diff --git a/src/cargo/util/command_prelude.rs b/src/cargo/util/command_prelude.rs
index 01686c8e79e..25176cb22d1 100644
--- a/src/cargo/util/command_prelude.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/util/command_prelude.rs
@@ -64,9 +64,19 @@ pub trait CommandExt: Sized {
         all: &'static str,
         exclude: &'static str,
     ) -> Self {
+        let unsupported_short_arg = {
+            let value_parser = UnknownArgumentValueParser::suggest_arg("--exclude");
+            Arg::new("unsupported-short-exclude-flag")
+                .help("")
+                .short('x')
+                .value_parser(value_parser)
+                .action(ArgAction::SetTrue)
+                .hide(true)
+        };
         self.arg_package_spec_simple(package)
             ._arg(flag("workspace", all).help_heading(heading::PACKAGE_SELECTION))
             ._arg(multi_opt("exclude", "SPEC", exclude).help_heading(heading::PACKAGE_SELECTION))
+            ._arg(unsupported_short_arg)
     }
 
     fn arg_package_spec_simple(self, package: &'static str) -> Self {
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/build.rs b/tests/testsuite/build.rs
index 405922412d8..fdb8a4d7a4c 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/build.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/build.rs
@@ -4354,6 +4354,8 @@ fn cargo_build_with_unsupported_short_exclude_flag() {
             "\
 error: unexpected argument '-x' found
 
+  tip: a similar argument exists: '--exclude'
+
 Usage: cargo[EXE] build [OPTIONS]
 
 For more information, try '--help'.