diff --git a/guix/scripts/describe.scm b/guix/scripts/describe.scm
index 5523aa0ec2b..6d451dc902c 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/describe.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/describe.scm
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
                               result)))
         (option '(#\h "help") #f #f
                 (lambda args
-                  (show-help)
+                  (leave-on-EPIPE (show-help))
                   (exit 0)))
         (option '(#\V "version") #f #f
                 (lambda args