diff --git a/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py b/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py
index e9f7d3cf2..bd2611df6 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py
@@ -999,6 +999,7 @@ class Config:
             kwargs=dict(parser=self._parser, pluginmanager=self.pluginmanager)
         )
         self.args_source = Config.ArgsSource.ARGS
+        self.args: List[str] = []
 
         if TYPE_CHECKING:
             from _pytest.cacheprovider import Cache
@@ -1338,8 +1339,8 @@ class Config:
 
     def parse(self, args: List[str], addopts: bool = True) -> None:
         # Parse given cmdline arguments into this config object.
-        assert not hasattr(
-            self, "args"
+        assert (
+            self.args == []
         ), "can only parse cmdline args at most once per Config object"
         self.hook.pytest_addhooks.call_historic(
             kwargs=dict(pluginmanager=self.pluginmanager)
@@ -1369,7 +1370,7 @@ class Config:
             self.args = args
             self.args_source = source
         except PrintHelp:
-            self.args = []
+            pass
 
     def issue_config_time_warning(self, warning: Warning, stacklevel: int) -> None:
         """Issue and handle a warning during the "configure" stage.