diff --git a/examples/prefix_command.cpp b/examples/prefix_command.cpp
index dcf4f7ff..b716c2be 100644
--- a/examples/prefix_command.cpp
+++ b/examples/prefix_command.cpp
@@ -8,13 +8,14 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     std::vector<int> vals;
     app.add_option("--vals,-v", vals)->expected(1);
 
-    std::vector<std::string> more_comms;
     try {
-        more_comms = app.parse(argc, argv);
+        app.parse(argc, argv);
     } catch(const CLI::ParseError &e) {
         return app.exit(e);
     }
 
+    std::vector<std::string> more_comms = app.remaining();
+    
     std::cout << "Prefix:";
     for(int v : vals)
         std::cout << v << ":";
diff --git a/include/CLI/App.hpp b/include/CLI/App.hpp
index 9b0c340f..a78d7258 100644
--- a/include/CLI/App.hpp
+++ b/include/CLI/App.hpp
@@ -626,21 +626,20 @@ class App {
 
     /// Parses the command line - throws errors
     /// This must be called after the options are in but before the rest of the program.
-    std::vector<std::string> parse(int argc, char **argv) {
+    void parse(int argc, char **argv) {
         name_ = argv[0];
         std::vector<std::string> args;
         for(int i = argc - 1; i > 0; i--)
             args.emplace_back(argv[i]);
-        return parse(args);
+        parse(args);
     }
 
     /// The real work is done here. Expects a reversed vector.
     /// Changes the vector to the remaining options.
-    std::vector<std::string> &parse(std::vector<std::string> &args) {
+    void parse(std::vector<std::string> &args) {
         _validate();
         _parse(args);
         run_callback();
-        return args;
     }
 
     /// Print a nice error message and return the exit code
@@ -872,6 +871,15 @@ class App {
         return miss_list;
     }
     
+    /// This returns the number of remaining options, minus the -- seperator
+    size_t remaining_size() const {
+        return std::count_if(
+                             std::begin(missing_), std::end(missing_),
+                             [](const std::pair<detail::Classifer, std::string> &val) {
+                                             return val.first != detail::Classifer::POSITIONAL_MARK;
+                            });
+    }
+    
     ///@}
 
   protected:
@@ -1020,17 +1028,10 @@ class App {
 
         // Convert missing (pairs) to extras (string only)
         if(parent_ == nullptr) {
-            args.resize(missing()->size());
-            std::transform(std::begin(*missing()),
-                           std::end(*missing()),
-                           std::begin(args),
-                           [](const std::pair<detail::Classifer, std::string> &val) { return val.second; });
+            args = remaining();
             std::reverse(std::begin(args), std::end(args));
 
-            size_t num_left_over = std::count_if(
-                std::begin(*missing()), std::end(*missing()), [](std::pair<detail::Classifer, std::string> &val) {
-                    return val.first != detail::Classifer::POSITIONAL_MARK;
-                });
+            size_t num_left_over = remaining_size();
 
             if(num_left_over > 0 && !(allow_extras_ || prefix_command_))
                 throw ExtrasError("[" + detail::rjoin(args, " ") + "]");
diff --git a/tests/AppTest.cpp b/tests/AppTest.cpp
index 7a636a81..1a62a0f3 100644
--- a/tests/AppTest.cpp
+++ b/tests/AppTest.cpp
@@ -917,10 +917,10 @@ TEST_F(TApp, AllowExtras) {
     EXPECT_FALSE(val);
 
     args = {"-x", "-f"};
-    std::vector<std::string> left_over;
-    EXPECT_NO_THROW({ left_over = run(); });
+    
+    EXPECT_NO_THROW(run());
     EXPECT_TRUE(val);
-    EXPECT_EQ(std::vector<std::string>({"-x"}), left_over);
+    EXPECT_EQ(app.remaining(), std::vector<std::string>({"-x"}));
 }
 
 TEST_F(TApp, AllowExtrasOrder) {
@@ -928,14 +928,13 @@ TEST_F(TApp, AllowExtrasOrder) {
     app.allow_extras();
 
     args = {"-x", "-f"};
-    std::vector<std::string> left_over;
-    EXPECT_NO_THROW({ left_over = run(); });
-    EXPECT_EQ(std::vector<std::string>({"-f", "-x"}), left_over);
+    EXPECT_NO_THROW(run());
+    EXPECT_EQ(app.remaining(), std::vector<std::string>({"-x", "-f"}));
     app.reset();
 
-    std::vector<std::string> left_over_2;
-    left_over_2 = app.parse(left_over);
-    EXPECT_EQ(left_over, left_over_2);
+    std::vector<std::string> left_over = app.remaining();
+    app.parse(left_over);
+    EXPECT_EQ(app.remaining(), left_over);
 }
 
 // Test horrible error
diff --git a/tests/SubcommandTest.cpp b/tests/SubcommandTest.cpp
index 83591e7b..8fdc7ce6 100644
--- a/tests/SubcommandTest.cpp
+++ b/tests/SubcommandTest.cpp
@@ -339,9 +339,9 @@ TEST_F(TApp, PrefixProgram) {
     app.add_flag("--simple");
 
     args = {"--simple", "other", "--simple", "--mine"};
-    auto ret_args = run();
+    run();
 
-    EXPECT_EQ(ret_args, std::vector<std::string>({"--mine", "--simple", "other"}));
+    EXPECT_EQ(app.remaining(), std::vector<std::string>({"other", "--simple", "--mine"}));
 }
 
 struct SubcommandProgram : public TApp {
diff --git a/tests/app_helper.hpp b/tests/app_helper.hpp
index e3ed4d73..44d6b6a3 100644
--- a/tests/app_helper.hpp
+++ b/tests/app_helper.hpp
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ struct TApp : public ::testing::Test {
     CLI::App app{"My Test Program"};
     input_t args;
 
-    std::vector<std::string> run() {
+    void run() {
         input_t newargs = args;
         std::reverse(std::begin(newargs), std::end(newargs));
-        return app.parse(newargs);
+        app.parse(newargs);
     }
 };