diff --git a/archivebox/config/legacy.py b/archivebox/config/legacy.py
index f6e22994..6b3bd94b 100644
--- a/archivebox/config/legacy.py
+++ b/archivebox/config/legacy.py
@@ -595,16 +595,20 @@ def setup_django(out_dir: Path | None=None, check_db=False, config: benedict=CON
                     django.setup()
                 except Exception as e:
                     bump_startup_progress_bar(advance=1000)
-                    STDERR.print()
-                    STDERR.print(Panel(
-                        f'\n[red]{e.__class__.__name__}[/red]: [yellow]{e}[/yellow]\nPlease check your config and [blue]DATA_DIR[/blue] permissions.\n',
-                        title='\n\n[red][X] Error while trying to load database![/red]',
-                        subtitle='[grey53]NO WRITES CAN BE PERFORMED[/grey53]',
-                        expand=False,
-                        style='bold red',
-                    ))
-                    STDERR.print()
-                    STDERR.print_exception(show_locals=False)
+                    
+                    subcommand = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else 'unknown'
+                    if subcommand not in ('help', 'version', '--help', '--version'):
+                        # show error message to user only if they're not running a meta command / just trying to get help
+                        STDERR.print()
+                        STDERR.print(Panel(
+                            f'\n[red]{e.__class__.__name__}[/red]: [yellow]{e}[/yellow]\nPlease check your config and [blue]DATA_DIR[/blue] permissions.\n',
+                            title='\n\n[red][X] Error while trying to load database![/red]',
+                            subtitle='[grey53]NO WRITES CAN BE PERFORMED[/grey53]',
+                            expand=False,
+                            style='bold red',
+                        ))
+                        STDERR.print()
+                        STDERR.print_exception(show_locals=False)
                     return
             
             bump_startup_progress_bar()
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index a6d5ec63..3b29e5e3 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "archivebox"
-version = "0.8.5rc19"
+version = "0.8.5rc20"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 description = "Self-hosted internet archiving solution."
 authors = [{name = "Nick Sweeting", email = "pyproject.toml@archivebox.io"}]