diff --git a/internal/action/actions.go b/internal/action/actions.go
index 05ef4e1e..7e3d452a 100644
--- a/internal/action/actions.go
+++ b/internal/action/actions.go
@@ -1723,7 +1723,8 @@ func (h *BufPane) ToggleHelp() bool {
 	if h.Buf.Type == buffer.BTHelp {
 		h.Quit()
 	} else {
-		h.openHelp("help", true, false)
+		hsplit := config.GlobalSettings["helpsplit"] == "hsplit"
+		h.openHelp("help", hsplit, false)
 	}
 	return true
 }
diff --git a/internal/action/command.go b/internal/action/command.go
index cd8c81a1..13d9f1b2 100644
--- a/internal/action/command.go
+++ b/internal/action/command.go
@@ -450,12 +450,12 @@ func (h *BufPane) openHelp(page string, hsplit bool, forceSplit bool) error {
 
 // HelpCmd tries to open the given help page in a horizontal split
 func (h *BufPane) HelpCmd(args []string) {
+	hsplit := config.GlobalSettings["helpsplit"] == "hsplit"
 	if len(args) < 1 {
 		// Open the default help if the user just typed "> help"
-		h.openHelp("help", true, false)
+		h.openHelp("help", hsplit, false)
 	} else {
 		var topics []string
-		hsplit := true
 		forceSplit := false
 		const errSplit = "hsplit and vsplit are not allowed at the same time"
 		for _, arg := range args {
diff --git a/internal/config/settings.go b/internal/config/settings.go
index b8cfcd51..910a3072 100644
--- a/internal/config/settings.go
+++ b/internal/config/settings.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ var optionValidators = map[string]optionValidator{
 	"detectlimit":     validateNonNegativeValue,
 	"encoding":        validateEncoding,
 	"fileformat":      validateChoice,
+	"helpsplit":       validateChoice,
 	"matchbracestyle": validateChoice,
 	"multiopen":       validateChoice,
 	"reload":          validateChoice,
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ var optionValidators = map[string]optionValidator{
 var OptionChoices = map[string][]string{
 	"clipboard":       {"internal", "external", "terminal"},
 	"fileformat":      {"unix", "dos"},
+	"helpsplit":       {"hsplit", "vsplit"},
 	"matchbracestyle": {"underline", "highlight"},
 	"multiopen":       {"tab", "hsplit", "vsplit"},
 	"reload":          {"prompt", "auto", "disabled"},
@@ -109,6 +111,7 @@ var DefaultGlobalOnlySettings = map[string]interface{}{
 	"divchars":       "|-",
 	"divreverse":     true,
 	"fakecursor":     false,
+	"helpsplit":      "hsplit",
 	"infobar":        true,
 	"keymenu":        false,
 	"mouse":          true,
diff --git a/runtime/help/commands.md b/runtime/help/commands.md
index b1cd98dd..a20c8c39 100644
--- a/runtime/help/commands.md
+++ b/runtime/help/commands.md
@@ -27,9 +27,11 @@ quotes here but these are not necessary when entering the command in micro.
    Help topics are stored as `.md` files in the `runtime/help` directory of
    the source tree, which is embedded in the final binary.
    The `flags` are optional.
-   * `-hsplit`: Opens the help topic in a horizontal split (default for initial split)
+   * `-hsplit`: Opens the help topic in a horizontal split
    * `-vsplit`: Opens the help topic in a vertical split
 
+   The default split type is defined by the global `helpsplit` option.
+
 * `save ['filename']`: saves the current buffer. If the file is provided it
    will 'save as' the filename.
 
diff --git a/runtime/help/options.md b/runtime/help/options.md
index ff781834..0ea3b4ee 100644
--- a/runtime/help/options.md
+++ b/runtime/help/options.md
@@ -172,6 +172,13 @@ Here are the available options:
     default value: `unknown`. This will be automatically overridden depending
     on the file you open.
 
+* `helpsplit`: sets the split type to be used by the `help` command.
+   Possible values:
+    * `vsplit`: open help in a vertical split pane
+    * `hsplit`: open help in a horizontal split pane
+
+    default value: `hsplit`
+
 * `hlsearch`: highlight all instances of the searched text after a successful
    search. This highlighting can be temporarily turned off via the
    `UnhighlightSearch` action (triggered by the Esc key by default) or toggled