diff --git a/command.go b/command.go
index 3238afce..21aa8b51 100644
--- a/command.go
+++ b/command.go
@@ -830,12 +830,14 @@ func (c *Command) execute(a []string) (err error) {
 		return flag.ErrHelp
 	}
 
-	if err := c.preRunE(); err != nil {
-		return err
+	if len(initializersE) > 0 {
+		if err := c.preRunE(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	} else {
+		c.preRun()
 	}
 
-	c.preRun()
-
 	argWoFlags := c.Flags().Args()
 	if c.DisableFlagParsing {
 		argWoFlags = a