diff --git a/src/jdk.jcmd/share/classes/sun/tools/jcmd/Arguments.java b/src/jdk.jcmd/share/classes/sun/tools/jcmd/Arguments.java
index 86f0d1a77f9..09bde36d0fe 100644
--- a/src/jdk.jcmd/share/classes/sun/tools/jcmd/Arguments.java
+++ b/src/jdk.jcmd/share/classes/sun/tools/jcmd/Arguments.java
@@ -88,7 +88,9 @@ class Arguments {
         }
 
         if (listCounters != true && sb.length() == 0) {
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("No command specified");
+            // Omitting the command shall cause the target VM to print out a list
+            // of available commands.
+            sb.append("help");
         }
 
         command = sb.toString().trim();