   # within the respective
   # option list, such as `@_long'
   _catchSpaceDelimArgs: (opt, list) =>
+    @_optError(list, opt)
     if list[opt.arg].type isnt 'flag'
       if opt.optarg is undefined
         @_args.forEach((nonOpt, ind) =>

        ++elem.index)
    return list

  _splitCombinedShorts: () =>
    @_opts.forEach((elem, ind) =>
      dashes = elem.arg.replace(/^(--?).*/, '$1').length # number of dashes

      if /^--$/.test(arg)
        optend = true
      else if /^-$/.test(arg)
        noopt = true # XXX prevents `-' from creating an empty option object
        # when found on the command-line: e.g. `cat -'
        # NOTE that `-' traditionally means READ FROM STDIN
        # however, in the case of an option parser...
        # well, I think that it's meaningless.
        # we should never read from STDIN, as
        # an option parser has no business doing so.
        # although being able to echo options like so would be interesting:
        # `echo -- '-vhx' | <PROGRAM USING BEBOPT>` lulz
      else
        if noopt
          null # do nothing
