diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/cli/DefaultParser.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/cli/DefaultParser.java
index 0060e3e80..08cd8a145 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/cli/DefaultParser.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/cli/DefaultParser.java
@@ -611,7 +611,12 @@ private void handleToken(final String token) throws ParseException {
             } else if (token.startsWith(OptionFormatter.DEFAULT_LONG_OPT_PREFIX)) {
                 handleLongOption(token);
             } else if (token.startsWith(OptionFormatter.DEFAULT_OPT_PREFIX) && !OptionFormatter.DEFAULT_OPT_PREFIX.equals(token)) {
-                handleShortAndLongOption(token);
+                // A negative number is an argument, not the unknown option it looks like
+                if (isNegativeNumber(token) && !isOption(token)) {
+                    addArg(token);
+                } else {
+                    handleShortAndLongOption(token);
+                }
             } else {
                 handleUnknownToken(token);
             }
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/cli/DefaultParserTest.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/cli/DefaultParserTest.java
index 0e7782fbe..1148058c6 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/cli/DefaultParserTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/cli/DefaultParserTest.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
 import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertThrows;
 import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
 
+import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.Properties;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -153,6 +154,52 @@ public Stream<? extends Arguments> provideArguments(final ExtensionContext conte
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * A numerical argument takes precedence over the option it looks like, in every position on the command line.
+     */
+    @Test
+    void testNegativeNumberArgument() throws ParseException {
+        final Options opts = new Options().addOption("a", false, "a flag").addOption("b", true, "an option with a value");
+        // The token is the only one on the line
+        CommandLine cl = parser.parse(opts, new String[] { "-1" });
+        assertEquals(Arrays.asList("-1"), cl.getArgList());
+        cl = parser.parse(opts, new String[] { "-1.5" });
+        assertEquals(Arrays.asList("-1.5"), cl.getArgList());
+        // The token follows an option that does not expect a value
+        cl = parser.parse(opts, new String[] { "-a", "-1" });
+        assertTrue(cl.hasOption('a'));
+        assertEquals(Arrays.asList("-1"), cl.getArgList());
+        // The token follows an option whose value has already been consumed
+        cl = parser.parse(opts, new String[] { "-b", "value", "-1" });
+        assertTrue(cl.hasOption('b'));
+        assertEquals(Arrays.asList("-1"), cl.getArgList());
+        // The token follows an option that consumed the first of two negative numbers
+        cl = parser.parse(opts, new String[] { "-b", "-1", "-1.5" });
+        assertTrue(cl.hasOption('b'));
+        assertEquals("-1", cl.getOptionValue('b'));
+        assertEquals(Arrays.asList("-1.5"), cl.getArgList());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * A registered option that looks like a numerical argument still wins over the numerical-argument rule.
+     */
+    @Test
+    void testNegativeNumberOption() throws ParseException {
+        final Options opts = new Options().addOption("1", false, "an option named 1");
+        final CommandLine cl = parser.parse(opts, new String[] { "-1", "-2" });
+        assertTrue(cl.hasOption('1'));
+        assertEquals(Arrays.asList("-2"), cl.getArgList());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * The {@code --} end of options marker still routes the remaining tokens to the arguments.
+     */
+    @Test
+    void testNegativeNumberAfterEndOfOptions() throws ParseException {
+        final CommandLine cl = parser.parse(new Options(), new String[] { "--", "-1" });
+        assertEquals(Arrays.asList("-1"), cl.getArgList());
+    }
+
     @Override
     @BeforeEach
     public void setUp() {