diff --git a/helix-term/src/args.rs b/helix-term/src/args.rs
index 6a49889b6..0b1c9cde0 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/args.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/args.rs
@@ -90,10 +90,9 @@ pub fn parse_args() -> Result<Args> {
                     }
                 }
                 arg if arg.starts_with('+') => {
-                    let arg = &arg[1..];
-                    line_number = match arg.parse::<usize>() {
-                        Ok(n) => n.saturating_sub(1),
-                        _ => anyhow::bail!("bad line number after +"),
+                    match arg[1..].parse::<usize>() {
+                        Ok(n) => line_number = n.saturating_sub(1),
+                        _ => args.files.push(parse_file(arg)),
                     };
                 }
                 arg => args.files.push(parse_file(arg)),