diff --git a/src/snakeoil/cli/arghparse.py b/src/snakeoil/cli/arghparse.py
index ab458c8f..80443b7a 100644
--- a/src/snakeoil/cli/arghparse.py
+++ b/src/snakeoil/cli/arghparse.py
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ def take_action(action, argument_strings, option_string=None):
         def consume_optional(start_index):
             # get the optional identified at this index
             option_tuple = option_string_indices[start_index]
-            action, option_string, explicit_arg = option_tuple
+            action, option_string, *_, explicit_arg = option_tuple
 
             # identify additional optionals in the same arg string
             # (e.g. -xyz is the same as -x -y -z if no args are required)