It seems like using that syntax would indicate an intention to use the binary.
printf is similarly effected. ~ $ kill --help |& md5sum 0e79206301d41b61038774faf0598c51 - ~ $ help kill |& md5sum 0e79206301d41b61038774faf0598c51 - ~ $ builtin kill --help |& md5sum 0e79206301d41b61038774faf0598c51 - ~ $ /bin/kill --help |& md5sum 7ebbdff2d55164ef3e2ab6f195581558 - ~ $ builtin kill --help |& wc 20 140 831 ~ $ /bin/kill --help |& wc 25 165 1299 ~ $ Cheers, Wiley