Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: zsh run-help-git error: shift count must be <= $#

zsh run-help-git error: shift count must be <= $#

Quick Answer: Check if the autoload command is being executed correctly and ensure that the run-help-git function is properly defined.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The error 'shift count must be <= $#' occurs when the `run-help-git` or `run-help-sudo` functions are activated, causing issues with the help command in zsh. This affects users who have enabled these assistant functions in their .zshrc file and are running zsh 5.7.1 on macOS.

This error can be frustrating for users as it prevents them from accessing the help commands for specific commands or builtins, such as `git blame`. The goal of this troubleshooting guide is to identify the root cause of the issue and provide a solution.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this error is due to the way the `run-help-git` function is implemented. When using `autoload -Uz run-help-git`, the function attempts to access the `$help` variable, which is not defined in this context. This causes the shift count mismatch error.
  • Another possible cause could be related to the version of zsh or its configuration. However, since you are running zsh 5.7.1 from Homebrew on macOS and the issue does not occur on a Raspberry Pi running Arch, it is unlikely that this is the primary cause.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Reconfiguring the `run-help-git` function

  1. Step 1: Unload the `run-help-git` function using `unalias run-help-git`. This will prevent any potential conflicts with other functions.
  2. Step 2: Modify the `.zshrc` file to remove the line that loads the `run-help-git` function. You can do this by opening the file in a text editor and deleting the line starting with `autoload -Uz run-help-git`. Then, restart zsh or source the updated .zshrc file using `source ~/.zshrc`.
  3. Step 3: Create a new alias for the `run-help_git` function that does not attempt to access the `$help` variable. For example: `alias run-help_git='git help'`.

Workaround using shell options

  1. Step 1: Enable shell options using `setopt no_hup`. This will prevent the shift count mismatch error from occurring.
  2. Step 2: Restart zsh or source the updated .zshrc file to apply the changes.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the 'shift count must be <= $#' error, reconfigure the `run-help-git` function by unloading it and modifying the `.zshrc` file. Alternatively, use shell options to workaround the issue. By following these steps, you should be able to access the help commands for specific commands or builtins without encountering this error.

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