diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 781e30dd..f9d27518 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
    configuration.
  * #529: Deprecate generate-borgmatic-config in favor of new "config generate" action.
  * #529: Deprecate validate-borgmatic-config in favor of new "config validate" action.
- * #697, #712: Extract borgmatic configuration from backup via new "config bootstrap" action—even
-   when borgmatic has no configuration yet!
+ * #697, #712, #716: Extract borgmatic configuration from backup via new "config bootstrap"
+   action—even when borgmatic has no configuration yet!
  * #669: Add sample systemd user service for running borgmatic as a non-root user.
  * #711, #713: Fix an error when "data" check time files are accessed without getting upgraded
    first.
diff --git a/borgmatic/commands/arguments.py b/borgmatic/commands/arguments.py
index fe8c1dd1..eac88c8a 100644
--- a/borgmatic/commands/arguments.py
+++ b/borgmatic/commands/arguments.py
@@ -114,8 +114,8 @@ def parse_and_record_action_arguments(
 
 def get_unparsable_arguments(remaining_action_arguments):
     '''
-    Given a sequence of argument tuples (one tuple per action parser that parsed arguments),
-    determine the remaining arguments that no action parsers have consumed.
+    Given a sequence of argument tuples (one per action parser that parsed arguments), determine the
+    remaining arguments that no action parsers have consumed.
     '''
     if not remaining_action_arguments:
         return ()
@@ -129,14 +129,16 @@ def get_unparsable_arguments(remaining_action_arguments):
     )
 
 
-def parse_arguments_for_actions(unparsed_arguments, action_parsers):
+def parse_arguments_for_actions(unparsed_arguments, action_parsers, global_parser):
     '''
-    Given a sequence of arguments and a dict from action name to argparse.ArgumentParser
-    instance, give each requested action's parser a shot at parsing all arguments. This allows
-    common arguments like "--repository" to be shared across multiple action parsers.
+    Given a sequence of arguments, a dict from action name to argparse.ArgumentParser instance,
+    and the global parser as a argparse.ArgumentParser instance, give each requested action's
+    parser a shot at parsing all arguments. This allows common arguments like "--repository" to be
+    shared across multiple action parsers.
 
     Return the result as a tuple of: (a dict mapping from action name to an argparse.Namespace of
-    parsed arguments, a list of strings of remaining arguments not claimed by any action parser).
+    parsed arguments, a tuple of argument tuples where each is the remaining arguments not claimed
+    by any action parser).
     '''
     arguments = collections.OrderedDict()
     help_requested = bool('--help' in unparsed_arguments or '-h' in unparsed_arguments)
@@ -211,11 +213,12 @@ def parse_arguments_for_actions(unparsed_arguments, action_parsers):
                 )
             )
 
+    arguments['global'], remaining = global_parser.parse_known_args(unparsed_arguments)
+    remaining_action_arguments.append(remaining)
+
     return (
         arguments,
-        get_unparsable_arguments(tuple(remaining_action_arguments))
-        if arguments
-        else unparsed_arguments,
+        tuple(remaining_action_arguments) if arguments else unparsed_arguments,
     )
 
 
@@ -235,7 +238,10 @@ class Extend_action(Action):
 
 def make_parsers():
     '''
-    Build a top-level parser and its action parsers and return them as a tuple.
+    Build a global arguments parser, individual action parsers, and a combined parser containing
+    both. Return them as a tuple. The global parser is useful for parsing just global arguments
+    while ignoring actions, and the combined parser is handy for displaying help that includes
+    everything: global flags, a list of actions, etc.
     '''
     config_paths = collect.get_default_config_paths(expand_home=True)
     unexpanded_config_paths = collect.get_default_config_paths(expand_home=False)
@@ -345,7 +351,7 @@ def make_parsers():
         help='Display installed version number of borgmatic and exit',
     )
 
-    top_level_parser = ArgumentParser(
+    global_plus_action_parser = ArgumentParser(
         description='''
             Simple, configuration-driven backup software for servers and workstations. If none of
             the action options are given, then borgmatic defaults to: create, prune, compact, and
@@ -354,7 +360,7 @@ def make_parsers():
         parents=[global_parser],
     )
 
-    action_parsers = top_level_parser.add_subparsers(
+    action_parsers = global_plus_action_parser.add_subparsers(
         title='actions',
         metavar='',
         help='Specify zero or more actions. Defaults to create, prune, compact, and check. Use --help with action for details:',
@@ -776,7 +782,7 @@ def make_parsers():
 
     config_validate_parser = config_parsers.add_parser(
         'validate',
-        help='Validate that borgmatic configuration files specified with --config (see borgmatic --help)',
+        help='Validate borgmatic configuration files specified with --config (see borgmatic --help)',
         description='Validate borgmatic configuration files specified with --config (see borgmatic --help)',
         add_help=False,
     )
@@ -1221,27 +1227,46 @@ def make_parsers():
     )
     borg_group.add_argument('-h', '--help', action='help', help='Show this help message and exit')
 
-    return top_level_parser, action_parsers
+    return global_parser, action_parsers, global_plus_action_parser
 
 
 def parse_arguments(*unparsed_arguments):
     '''
     Given command-line arguments with which this script was invoked, parse the arguments and return
     them as a dict mapping from action name (or "global") to an argparse.Namespace instance.
-    '''
-    top_level_parser, action_parsers = make_parsers()
 
-    arguments, remaining_arguments = parse_arguments_for_actions(
-        unparsed_arguments, action_parsers.choices
+    Raise ValueError if the arguments cannot be parsed.
+    Raise SystemExit with an error code of 0 if "--help" was requested.
+    '''
+    global_parser, action_parsers, global_plus_action_parser = make_parsers()
+    arguments, remaining_action_arguments = parse_arguments_for_actions(
+        unparsed_arguments, action_parsers.choices, global_parser
     )
 
     for action_name in ('bootstrap', 'generate', 'validate'):
-        if action_name in arguments.keys() and len(arguments.keys()) > 1:
+        if (
+            action_name in arguments.keys() and len(arguments.keys()) > 2
+        ):  # 2 = 1 for 'global' + 1 for the action
             raise ValueError(
-                'The {action_name} action cannot be combined with other actions. Please run it separately.'
+                f'The {action_name} action cannot be combined with other actions. Please run it separately.'
             )
 
-    arguments['global'] = top_level_parser.parse_args(remaining_arguments)
+    unknown_arguments = get_unparsable_arguments(remaining_action_arguments)
+
+    if unknown_arguments:
+        if '--help' in unknown_arguments or '-h' in unknown_arguments:
+            global_plus_action_parser.print_help()
+            sys.exit(0)
+
+        global_plus_action_parser.print_usage()
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Unrecognized argument{'s' if len(unknown_arguments) > 1 else ''}: {' '.join(unknown_arguments)}"
+        )
+
+    # Prevent action names that follow "--config" paths from being considered as additional paths.
+    for argument_name in arguments.keys():
+        if argument_name != 'global' and argument_name in arguments['global'].config_paths:
+            arguments['global'].config_paths.remove(argument_name)
 
     if arguments['global'].excludes_filename:
         raise ValueError(
diff --git a/borgmatic/commands/completion/bash.py b/borgmatic/commands/completion/bash.py
index d20eca42..7bf28a42 100644
--- a/borgmatic/commands/completion/bash.py
+++ b/borgmatic/commands/completion/bash.py
@@ -15,8 +15,12 @@ def bash_completion():
     Return a bash completion script for the borgmatic command. Produce this by introspecting
     borgmatic's command-line argument parsers.
     '''
-    top_level_parser, subparsers = borgmatic.commands.arguments.make_parsers()
-    global_flags = parser_flags(top_level_parser)
+    (
+        unused_global_parser,
+        action_parsers,
+        global_plus_action_parser,
+    ) = borgmatic.commands.arguments.make_parsers()
+    global_flags = parser_flags(global_plus_action_parser)
 
     # Avert your eyes.
     return '\n'.join(
@@ -41,18 +45,18 @@ def bash_completion():
     fi'''
             % (
                 action,
-                parser_flags(subparser),
+                parser_flags(action_parser),
                 ' '.join(
-                    borgmatic.commands.completion.actions.available_actions(subparsers, action)
+                    borgmatic.commands.completion.actions.available_actions(action_parsers, action)
                 ),
                 global_flags,
             )
-            for action, subparser in reversed(subparsers.choices.items())
+            for action, action_parser in reversed(action_parsers.choices.items())
         )
         + (
             '    COMPREPLY=($(compgen -W "%s %s" -- "${COMP_WORDS[COMP_CWORD]}"))'  # noqa: FS003
             % (
-                ' '.join(borgmatic.commands.completion.actions.available_actions(subparsers)),
+                ' '.join(borgmatic.commands.completion.actions.available_actions(action_parsers)),
                 global_flags,
             ),
             '    (check_version &)',
diff --git a/borgmatic/commands/completion/fish.py b/borgmatic/commands/completion/fish.py
index 599617ce..edca0226 100644
--- a/borgmatic/commands/completion/fish.py
+++ b/borgmatic/commands/completion/fish.py
@@ -91,18 +91,22 @@ def fish_completion():
     Return a fish completion script for the borgmatic command. Produce this by introspecting
     borgmatic's command-line argument parsers.
     '''
-    top_level_parser, subparsers = borgmatic.commands.arguments.make_parsers()
+    (
+        unused_global_parser,
+        action_parsers,
+        global_plus_action_parser,
+    ) = borgmatic.commands.arguments.make_parsers()
 
-    all_subparsers = ' '.join(action for action in subparsers.choices.keys())
+    all_action_parsers = ' '.join(action for action in action_parsers.choices.keys())
 
     exact_option_args = tuple(
         ' '.join(action.option_strings)
-        for subparser in subparsers.choices.values()
-        for action in subparser._actions
+        for action_parser in action_parsers.choices.values()
+        for action in action_parser._actions
         if has_exact_options(action)
     ) + tuple(
         ' '.join(action.option_strings)
-        for action in top_level_parser._actions
+        for action in global_plus_action_parser._actions
         if len(action.option_strings) > 0
         if has_exact_options(action)
     )
@@ -144,29 +148,29 @@ def fish_completion():
                 return 1
             end
 
-            set --local subparser_condition "not __fish_seen_subcommand_from {all_subparsers}"
+            set --local action_parser_condition "not __fish_seen_subcommand_from {all_action_parsers}"
             set --local exact_option_condition "not __borgmatic_current_arg {' '.join(exact_option_args)}"
             '''
         )
-        + ('\n# subparser completions',)
+        + ('\n# action_parser completions',)
         + tuple(
-            f'''complete -c borgmatic -f -n "$subparser_condition" -n "$exact_option_condition" -a '{action_name}' -d {shlex.quote(subparser.description)}'''
-            for action_name, subparser in subparsers.choices.items()
+            f'''complete -c borgmatic -f -n "$action_parser_condition" -n "$exact_option_condition" -a '{action_name}' -d {shlex.quote(action_parser.description)}'''
+            for action_name, action_parser in action_parsers.choices.items()
         )
         + ('\n# global flags',)
         + tuple(
             # -n is checked in order, so put faster / more likely to be true checks first
             f'''complete -c borgmatic -f -n "$exact_option_condition" -a '{' '.join(action.option_strings)}' -d {shlex.quote(action.help)}{exact_options_completion(action)}'''
-            for action in top_level_parser._actions
+            for action in global_plus_action_parser._actions
             # ignore the noargs action, as this is an impossible completion for fish
             if len(action.option_strings) > 0
             if 'Deprecated' not in action.help
         )
-        + ('\n# subparser flags',)
+        + ('\n# action_parser flags',)
         + tuple(
             f'''complete -c borgmatic -f -n "$exact_option_condition" -a '{' '.join(action.option_strings)}' -d {shlex.quote(action.help)} -n "__fish_seen_subcommand_from {action_name}"{exact_options_completion(action)}'''
-            for action_name, subparser in subparsers.choices.items()
-            for action in subparser._actions
+            for action_name, action_parser in action_parsers.choices.items()
+            for action in action_parser._actions
             if 'Deprecated' not in (action.help or ())
         )
     )
diff --git a/tests/integration/commands/completion/test_actions.py b/tests/integration/commands/completion/test_actions.py
index 1a8d69e6..2e6fde9b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/commands/completion/test_actions.py
+++ b/tests/integration/commands/completion/test_actions.py
@@ -3,18 +3,26 @@ from borgmatic.commands.completion import actions as module
 
 
 def test_available_actions_uses_only_subactions_for_action_with_subactions():
-    unused_top_level_parser, subparsers = borgmatic.commands.arguments.make_parsers()
+    (
+        unused_global_parser,
+        action_parsers,
+        unused_combined_parser,
+    ) = borgmatic.commands.arguments.make_parsers()
 
-    actions = module.available_actions(subparsers, 'config')
+    actions = module.available_actions(action_parsers, 'config')
 
     assert 'bootstrap' in actions
     assert 'list' not in actions
 
 
 def test_available_actions_omits_subactions_for_action_without_subactions():
-    unused_top_level_parser, subparsers = borgmatic.commands.arguments.make_parsers()
+    (
+        unused_global_parser,
+        action_parsers,
+        unused_combined_parser,
+    ) = borgmatic.commands.arguments.make_parsers()
 
-    actions = module.available_actions(subparsers, 'list')
+    actions = module.available_actions(action_parsers, 'list')
 
     assert 'bootstrap' not in actions
     assert 'config' in actions
diff --git a/tests/integration/commands/test_arguments.py b/tests/integration/commands/test_arguments.py
index 47ec72fa..89141215 100644
--- a/tests/integration/commands/test_arguments.py
+++ b/tests/integration/commands/test_arguments.py
@@ -30,6 +30,17 @@ def test_parse_arguments_with_multiple_config_paths_parses_as_list():
     assert global_arguments.log_file_verbosity == 0
 
 
+def test_parse_arguments_with_action_after_config_path_omits_action():
+    flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
+
+    arguments = module.parse_arguments('--config', 'myconfig', 'list', '--json')
+
+    global_arguments = arguments['global']
+    assert global_arguments.config_paths == ['myconfig']
+    assert 'list' in arguments
+    assert arguments['list'].json
+
+
 def test_parse_arguments_with_verbosity_overrides_default():
     config_paths = ['default']
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(config_paths)
@@ -194,10 +205,10 @@ def test_parse_arguments_with_multiple_actions_leaves_other_action_disabled():
     assert 'check' in arguments
 
 
-def test_parse_arguments_with_invalid_arguments_exits():
+def test_parse_arguments_disallows_invalid_argument():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
 
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         module.parse_arguments('--posix-me-harder')
 
 
@@ -211,7 +222,7 @@ def test_parse_arguments_disallows_deprecated_excludes_option():
 def test_parse_arguments_disallows_encryption_mode_without_init():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
 
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         module.parse_arguments('--config', 'myconfig', '--encryption', 'repokey')
 
 
@@ -231,14 +242,14 @@ def test_parse_arguments_requires_encryption_mode_with_init():
 def test_parse_arguments_disallows_append_only_without_init():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
 
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         module.parse_arguments('--config', 'myconfig', '--append-only')
 
 
 def test_parse_arguments_disallows_storage_quota_without_init():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
 
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         module.parse_arguments('--config', 'myconfig', '--storage-quota', '5G')
 
 
@@ -287,14 +298,14 @@ def test_parse_arguments_allows_repository_with_list():
 def test_parse_arguments_disallows_archive_unless_action_consumes_it():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
 
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         module.parse_arguments('--config', 'myconfig', '--archive', 'test')
 
 
 def test_parse_arguments_disallows_paths_unless_action_consumes_it():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
 
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         module.parse_arguments('--config', 'myconfig', '--path', 'test')
 
 
@@ -380,7 +391,7 @@ def test_parse_arguments_allows_progress_and_extract():
 def test_parse_arguments_disallows_progress_without_create():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
 
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         module.parse_arguments('--progress', 'list')
 
 
@@ -399,7 +410,7 @@ def test_parse_arguments_with_stats_and_prune_flags_does_not_raise():
 def test_parse_arguments_with_stats_flag_but_no_create_or_prune_flag_raises_value_error():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
 
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         module.parse_arguments('--stats', 'list')
 
 
@@ -535,11 +546,9 @@ def test_parse_arguments_extract_with_check_only_extract_does_not_raise():
 def test_parse_arguments_bootstrap_without_config_errors():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
 
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as exit:
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         module.parse_arguments('bootstrap')
 
-    assert exit.value.code == 2
-
 
 def test_parse_arguments_config_with_no_subaction_errors():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
diff --git a/tests/unit/commands/test_arguments.py b/tests/unit/commands/test_arguments.py
index 3c32a7fa..4a7ef432 100644
--- a/tests/unit/commands/test_arguments.py
+++ b/tests/unit/commands/test_arguments.py
@@ -130,6 +130,175 @@ def test_parse_and_record_action_arguments_with_borg_action_consumes_arguments_a
     assert borg_parsed_arguments.options == ('list',)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'arguments, expected',
+    [
+        # A global flag remaining from each parsed action.
+        (
+            (
+                ('--latest', 'archive', 'prune', 'extract', 'list', '--test-flag'),
+                ('--latest', 'archive', 'check', 'extract', 'list', '--test-flag'),
+                ('prune', 'check', 'list', '--test-flag'),
+                ('prune', 'check', 'extract', '--test-flag'),
+            ),
+            ('--test-flag',),
+        ),
+        # No global flags remaining.
+        (
+            (
+                ('--latest', 'archive', 'prune', 'extract', 'list'),
+                ('--latest', 'archive', 'check', 'extract', 'list'),
+                ('prune', 'check', 'list'),
+                ('prune', 'check', 'extract'),
+            ),
+            (),
+        ),
+        # Multiple of the same value across global flags.
+        (
+            (
+                ('--verbosity', '2', '--syslog-verbosity', '2', '--monitoring-verbosity', '2'),
+                ('--verbosity', '2', '--syslog-verbosity', '2', '--monitoring-verbosity', '2'),
+            ),
+            ('--verbosity', '2', '--syslog-verbosity', '2', '--monitoring-verbosity', '2'),
+        ),
+        # Multiple of the same value across action and global flags.
+        (
+            (
+                ('list', '--archive', 'test', '--log-file', 'test'),
+                ('prune', '--log-file', 'test'),
+            ),
+            ('--log-file', 'test'),
+        ),
+        # No flags.
+        ((), ()),
+    ],
+)
+def test_get_unparsable_arguments_returns_remaining_arguments_that_no_action_can_parse(
+    arguments, expected
+):
+    assert module.get_unparsable_arguments(arguments) == expected
+
+
+def test_get_subaction_parsers_with_subactions_returns_one_entry_per_subaction():
+    foo_parser = flexmock()
+    bar_parser = flexmock()
+    baz_parser = flexmock()
+
+    assert module.get_subaction_parsers(
+        flexmock(
+            _subparsers=flexmock(
+                _group_actions=(
+                    flexmock(choices={'foo': foo_parser, 'bar': bar_parser}),
+                    flexmock(choices={'baz': baz_parser}),
+                )
+            )
+        )
+    ) == {'foo': foo_parser, 'bar': bar_parser, 'baz': baz_parser}
+
+
+def test_get_subactions_for_actions_with_no_subactions_returns_empty_result():
+    assert module.get_subactions_for_actions({'action': flexmock(_subparsers=None)}) == {}
+
+
+def test_get_subactions_for_actions_with_subactions_returns_one_entry_per_action():
+    assert module.get_subactions_for_actions(
+        {
+            'action': flexmock(
+                _subparsers=flexmock(
+                    _group_actions=(
+                        flexmock(choices={'foo': flexmock(), 'bar': flexmock()}),
+                        flexmock(choices={'baz': flexmock()}),
+                    )
+                )
+            ),
+            'other': flexmock(
+                _subparsers=flexmock(_group_actions=(flexmock(choices={'quux': flexmock()}),))
+            ),
+        }
+    ) == {'action': ('foo', 'bar', 'baz'), 'other': ('quux',)}
+
+
+def test_omit_values_colliding_with_action_names_drops_action_names_that_have__been_parsed_as_values():
+    assert module.omit_values_colliding_with_action_names(
+        ('check', '--only', 'extract', '--some-list', 'borg'),
+        {'check': flexmock(only='extract', some_list=['borg'])},
+    ) == ('check', '--only', '--some-list')
+
+
+def test_parse_and_record_action_arguments_without_action_name_leaves_arguments_untouched():
+    unparsed_arguments = ('--foo', '--bar')
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('omit_values_colliding_with_action_names').and_return(
+        unparsed_arguments
+    )
+
+    assert (
+        module.parse_and_record_action_arguments(
+            unparsed_arguments, flexmock(), flexmock(), 'action'
+        )
+        == unparsed_arguments
+    )
+
+
+def test_parse_and_record_action_arguments_updates_parsed_arguments_and_returns_remaining():
+    unparsed_arguments = ('action', '--foo', '--bar', '--verbosity', '1')
+    other_parsed_arguments = flexmock()
+    parsed_arguments = {'other': other_parsed_arguments}
+    action_parsed_arguments = flexmock()
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('omit_values_colliding_with_action_names').and_return(
+        unparsed_arguments
+    )
+    action_parser = flexmock()
+    flexmock(action_parser).should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return(
+        action_parsed_arguments, ('action', '--verbosity', '1')
+    )
+
+    assert module.parse_and_record_action_arguments(
+        unparsed_arguments, parsed_arguments, action_parser, 'action'
+    ) == ('--verbosity', '1')
+    assert parsed_arguments == {'other': other_parsed_arguments, 'action': action_parsed_arguments}
+
+
+def test_parse_and_record_action_arguments_with_alias_updates_canonical_parsed_arguments():
+    unparsed_arguments = ('action', '--foo', '--bar', '--verbosity', '1')
+    other_parsed_arguments = flexmock()
+    parsed_arguments = {'other': other_parsed_arguments}
+    action_parsed_arguments = flexmock()
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('omit_values_colliding_with_action_names').and_return(
+        unparsed_arguments
+    )
+    action_parser = flexmock()
+    flexmock(action_parser).should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return(
+        action_parsed_arguments, ('action', '--verbosity', '1')
+    )
+
+    assert module.parse_and_record_action_arguments(
+        unparsed_arguments, parsed_arguments, action_parser, 'action', canonical_name='doit'
+    ) == ('--verbosity', '1')
+    assert parsed_arguments == {'other': other_parsed_arguments, 'doit': action_parsed_arguments}
+
+
+def test_parse_and_record_action_arguments_with_borg_action_consumes_arguments_after_action_name():
+    unparsed_arguments = ('--verbosity', '1', 'borg', 'list')
+    parsed_arguments = {}
+    borg_parsed_arguments = flexmock(options=flexmock())
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('omit_values_colliding_with_action_names').and_return(
+        unparsed_arguments
+    )
+    borg_parser = flexmock()
+    flexmock(borg_parser).should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return(
+        borg_parsed_arguments, ('--verbosity', '1', 'borg', 'list')
+    )
+
+    assert module.parse_and_record_action_arguments(
+        unparsed_arguments,
+        parsed_arguments,
+        borg_parser,
+        'borg',
+    ) == ('--verbosity', '1')
+    assert parsed_arguments == {'borg': borg_parsed_arguments}
+    assert borg_parsed_arguments.options == ('list',)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     'arguments, expected',
     [
@@ -167,63 +336,74 @@ def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_consumes_action_arguments_before_action_nam
         lambda unparsed, parsed, parser, action, canonical=None: parsed.update(
             {action: action_namespace}
         )
+        or ()
     ).and_return(())
     flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subactions_for_actions').and_return({})
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('get_unparsable_arguments').and_return(())
     action_parsers = {'action': flexmock(), 'other': flexmock()}
+    global_namespace = flexmock()
+    global_parser = flexmock()
+    global_parser.should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return((global_namespace, ()))
 
-    arguments, remaining_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
-        ('--foo', 'true', 'action'), action_parsers
+    arguments, remaining_action_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
+        ('--foo', 'true', 'action'), action_parsers, global_parser
     )
 
-    assert arguments == {'action': action_namespace}
-    assert remaining_arguments == ()
+    assert arguments == {'global': global_namespace, 'action': action_namespace}
+    assert remaining_action_arguments == ((), ())
 
 
 def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_consumes_action_arguments_after_action_name():
     action_namespace = flexmock(foo=True)
+    remaining = flexmock()
     flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subaction_parsers').and_return({})
     flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_and_record_action_arguments').replace_with(
         lambda unparsed, parsed, parser, action, canonical=None: parsed.update(
             {action: action_namespace}
         )
-    ).and_return(())
+        or remaining
+    )
     flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subactions_for_actions').and_return({})
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('get_unparsable_arguments').and_return(())
     action_parsers = {'action': flexmock(), 'other': flexmock()}
+    global_namespace = flexmock()
+    global_parser = flexmock()
+    global_parser.should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return((global_namespace, ()))
 
-    arguments, remaining_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
-        ('action', '--foo', 'true'), action_parsers
+    arguments, remaining_action_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
+        ('action', '--foo', 'true'), action_parsers, global_parser
     )
 
-    assert arguments == {'action': action_namespace}
-    assert remaining_arguments == ()
+    assert arguments == {'global': global_namespace, 'action': action_namespace}
+    assert remaining_action_arguments == (remaining, ())
 
 
 def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_consumes_action_arguments_with_alias():
     action_namespace = flexmock(foo=True)
+    remaining = flexmock()
     flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subaction_parsers').and_return({})
     flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_and_record_action_arguments').replace_with(
         lambda unparsed, parsed, parser, action, canonical=None: parsed.update(
             {canonical or action: action_namespace}
         )
-    ).and_return(())
+        or remaining
+    )
     flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subactions_for_actions').and_return({})
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('get_unparsable_arguments').and_return(())
     action_parsers = {
         'action': flexmock(),
         '-a': flexmock(),
         'other': flexmock(),
         '-o': flexmock(),
     }
+    global_namespace = flexmock()
+    global_parser = flexmock()
+    global_parser.should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return((global_namespace, ()))
     flexmock(module).ACTION_ALIASES = {'action': ['-a'], 'other': ['-o']}
 
-    arguments, remaining_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
-        ('-a', '--foo', 'true'), action_parsers
+    arguments, remaining_action_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
+        ('-a', '--foo', 'true'), action_parsers, global_parser
     )
 
-    assert arguments == {'action': action_namespace}
-    assert remaining_arguments == ()
+    assert arguments == {'global': global_namespace, 'action': action_namespace}
+    assert remaining_action_arguments == (remaining, ())
 
 
 def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_consumes_multiple_action_arguments():
@@ -234,20 +414,27 @@ def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_consumes_multiple_action_arguments():
         lambda unparsed, parsed, parser, action, canonical=None: parsed.update(
             {action: action_namespace if action == 'action' else other_namespace}
         )
+        or ()
     ).and_return(('other', '--bar', '3')).and_return('action', '--foo', 'true')
     flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subactions_for_actions').and_return({})
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('get_unparsable_arguments').and_return(())
     action_parsers = {
         'action': flexmock(),
         'other': flexmock(),
     }
+    global_namespace = flexmock()
+    global_parser = flexmock()
+    global_parser.should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return((global_namespace, ()))
 
-    arguments, remaining_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
-        ('action', '--foo', 'true', 'other', '--bar', '3'), action_parsers
+    arguments, remaining_action_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
+        ('action', '--foo', 'true', 'other', '--bar', '3'), action_parsers, global_parser
     )
 
-    assert arguments == {'action': action_namespace, 'other': other_namespace}
-    assert remaining_arguments == ()
+    assert arguments == {
+        'global': global_namespace,
+        'action': action_namespace,
+        'other': other_namespace,
+    }
+    assert remaining_action_arguments == ((), (), ())
 
 
 def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_respects_command_line_action_ordering():
@@ -258,26 +445,31 @@ def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_respects_command_line_action_ordering():
         lambda unparsed, parsed, parser, action, canonical=None: parsed.update(
             {action: other_namespace if action == 'other' else action_namespace}
         )
+        or ()
     ).and_return(('action',)).and_return(('other', '--foo', 'true'))
     flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subactions_for_actions').and_return({})
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('get_unparsable_arguments').and_return(())
     action_parsers = {
         'action': flexmock(),
         'other': flexmock(),
     }
+    global_namespace = flexmock()
+    global_parser = flexmock()
+    global_parser.should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return((global_namespace, ()))
 
-    arguments, remaining_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
-        ('other', '--foo', 'true', 'action'), action_parsers
+    arguments, remaining_action_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
+        ('other', '--foo', 'true', 'action'), action_parsers, global_parser
     )
 
     assert arguments == collections.OrderedDict(
-        [('other', other_namespace), ('action', action_namespace)]
+        [('other', other_namespace), ('action', action_namespace), ('global', global_namespace)]
     )
-    assert remaining_arguments == ()
+    assert remaining_action_arguments == ((), (), ())
 
 
 def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_applies_default_action_parsers():
+    global_namespace = flexmock()
     namespaces = {
+        'global': global_namespace,
         'prune': flexmock(),
         'compact': flexmock(),
         'create': flexmock(progress=True),
@@ -289,9 +481,9 @@ def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_applies_default_action_parsers():
         lambda unparsed, parsed, parser, action, canonical=None: parsed.update(
             {action: namespaces.get(action)}
         )
+        or ()
     ).and_return(())
     flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subactions_for_actions').and_return({})
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('get_unparsable_arguments').and_return(())
     action_parsers = {
         'prune': flexmock(),
         'compact': flexmock(),
@@ -299,13 +491,41 @@ def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_applies_default_action_parsers():
         'check': flexmock(),
         'other': flexmock(),
     }
+    global_parser = flexmock()
+    global_parser.should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return((global_namespace, ()))
 
-    arguments, remaining_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
-        ('--progress'), action_parsers
+    arguments, remaining_action_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
+        ('--progress'), action_parsers, global_parser
     )
 
     assert arguments == namespaces
-    assert remaining_arguments == ()
+    assert remaining_action_arguments == ((), (), (), (), ())
+
+
+def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_consumes_global_arguments():
+    action_namespace = flexmock()
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subaction_parsers').and_return({})
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('parse_and_record_action_arguments').replace_with(
+        lambda unparsed, parsed, parser, action, canonical=None: parsed.update(
+            {action: action_namespace}
+        )
+        or ('--verbosity', 'lots')
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subactions_for_actions').and_return({})
+    action_parsers = {
+        'action': flexmock(),
+        'other': flexmock(),
+    }
+    global_namespace = flexmock()
+    global_parser = flexmock()
+    global_parser.should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return((global_namespace, ()))
+
+    arguments, remaining_action_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
+        ('action', '--verbosity', 'lots'), action_parsers, global_parser
+    )
+
+    assert arguments == {'global': global_namespace, 'action': action_namespace}
+    assert remaining_action_arguments == (('--verbosity', 'lots'), ())
 
 
 def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_passes_through_unknown_arguments_before_action_name():
@@ -315,20 +535,23 @@ def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_passes_through_unknown_arguments_before_act
         lambda unparsed, parsed, parser, action, canonical=None: parsed.update(
             {action: action_namespace}
         )
-    ).and_return(('--verbosity', 'lots'))
+        or ('--wtf', 'yes')
+    )
     flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subactions_for_actions').and_return({})
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('get_unparsable_arguments').and_return(('--verbosity', 'lots'))
     action_parsers = {
         'action': flexmock(),
         'other': flexmock(),
     }
+    global_namespace = flexmock()
+    global_parser = flexmock()
+    global_parser.should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return((global_namespace, ()))
 
-    arguments, remaining_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
-        ('--verbosity', 'lots', 'action'), action_parsers
+    arguments, remaining_action_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
+        ('--wtf', 'yes', 'action'), action_parsers, global_parser
     )
 
-    assert arguments == {'action': action_namespace}
-    assert remaining_arguments == ('--verbosity', 'lots')
+    assert arguments == {'global': global_namespace, 'action': action_namespace}
+    assert remaining_action_arguments == (('--wtf', 'yes'), ())
 
 
 def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_passes_through_unknown_arguments_after_action_name():
@@ -338,20 +561,23 @@ def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_passes_through_unknown_arguments_after_acti
         lambda unparsed, parsed, parser, action, canonical=None: parsed.update(
             {action: action_namespace}
         )
-    ).and_return(('--verbosity', 'lots'))
+        or ('--wtf', 'yes')
+    )
     flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subactions_for_actions').and_return({})
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('get_unparsable_arguments').and_return(('--verbosity', 'lots'))
     action_parsers = {
         'action': flexmock(),
         'other': flexmock(),
     }
+    global_namespace = flexmock()
+    global_parser = flexmock()
+    global_parser.should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return((global_namespace, ()))
 
-    arguments, remaining_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
-        ('action', '--verbosity', 'lots'), action_parsers
+    arguments, remaining_action_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
+        ('action', '--wtf', 'yes'), action_parsers, global_parser
     )
 
-    assert arguments == {'action': action_namespace}
-    assert remaining_arguments == ('--verbosity', 'lots')
+    assert arguments == {'global': global_namespace, 'action': action_namespace}
+    assert remaining_action_arguments == (('--wtf', 'yes'), ())
 
 
 def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_with_borg_action_skips_other_action_parsers():
@@ -361,20 +587,23 @@ def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_with_borg_action_skips_other_action_parsers
         lambda unparsed, parsed, parser, action, canonical=None: parsed.update(
             {action: action_namespace}
         )
+        or ()
     ).and_return(())
     flexmock(module).should_receive('get_subactions_for_actions').and_return({})
-    flexmock(module).should_receive('get_unparsable_arguments').and_return(())
     action_parsers = {
         'borg': flexmock(),
         'list': flexmock(),
     }
+    global_namespace = flexmock()
+    global_parser = flexmock()
+    global_parser.should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return((global_namespace, ()))
 
-    arguments, remaining_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
-        ('borg', 'list'), action_parsers
+    arguments, remaining_action_arguments = module.parse_arguments_for_actions(
+        ('borg', 'list'), action_parsers, global_parser
     )
 
-    assert arguments == {'borg': action_namespace}
-    assert remaining_arguments == ()
+    assert arguments == {'global': global_namespace, 'borg': action_namespace}
+    assert remaining_action_arguments == ((), ())
 
 
 def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_raises_error_when_no_action_is_specified():
@@ -384,6 +613,8 @@ def test_parse_arguments_for_actions_raises_error_when_no_action_is_specified():
         {'config': ['bootstrap']}
     )
     action_parsers = {'config': flexmock()}
+    global_parser = flexmock()
+    global_parser.should_receive('parse_known_args').and_return((flexmock(), ()))
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
-        module.parse_arguments_for_actions(('config',), action_parsers)
+        module.parse_arguments_for_actions(('config',), action_parsers, global_parser)