diff --git a/command.go b/command.go
index 01f7c6f1c..a78394e75 100644
--- a/command.go
+++ b/command.go
@@ -1019,12 +1019,6 @@ func (c *Command) ExecuteC() (cmd *Command, err error) {
 
 	// initialize help at the last point to allow for user overriding
 	c.InitDefaultHelpCmd()
-	// initialize completion at the last point to allow for user overriding
-	c.InitDefaultCompletionCmd()
-
-	// Now that all commands have been created, let's make sure all groups
-	// are properly created also
-	c.checkCommandGroups()
 
 	args := c.args
 
@@ -1033,9 +1027,16 @@ func (c *Command) ExecuteC() (cmd *Command, err error) {
 		args = os.Args[1:]
 	}
 
-	// initialize the hidden command to be used for shell completion
+	// initialize the __complete command to be used for shell completion
 	c.initCompleteCmd(args)
 
+	// initialize the default completion command
+	c.InitDefaultCompletionCmd(args)
+
+	// Now that all commands have been created, let's make sure all groups
+	// are properly created also
+	c.checkCommandGroups()
+
 	var flags []string
 	if c.TraverseChildren {
 		cmd, flags, err = c.Traverse(args)
diff --git a/completions.go b/completions.go
index ee38c4d0b..dd77b8d43 100644
--- a/completions.go
+++ b/completions.go
@@ -657,8 +657,8 @@ func checkIfFlagCompletion(finalCmd *Command, args []string, lastArg string) (*p
 // 1- the feature has been explicitly disabled by the program,
 // 2- c has no subcommands (to avoid creating one),
 // 3- c already has a 'completion' command provided by the program.
-func (c *Command) InitDefaultCompletionCmd() {
-	if c.CompletionOptions.DisableDefaultCmd || !c.HasSubCommands() {
+func (c *Command) InitDefaultCompletionCmd(args []string) {
+	if c.CompletionOptions.DisableDefaultCmd {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -670,6 +670,10 @@ func (c *Command) InitDefaultCompletionCmd() {
 	}
 
 	haveNoDescFlag := !c.CompletionOptions.DisableNoDescFlag && !c.CompletionOptions.DisableDescriptions
+	// Special case to know if there are sub-commands or not.
+	// If there is exactly 1 sub-command, it must be the __complete command, so we are looking for the case
+	// where there are *more* than one sub-commands: the _complete command *and* a real sub-command.
+	hasSubCommands := len(c.commands) > 1
 
 	completionCmd := &Command{
 		Use:   compCmdName,
@@ -684,6 +688,22 @@ See each sub-command's help for details on how to use the generated script.
 	}
 	c.AddCommand(completionCmd)
 
+	if !hasSubCommands {
+		// If the 'completion' command will be the only sub-command (other than '__complete'),
+		// we only create it if it is actually being called.
+		// This avoids breaking programs that would suddenly find themselves with
+		// a subcommand, which would prevent them from accepting arguments.
+		// We also create the 'completion' command if the user is triggering
+		// shell completion for it (prog __complete completion '')
+		subCmd, cmdArgs, err := c.Find(args)
+		if err != nil || subCmd.Name() != compCmdName &&
+			!(subCmd.Name() == ShellCompRequestCmd && len(cmdArgs) > 1 && cmdArgs[0] == compCmdName) {
+			// The completion command is not being called or being completed so we remove it.
+			c.RemoveCommand(completionCmd)
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
 	out := c.OutOrStdout()
 	noDesc := c.CompletionOptions.DisableDescriptions
 	shortDesc := "Generate the autocompletion script for %s"
diff --git a/completions_test.go b/completions_test.go
index 0588da0f1..8d5b94cf7 100644
--- a/completions_test.go
+++ b/completions_test.go
@@ -2321,7 +2321,7 @@ func TestDefaultCompletionCmd(t *testing.T) {
 		Run:  emptyRun,
 	}
 
-	// Test that no completion command is created if there are not other sub-commands
+	// Test that when there are no sub-commands, the completion command is not created if it is not called directly.
 	assertNoErr(t, rootCmd.Execute())
 	for _, cmd := range rootCmd.commands {
 		if cmd.Name() == compCmdName {
@@ -2330,6 +2330,17 @@ func TestDefaultCompletionCmd(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Test that when there are no sub-commands, the completion command is created when it is called directly.
+	_, err := executeCommand(rootCmd, compCmdName)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Reset the arguments
+	rootCmd.args = nil
+	// Remove completion command for the next test
+	removeCompCmd(rootCmd)
+
+	// Add a sub-command
 	subCmd := &Command{
 		Use: "sub",
 		Run: emptyRun,
@@ -2451,6 +2462,42 @@ func TestDefaultCompletionCmd(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestCompleteCompletion(t *testing.T) {
 	rootCmd := &Command{Use: "root", Args: NoArgs, Run: emptyRun}
+
+	// Test that when there are no sub-commands, the 'completion' command is not completed
+	// (because it is not created).
+	output, err := executeCommand(rootCmd, ShellCompNoDescRequestCmd, "completion")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	expected := strings.Join([]string{
+		":0",
+		"Completion ended with directive: ShellCompDirectiveDefault", ""}, "\n")
+
+	if output != expected {
+		t.Errorf("expected: %q, got: %q", expected, output)
+	}
+
+	// Test that when there are no sub-commands, completion can be triggered for the default
+	// 'completion' command
+	output, err = executeCommand(rootCmd, ShellCompNoDescRequestCmd, "completion", "")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	expected = strings.Join([]string{
+		"bash",
+		"fish",
+		"powershell",
+		"zsh",
+		":4",
+		"Completion ended with directive: ShellCompDirectiveNoFileComp", ""}, "\n")
+
+	if output != expected {
+		t.Errorf("expected: %q, got: %q", expected, output)
+	}
+
+	// Add a sub-command
 	subCmd := &Command{
 		Use: "sub",
 		Run: emptyRun,
@@ -2458,12 +2505,12 @@ func TestCompleteCompletion(t *testing.T) {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(subCmd)
 
 	// Test sub-commands of the completion command
-	output, err := executeCommand(rootCmd, ShellCompNoDescRequestCmd, "completion", "")
+	output, err = executeCommand(rootCmd, ShellCompNoDescRequestCmd, "completion", "")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	expected := strings.Join([]string{
+	expected = strings.Join([]string{
 		"bash",
 		"fish",
 		"powershell",
diff --git a/site/content/completions/_index.md b/site/content/completions/_index.md
index 4efad2907..70981ddd9 100644
--- a/site/content/completions/_index.md
+++ b/site/content/completions/_index.md
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ The currently supported shells are:
 - PowerShell
 
 Cobra will automatically provide your program with a fully functional `completion` command,
-similarly to how it provides the `help` command.
+similarly to how it provides the `help` command. If there are no other subcommands, the
+default `completion` command will be hidden, but still functional.
 
 ## Creating your own completion command