diff --git a/include/CLI/App.hpp b/include/CLI/App.hpp
index 02863cf1..54f4e5c8 100644
--- a/include/CLI/App.hpp
+++ b/include/CLI/App.hpp
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ class App {
         for(const App_p &com : subcommands_)
             if(com->check_name(current))
                 return true;
-        if(parent_ != nullptr)
+        if(parent_ != nullptr && fallthrough_)
             return parent_->_valid_subcommand(current);
         else
             return false;