diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 94410cd..92023b8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ For breaking changes, check [here](#breaking-changes).
 
 [Babashka CLI](https://github.com/babashka/cli): turn Clojure functions into CLIs!
 
+## Unreleased
+
+- A required `:inherit` option may be supplied after its command, not only before it
+
 ## 0.12.80
 
 - Add ordered `:enum` values for validation, help and completion
diff --git a/src/babashka/cli.cljc b/src/babashka/cli.cljc
index 312ff09..30dc2ae 100644
--- a/src/babashka/cli.cljc
+++ b/src/babashka/cli.cljc
@@ -532,19 +532,26 @@
                                 :opts m}
                          flag (assoc :flag flag)))))))
      (when require
-       (doseq [k require]
-         (when-not (find m k)
-           (let [flag (get opt->flag k)
-                 arg (when (contains? positional k) (arg-label spec-map k))]
-             (error-fn (cond-> {:cause :require
-                                :msg (if arg
-                                       (str "Required argument: " arg)
-                                       (str "Required option: " (flag-for k)))
-                                :require require
-                                :option k
-                                :opts m}
-                         arg (assoc :arg arg)
-                         flag (assoc :flag flag)))))))
+       ;; in a dispatch tree, a leading command word after this level's options
+       ;; routes to a child, where an `:inherit` option can still be supplied
+       ;; (`group sub --opt v`). Defer its requirement to that child; the terminal
+       ;; level, which does not descend, enforces it.
+       (let [descending? (contains? (::dispatch-tree-ignored-args opts)
+                                    (first (-> (meta m) :org.babashka/cli :args)))]
+         (doseq [k require]
+           (when (and (not (find m k))
+                      (not (and descending? (:inherit (get spec-map k)))))
+             (let [flag (get opt->flag k)
+                   arg (when (contains? positional k) (arg-label spec-map k))]
+               (error-fn (cond-> {:cause :require
+                                  :msg (if arg
+                                         (str "Required argument: " arg)
+                                         (str "Required option: " (flag-for k)))
+                                  :require require
+                                  :option k
+                                  :opts m}
+                           arg (assoc :arg arg)
+                           flag (assoc :flag flag))))))))
      (when validate
        (doseq [[k vf] validate]
          (let [f (or (and
diff --git a/test/babashka/cli_test.cljc b/test/babashka/cli_test.cljc
index 76cb7c4..7188e99 100644
--- a/test/babashka/cli_test.cljc
+++ b/test/babashka/cli_test.cljc
@@ -1638,6 +1638,43 @@
       (is (thrown-with-msg?
            #?(:cljd Object :default Exception) #"Unknown option: --registry"
            (cli/dispatch table ["deps" "outdated" "--registry" "X"] {:restrict true})))))
+  (testing "a non-:inherit parent option's spec does not reach the child after the command"
+    (let [table [{:cmds ["deps"]            :spec {:registry {:coerce :keyword
+                                                             :validate #{:a :b}}}}
+                 {:cmds ["deps" "outdated"] :fn identity}]]
+      (testing "parent :coerce is not applied (value stays a raw string)"
+        (is (= {:registry "X"}
+               (:opts (cli/dispatch table ["deps" "outdated" "--registry" "X"])))))
+      (testing "parent :validate is not applied (an invalid value is not rejected)"
+        (is (= {:registry "zzz"}
+               (:opts (cli/dispatch table ["deps" "outdated" "--registry" "zzz"])))))
+      (testing "the same option before the command IS parsed by the parent spec"
+        (is (= {:registry :a}
+               (:opts (cli/dispatch table ["deps" "--registry" "a" "outdated"]))))
+        (is (thrown-with-msg?
+             #?(:cljd Object :default Exception) #"Invalid value for option --registry"
+             (cli/dispatch table ["deps" "--registry" "zzz" "outdated"]))))))
+  (testing "a required :inherit option may be supplied on either side of the command"
+    (let [table [{:cmds ["deps"]            :spec {:registry {:require true :inherit true}}}
+                 {:cmds ["deps" "outdated"] :fn identity}]]
+      (testing "before the command"
+        (is (= {:registry "X"} (:opts (cli/dispatch table ["deps" "--registry" "X" "outdated"])))))
+      (testing "after the command (require deferred to where it is supplied)"
+        (is (= {:registry "X"} (:opts (cli/dispatch table ["deps" "outdated" "--registry" "X"])))))
+      (testing "still required when supplied nowhere"
+        (is (thrown-with-msg?
+             #?(:cljd Object :default Exception) #"Required option: --registry"
+             (cli/dispatch table ["deps" "outdated"]))))
+      (testing "required at the group itself (no command)"
+        (is (thrown-with-msg?
+             #?(:cljd Object :default Exception) #"Required option: --registry"
+             (cli/dispatch table ["deps"])))))
+    (testing "a required option WITHOUT :inherit is still parent-only (errors after the command)"
+      (let [table [{:cmds ["deps"]            :spec {:registry {:require true}}}
+                   {:cmds ["deps" "outdated"] :fn identity}]]
+        (is (thrown-with-msg?
+             #?(:cljd Object :default Exception) #"Required option: --registry"
+             (cli/dispatch table ["deps" "outdated" "--registry" "X"]))))))
   (testing "dispatch-level :inherit makes options inherit without per-option marking"
     (let [table [{:cmds ["deps"]            :spec {:registry {} :token {}}}
                  {:cmds ["deps" "outdated"] :fn identity :spec {:format {}}}]]