diff --git a/src/uu/cp/src/cp.rs b/src/uu/cp/src/cp.rs
index a87e86b98..2ebbeddb0 100644
--- a/src/uu/cp/src/cp.rs
+++ b/src/uu/cp/src/cp.rs
@@ -396,6 +396,7 @@ pub fn uumain(args: impl uucore::Args) -> i32 {
              .multiple(true)
              .use_delimiter(true)
              .possible_values(PRESERVABLE_ATTRIBUTES)
+             .min_values(0)
              .value_name("ATTR_LIST")
              .conflicts_with_all(&[OPT_PRESERVE_DEFAULT_ATTRIBUTES, OPT_NO_PRESERVE])
              // -d sets this option
diff --git a/tests/by-util/test_cp.rs b/tests/by-util/test_cp.rs
index bc6c6fc79..83b199bc4 100644
--- a/tests/by-util/test_cp.rs
+++ b/tests/by-util/test_cp.rs
@@ -726,6 +726,15 @@ fn test_cp_parents_dest_not_directory() {
         .stderr_contains("with --parents, the destination must be a directory");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_cp_preserve_no_args() {
+    new_ucmd!()
+        .arg(TEST_COPY_FROM_FOLDER_FILE)
+        .arg(TEST_HELLO_WORLD_DEST)
+        .arg("--preserve")
+        .succeeds();
+}
+
 #[test]
 // For now, disable the test on Windows. Symlinks aren't well support on Windows.
 // It works on Unix for now and it works locally when run from a powershell