diff --git a/src/cli.rs b/src/cli.rs
index c8a4ca1ae94c1..0314203cfa83f 100644
--- a/src/cli.rs
+++ b/src/cli.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ use crate::settings::types::{FilePattern, PatternPrefixPair, PerFileIgnore, Pyth
 #[command(version)]
 #[allow(clippy::struct_excessive_bools)]
 pub struct Cli {
-    #[arg(required = true)]
+    #[arg(required_unless_present_any = ["explain", "generate_shell_completion"])]
     pub files: Vec<PathBuf>,
     /// Path to the `pyproject.toml` file to use for configuration.
     #[arg(long)]
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 94e767a281616..a6c932919c4cb 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -193,6 +193,16 @@ fn inner_main() -> Result<ExitCode> {
     let log_level = extract_log_level(&cli);
     set_up_logging(&log_level)?;
 
+    if let Some(code) = cli.explain {
+        commands::explain(&code, cli.format)?;
+        return Ok(ExitCode::SUCCESS);
+    }
+
+    if let Some(shell) = cli.generate_shell_completion {
+        shell.generate(&mut Cli::command(), &mut std::io::stdout());
+        return Ok(ExitCode::SUCCESS);
+    }
+
     // Find the project root and pyproject.toml.
     let project_root = pyproject::find_project_root(&cli.files);
     match &project_root {
@@ -256,16 +266,6 @@ fn inner_main() -> Result<ExitCode> {
         configuration.show_source = true;
     }
 
-    if let Some(code) = cli.explain {
-        commands::explain(&code, cli.format)?;
-        return Ok(ExitCode::SUCCESS);
-    }
-
-    if let Some(shell) = cli.generate_shell_completion {
-        shell.generate(&mut Cli::command(), &mut std::io::stdout());
-        return Ok(ExitCode::SUCCESS);
-    }
-
     if cli.show_settings && cli.show_files {
         eprintln!("Error: specify --show-settings or show-files (not both).");
         return Ok(ExitCode::FAILURE);