diff --git a/src/parse/parser.rs b/src/parse/parser.rs
index 192f3658..9bbf56c1 100644
--- a/src/parse/parser.rs
+++ b/src/parse/parser.rs
@@ -468,12 +468,7 @@ impl<'help, 'app> Parser<'help, 'app> {
                     matches: sc_m.into_inner(),
                 });
 
-                return Validator::new(self).validate(
-                    parse_state,
-                    subcmd_name.is_some(),
-                    matcher,
-                    trailing_values,
-                );
+                return Validator::new(self).validate(parse_state, matcher, trailing_values);
             } else {
                 // Start error processing
                 return Err(self.match_arg_error(&arg_os, valid_arg_found, trailing_values));
@@ -501,7 +496,7 @@ impl<'help, 'app> Parser<'help, 'app> {
             return Err(ClapError::display_help_error(self.app, message));
         }
 
-        Validator::new(self).validate(parse_state, subcmd_name.is_some(), matcher, trailing_values)
+        Validator::new(self).validate(parse_state, matcher, trailing_values)
     }
 
     fn match_arg_error(
diff --git a/src/parse/validator.rs b/src/parse/validator.rs
index e276f3db..50618fb6 100644
--- a/src/parse/validator.rs
+++ b/src/parse/validator.rs
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ impl<'help, 'app, 'parser> Validator<'help, 'app, 'parser> {
     pub(crate) fn validate(
         &mut self,
         parse_state: ParseState,
-        is_subcmd: bool,
         matcher: &mut ArgMatcher,
         trailing_values: bool,
     ) -> ClapResult<()> {
         debug!("Validator::validate");
+        let has_subcmd = matcher.subcommand_name().is_some();
 
         #[cfg(feature = "env")]
         self.p.add_env(matcher, trailing_values)?;
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ impl<'help, 'app, 'parser> Validator<'help, 'app, 'parser> {
             }
         }
 
-        if matcher.subcommand_name().is_none() && self.p.app.is_arg_required_else_help_set() {
+        if !has_subcmd && self.p.app.is_arg_required_else_help_set() {
             let num_user_values = matcher
                 .arg_names()
                 .filter(|arg_id| matcher.check_explicit(arg_id, ArgPredicate::IsPresent))
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ impl<'help, 'app, 'parser> Validator<'help, 'app, 'parser> {
             }
         }
         self.validate_conflicts(matcher)?;
-        if !(self.p.app.is_subcommand_negates_reqs_set() && is_subcmd) {
+        if !(self.p.app.is_subcommand_negates_reqs_set() && has_subcmd) {
             self.validate_required(matcher)?;
         }
         self.validate_matched_args(matcher)?;