diff --git a/cuda_bindings/cuda/bindings/_example_helpers/helper_string.py b/cuda_bindings/cuda/bindings/_example_helpers/helper_string.py
index ad15cecc9ca..af53a8b3697 100644
--- a/cuda_bindings/cuda/bindings/_example_helpers/helper_string.py
+++ b/cuda_bindings/cuda/bindings/_example_helpers/helper_string.py
@@ -5,11 +5,20 @@
 
 
 def check_cmd_line_flag(string_ref):
-    return any(string_ref == i and k < len(sys.argv) - 1 for i, k in enumerate(sys.argv))
+    """Return whether ``string_ref`` was passed on the command line.
+
+    ``sys.argv[0]`` is the program name and is never considered a flag.
+    """
+    return string_ref in sys.argv[1:]
 
 
 def get_cmd_line_argument_int(string_ref):
-    for i, k in enumerate(sys.argv):
-        if string_ref == i and k < len(sys.argv) - 1:
-            return sys.argv[k + 1]
+    """Return the integer that follows ``string_ref`` on the command line.
+
+    Returns 0 if ``string_ref`` was not passed, or if nothing follows it.
+    """
+    args = sys.argv[1:]
+    for idx, arg in enumerate(args):
+        if arg == string_ref and idx + 1 < len(args):
+            return int(args[idx + 1])
     return 0
diff --git a/cuda_bindings/tests/test_example_helpers.py b/cuda_bindings/tests/test_example_helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c7d50acb65a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cuda_bindings/tests/test_example_helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+import sys
+
+import pytest
+
+from cuda.bindings._example_helpers import check_cmd_line_flag, get_cmd_line_argument_int
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def argv(monkeypatch):
+    """Replace sys.argv, keeping a realistic program name in argv[0]."""
+
+    def _argv(*args, prog="example.py"):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", [prog, *args])
+
+    return _argv
+
+
+@pytest.mark.agent_authored(model="claude-opus-5")
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("args", "flag", "expected"),
+    [
+        ((), "device=", False),
+        (("device=", "0"), "device=", True),
+        (("help",), "help", True),  # a boolean flag has nothing after it
+        (("wA=", "128", "hA=", "256"), "hA=", True),
+        (("wA=", "128"), "hA=", False),
+    ],
+)
+def test_check_cmd_line_flag(argv, args, flag, expected):
+    argv(*args)
+    assert check_cmd_line_flag(flag) is expected
+
+
+@pytest.mark.agent_authored(model="claude-opus-5")
+def test_check_cmd_line_flag_ignores_the_program_name(argv):
+    argv(prog="help")
+    assert check_cmd_line_flag("help") is False
+
+
+@pytest.mark.agent_authored(model="claude-opus-5")
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("args", "expected"),
+    [
+        ((), 0),
+        (("device=", "3"), 3),
+        (("wA=", "128", "device=", "2"), 2),
+        (("device=",), 0),  # nothing follows the flag
+        (("nomatch", "7"), 0),
+    ],
+)
+def test_get_cmd_line_argument_int(argv, args, expected):
+    argv(*args)
+    value = get_cmd_line_argument_int("device=")
+    assert value == expected
+    assert isinstance(value, int)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.agent_authored(model="claude-opus-5")
+def test_get_cmd_line_argument_int_ignores_the_program_name(argv):
+    argv("3", prog="device=")
+    assert get_cmd_line_argument_int("device=") == 0