diff --git a/src/libged/keep.c b/src/libged/keep.c
index 1222140cb60..62162e97571 100644
--- a/src/libged/keep.c
+++ b/src/libged/keep.c
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ ged_keep(struct ged *gedp, int argc, const char *argv[])
     }
 
     /* check for options */
+    bu_optind = 1;
     while ((c = bu_getopt(argc, (char * const *)argv, "R")) != EOF) {
 	switch (c) {
 	    case 'R':