diff --git a/cmd/person/add.go b/cmd/person/add.go
index a1c1597b9b127d4edfc2544ec2274be9b0485c03..26e15d207102cef168f0f655d1b2f6deab06cfba 100644
--- a/cmd/person/add.go
+++ b/cmd/person/add.go
@@ -17,12 +17,13 @@ import (
 
 // AddCmd creates a new person. Exported for potential use by shortcuts.
 var AddCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:   "add FIRST LAST",
+	Use:   "add FIRST [LAST]",
 	Short: "Add a new person",
 	Long: `Add a new person to the Lunatask relationship tracker.
 
-Names are required. Use flags to set additional properties.`,
-	Args: cobra.ExactArgs(2),
+First name is required; last name is optional.
+Use flags to set additional properties.`,
+	Args: cobra.RangeArgs(1, 2),
 	RunE: runAdd,
 }
 
@@ -36,7 +37,11 @@ func init() {
 
 func runAdd(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	firstName := args[0]
-	lastName := args[1]
+
+	lastName := ""
+	if len(args) > 1 {
+		lastName = args[1]
+	}
 
 	apiClient, err := client.New()
 	if err != nil {