) builtins.HandlerFunc {
 	return func(ctx context.Context, callCtx *builtins.CallContext, args []string) builtins.Result {
 		if *helpFlag {
 			printUsage(callCtx)
-			return builtins.Result{Code: 1}
+			return builtins.Result{}
 		}
 
 		// help <command> — show detailed help for a specific command.
diff --git a/builtins/tests/help/help_test.go b/builtins/tests/help/help_test.go
index ff7ec50f..2ecaf5aa 100644
--- a/builtins/tests/help/help_test.go
+++ b/builtins/tests/help/help_test.go
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ func TestHelpShowsCommandHelp(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestHelpFlagPrintsUsage(t *testing.T) {
 	stdout, _, code := runScript(t, "help --help", "", interpoption.AllowAllCommands().(interp.RunnerOption))
-	assert.Equal(t, 1, code)
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, code)
 	assert.Contains(t, stdout, "Usage: help")
 	assert.Contains(t, stdout, "Display help for builtin commands.")
 }
diff --git a/tests/scenarios/cmd/break/help_flag.yaml b/tests/scenarios/cmd/break/help_flag.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ac3627a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/scenarios/cmd/break/help_flag.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# skip_assert_against_bash: true — intentional divergence from bash.
+# Bash returns exit code 2 for "break --help"; rshell returns 0 per project
+# convention (RULES.md: "When --help is passed: Set exit code 0 and return").
+description: break --help prints usage and exits zero.
+skip_assert_against_bash: true
+input:
+  script: |+
+    break --help
+expect:
+  stdout_contains: ["break: break [n]"]
+  stderr: ""
+  exit_code: 0
diff --git a/tests/scenarios/cmd/break/help_flag_short.yaml b/tests/scenarios/cmd/break/help_flag_short.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1a80a857
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/scenarios/cmd/break/help_flag_short.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# skip_assert_against_bash: true — intentional divergence from bash.
+# Bash returns exit code 2 for "break -h"; rshell returns 0 per project
+# convention (RULES.md: "When --help is passed: Set exit code 0 and return").
+description: break -h prints usage and exits zero.
+skip_assert_against_bash: true
+input:
+  script: |+
+    break -h
+expect:
+  stdout_contains: ["break: break [n]"]
+  stderr: ""
+  exit_code: 0
diff --git a/tests/scenarios/cmd/continue/help_flag.yaml b/tests/scenarios/cmd/continue/help_flag.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dcb1f3f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/scenarios/cmd/continue/help_flag.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# skip_assert_against_bash: true — intentional divergence from bash.
+# Bash returns exit code 2 for "continue --help"; rshell returns 0 per project
+# convention (RULES.md: "When --help is passed: Set exit code 0 and return").
+description: continue --help prints usage and exits zero.
+skip_assert_against_bash: true
+input:
+  script: |+
+    continue --help
+expect:
+  stdout_contains: ["continue: continue [n]"]
+  stderr: ""
+  exit_code: 0
diff --git a/tests/scenarios/cmd/continue/help_flag_short.yaml b/tests/scenarios/cmd/continue/help_flag_short.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bc6348c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/scenarios/cmd/continue/help_flag_short.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# skip_assert_against_bash: true — intentional divergence from bash.
+# Bash returns exit code 2 for "continue -h"; rshell returns 0 per project
+# convention (RULES.md: "When --help is passed: Set exit code 0 and return").
+description: continue -h prints usage and exits zero.
+skip_assert_against_bash: true
+input:
+  script: |+
+    continue -h
+expect:
+  stdout_contains: ["continue: continue [n]"]
+  stderr: ""
+  exit_code: 0
diff --git a/tests/scenarios/cmd/help/help_flag.yaml b/tests/scenarios/cmd/help/help_flag.yaml
index b7c12e4a..a6bed079 100644
--- a/tests/scenarios/cmd/help/help_flag.yaml
+++ b/tests/scenarios/cmd/help/help_flag.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# skip_assert_against_bash: true — intentional divergence from bash.
+# Bash returns exit code 2 for "help --help"; rshell returns 0 per project
+# convention (RULES.md: "When --help is passed: Set exit code 0 and return").
 description: Help --help prints usage.
 skip_assert_against_bash: true
 input:
@@ -6,4 +9,4 @@ input:
 expect:
   stdout_contains: ["Usage: help"]
   stderr: ""
-  exit_code: 1
+  exit_code: 0
diff --git a/tests/scenarios/shell/for_clause/break_cont/break_help.yaml b/tests/scenarios/shell/for_clause/break_cont/break_help.yaml
index c3fbd987..7f0d818d 100644
--- a/tests/scenarios/shell/for_clause/break_cont/break_help.yaml
+++ b/tests/scenarios/shell/for_clause/break_cont/break_help.yaml
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
+# skip_assert_against_bash: true — intentional divergence from bash.
+# Bash returns exit code 2 for "break --help"; rshell returns 0 per project
+# convention (RULES.md: "When --help is passed: Set exit code 0 and return").
 description: Break --help displays usage information.
+skip_assert_against_bash: true
 input:
   script: |+
     for i in 1; do break --help; done
 expect:
   stdout: "break: break [n]\n    Exit for, while, or until loops.\n    \n    Exit a FOR, WHILE or UNTIL loop.  If N is specified, break N enclosing\n    loops.\n    \n    Exit Status:\n    The exit status is 0 unless N is not greater than or equal to 1.\n"
   stderr: ""
-  exit_code: 2
+  exit_code: 0
diff --git a/tests/scenarios/shell/for_clause/break_cont/continue_help.yaml b/tests/scenarios/shell/for_clause/break_cont/continue_help.yaml
index 8692ed5d..1dd8ccf2 100644
--- a/tests/scenarios/shell/for_clause/break_cont/continue_help.yaml
+++ b/tests/scenarios/shell/for_clause/break_cont/continue_help.yaml
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
+# skip_assert_against_bash: true — intentional divergence from bash.
+# Bash returns exit code 2 for "continue --help"; rshell returns 0 per project
+# convention (RULES.md: "When --help is passed: Set exit code 0 and return").
 description: Continue --help displays usage information.
+skip_assert_against_bash: true
 input:
   script: |+
     for i in 1; do continue --help; done
 expect:
   stdout: "continue: continue [n]\n    Resume for, while, or until loops.\n    \n    Resumes the next iteration of the enclosing FOR, WHILE or UNTIL loop.\n    If N is specified, resumes the Nth enclosing loop.\n    \n    Exit Status:\n    The exit status is 0 unless N is not greater than or equal to 1.\n"
   stderr: ""
-  exit_code: 2
+  exit_code: 0