diff --git a/django/core/management/__init__.py b/django/core/management/__init__.py
index 01e39a7aa4..a4731652f5 100644
--- a/django/core/management/__init__.py
+++ b/django/core/management/__init__.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class ManagementUtility(object):
         elif self.argv[1:] == ['--version']:
             print django.get_version()
         elif self.argv[1:] == ['--help']:
-            self.main_help_text()
+            sys.stderr.write(self.main_help_text() + '\n')
         else:
             self.fetch_command(subcommand).run_from_argv(self.argv)