diff --git a/src/lib/commandDispatcher.js b/src/lib/commandDispatcher.js
index c32a0e3..9681dfa 100644
--- a/src/lib/commandDispatcher.js
+++ b/src/lib/commandDispatcher.js
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ function removeStartHyphens(val) {
 
 // taken from ethanent/gar
 // modified to make - arguments only be bools unless =
-function parseAsArgv(argv) {
+function parseAsArgv(args) {
   const optional = {};
-  const args = [];
 
-  for (const arg of argv) {
+  for (let i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
+    const arg = args.shift();
     const equalsIndex = arg.charAt(0) === "-" ? arg.indexOf("=") : -1;
     const argName =
       equalsIndex === -1
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ function parseAsArgv(argv) {
         }
       }
     } else {
-      args.push(convertIfApplicable(argName));
+      // all optional args must be at the start of the argument string
+      args.splice(0, 0, arg);
+      break;
     }
   }