diff --git a/flags.go b/flags.go
index 157dd04..c6118e7 100644
--- a/flags.go
+++ b/flags.go
@@ -65,11 +65,12 @@ type (
   }
 
   Flags struct {
+    Name           string        // name of the sub function
     flagset        *flag.FlagSet // the flagset reference for printing the help
     flag_container *paramContainer
-    Flags          *flagSet    // the end result of the flag setting
+    Flags          *flagSet      // the end result of the flag setting
 
-    check_list     []flagCheck // list of all checks
+    check_list     []flagCheck   // list of all checks
   }
 
   flagCheck func()(error)
@@ -78,8 +79,9 @@ type (
 // create a new flag handler with the name of the subfunction
 func NewFlags(method_name string) *Flags {
   return &Flags{
+    Name:           method_name,
     Flags:          &flagSet{},
-    flagset:        flag.NewFlagSet(method_name, flag.ExitOnError),
+    flagset:        flag.NewFlagSet(method_name, flag.ContinueOnError),
     check_list:     make([]flagCheck, 0),
     flag_container: &paramContainer{},
   }
@@ -90,11 +92,21 @@ func (f *Flags) Parse(options []string) error {
   f.flagset.Parse(options)
   for _, check := range f.check_list {
     // TODO handle error in a betetr way (output specific help, not command help)
-    if err := check(); err != nil { return err }
+    if err := check(); err != nil {
+      f.Usagef("%s", err)
+      return err
+    }
   }
   return nil
 }
 
+func (f *Flags) Usagef(message string, args ...interface{}) {
+  fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "error: " + message + "\n", args...)
+  fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "usage: %s %s [options]\n", os.Args[0], f.Name)
+  fmt.Fprint(os.Stderr,  "where options are:\n")
+  f.flagset.PrintDefaults()
+}
+
 // add the private key option to the requested flags
 func (f *Flags) AddPrivateKey() {
   f.check_list = append(f.check_list, f.parsePrivateKey)
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 524f498..83b94da 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -48,18 +48,18 @@ func create_private_key() {
   fs.AddOutput()
   fs.AddPrivateKeyGenerationFlags()
   err := fs.Parse(program_args())
-  if err != nil { crash_with_help(1, fmt.Sprintf("%s", err)) }
+  if err != nil { os.Exit(2) }
 
   var pk pki.Pemmer
   switch fs.Flags.PrivateKeyGenerationFlags.Type {
     case "ecdsa": pk, err = pki.NewPrivateKeyEcdsa(fs.Flags.PrivateKeyGenerationFlags.Curve)
     case "rsa":   pk, err = pki.NewPrivateKeyRsa(fs.Flags.PrivateKeyGenerationFlags.Size)
   }
-  if err != nil { crash_with_help(2, fmt.Sprintf("%s", err)) }
+  if err != nil { os.Exit(2) }
   marsh_pem, err := pk.MarshalPem()
-  if err != nil { crash_with_help(2, fmt.Sprintf("%s", err)) }
+  if err != nil { os.Exit(2) }
   _, err = marsh_pem.WriteTo(fs.Flags.Output)
-  if err != nil { crash_with_help(2, fmt.Sprintf("%s", err)) }
+  if err != nil { os.Exit(2) }
 }
 
 // create a public key derived from a private key
@@ -68,14 +68,14 @@ func create_public_key() {
   fs.AddPrivateKey()
   fs.AddOutput()
   err := fs.Parse(program_args())
-  if err != nil { crash_with_help(1, fmt.Sprintf("%s", err)) }
+  if err != nil { os.Exit(2) }
 
   var pub_key pki.Pemmer
   pub_key = fs.Flags.PrivateKey.Public()
   marsh_pem, err := pub_key.MarshalPem()
-  if err != nil { crash_with_help(2, fmt.Sprintf("%s", err)) }
+  if err != nil { os.Exit(2) }
   _, err = marsh_pem.WriteTo(fs.Flags.Output)
-  if err != nil { crash_with_help(2, fmt.Sprintf("%s", err)) }
+  if err != nil { os.Exit(2) }
 }
 
 // print the module help