diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/__main__.py b/Lib/fontTools/__main__.py
index ba09c7fc6..9b978aaa7 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/__main__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/__main__.py
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ def main(args=None):
 	if args is None:
 		args = sys.argv[1:]
 
-	# TODO Add help output, --help, etc.
-
 	# TODO Handle library-wide options. Eg.:
 	# --unicodedata
 	# --verbose / other logging stuff
@@ -20,6 +18,10 @@ def main(args=None):
 	# can be added.  Should we just try importing the fonttools
 	# module first and try without if it fails?
 
+	if len(sys.argv) < 2:
+		sys.argv.append("help")
+	if sys.argv[1] == "-h" or sys.argv[1] == "--help":
+		sys.argv[1] = "help"
 	mod = 'fontTools.'+sys.argv[1]
 	sys.argv[1] = sys.argv[0] + ' ' + sys.argv[1]
 	del sys.argv[0]
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/__main__.py b/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/__main__.py
index 084bf8f96..32715062f 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/__main__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/cu2qu/__main__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+"""Convert a UFO font with cubic curves to quadratic curves"""
 import sys
 from .cli import main
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/__main__.py b/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/__main__.py
index b69307e84..81ba360ac 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/__main__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/__main__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+"""Add features from a feature file (.fea) into a OTF font"""
 from fontTools.misc.py23 import *
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTFont
 from fontTools.feaLib.builder import addOpenTypeFeatures, Builder
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/help/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/help/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/help/__main__.py b/Lib/fontTools/help/__main__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..97237e449
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/help/__main__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+"""Show this help"""
+import pkgutil
+import sys
+from setuptools import find_packages
+from pkgutil import iter_modules
+import fontTools
+import importlib
+
+
+def get_description(pkg):
+  try:
+    return __import__(pkg+".__main__",globals(),locals(),["__doc__"]).__doc__
+  except Exception as e:
+    return None
+
+def show_help_list():
+  path = fontTools.__path__[0]
+  for pkg in find_packages(path):
+      qualifiedPkg = "fontTools."+pkg
+      description = get_description(qualifiedPkg)
+      if description:
+        print("fontools %-10s %s" % (pkg, description))
+        pkgpath = path + '/' + qualifiedPkg.replace('.', '/')
+        if (sys.version_info.major == 3 and sys.version_info.minor < 6):
+            for _, name, ispkg in iter_modules([pkgpath]):
+                if get_description(pkg+ '.' + name):
+                    modules.add(pkg + '.' + name)
+        else:
+            for info in iter_modules([pkgpath]):
+                if get_description(pkg+ '.' + info.name):
+                    modules.add(pkg + '.' + info.name)
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+  print("fonttools v%s\n" % fontTools.__version__)
+  show_help_list()
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/mtiLib/__main__.py b/Lib/fontTools/mtiLib/__main__.py
index eacfefd59..0d4183b54 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/mtiLib/__main__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/mtiLib/__main__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
+"""Convert Monotype FontDame layout files to TTX"""
 from fontTools.misc.py23 import *
 import sys
 from fontTools.mtiLib import main
 
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
 	sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/subset/__main__.py b/Lib/fontTools/subset/__main__.py
index 3f3d894a0..e1d9f123a 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/subset/__main__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/subset/__main__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
+"""OpenType font subsetter and optimizer"""
 from fontTools.misc.py23 import *
 import sys
 from fontTools.subset import main
 
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__main__.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__main__.py
index 29657401d..c147b4980 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__main__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__main__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
+"""Build a variable font from a designspace file and masters"""
 import sys
 from fontTools.varLib import main
 
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
 	sys.exit(main())