diff --git a/helix-term/src/args.rs b/helix-term/src/args.rs
index 9b1b4409b..00116fff5 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/args.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/args.rs
@@ -103,9 +103,9 @@ impl Args {
                     }
                 }
                 arg if arg.starts_with('+') => {
-                    match arg[1..].parse::<usize>() {
-                        Ok(n) => line_number = n.saturating_sub(1),
-                        _ => insert_file_with_position(arg),
+                    line_number = match arg[1..].parse::<usize>() {
+                        Ok(n) => n.saturating_sub(1),
+                        _ => usize::MAX,
                     };
                 }
                 arg => insert_file_with_position(arg),