diff --git a/tools/idf.py b/tools/idf.py
index 31c78451a5..78d2fb450a 100755
--- a/tools/idf.py
+++ b/tools/idf.py
@@ -517,6 +517,10 @@ def init_cli(verbose_output=None):
             ctx = click.get_current_context()
             global_args = PropertyDict(kwargs)
 
+            def _help_and_exit():
+                print(ctx.get_help())
+                ctx.exit()
+
             # Show warning if some tasks are present several times in the list
             dupplicated_tasks = sorted(
                 [item for item, count in Counter(task.name for task in tasks).items() if count > 1])
@@ -527,9 +531,13 @@ def init_cli(verbose_output=None):
                     ("s %s are" % dupes if len(dupplicated_tasks) > 1 else " %s is" % dupes) +
                     "Only first occurence will be executed.")
 
-            # Set propagated global options.
-            # These options may be set on one subcommand, but available in the list of global arguments
             for task in tasks:
+                # Show help and exit if help is in the list of commands
+                if task.name == 'help':
+                    _help_and_exit()
+
+                # Set propagated global options.
+                # These options may be set on one subcommand, but available in the list of global arguments
                 for key in list(task.action_args):
                     option = next((o for o in ctx.command.params if o.name == key), None)
 
@@ -557,8 +565,7 @@ def init_cli(verbose_output=None):
 
             # Always show help when command is not provided
             if not tasks:
-                print(ctx.get_help())
-                ctx.exit()
+                _help_and_exit()
 
             # Build full list of tasks to and deal with dependencies and order dependencies
             tasks_to_run = OrderedDict()
diff --git a/tools/idf_py_actions/core_ext.py b/tools/idf_py_actions/core_ext.py
index 056f652928..54b31efe90 100644
--- a/tools/idf_py_actions/core_ext.py
+++ b/tools/idf_py_actions/core_ext.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ from idf_py_actions.tools import ensure_build_directory, idf_version, merge_acti
 
 
 def action_extensions(base_actions, project_path):
-
     def build_target(target_name, ctx, args):
         """
         Execute the target build system to build target 'target_name'
@@ -24,6 +23,10 @@ def action_extensions(base_actions, project_path):
         ensure_build_directory(args, ctx.info_name)
         run_target(target_name, args)
 
+    def list_build_system_targets(target_name, ctx, args):
+        """Shows list of targets known to build sytem (make/ninja)"""
+        build_target('help', ctx, args)
+
     def menuconfig(target_name, ctx, args, style):
         """
         Menuconfig target is build_target extended with the style argument for setting the value for the environment
@@ -137,8 +140,10 @@ def action_extensions(base_actions, project_path):
                 os.remove(file_to_delete)
 
     def set_target(action, ctx, args, idf_target):
-        if(not args["preview"] and idf_target in PREVIEW_TARGETS):
-            raise FatalError("%s is still in preview. You have to append '--preview' option after idf.py to use any preview feature." % idf_target)
+        if (not args["preview"] and idf_target in PREVIEW_TARGETS):
+            raise FatalError(
+                "%s is still in preview. You have to append '--preview' option after idf.py to use any preview feature."
+                % idf_target)
         args.define_cache_entry.append("IDF_TARGET=" + idf_target)
         sdkconfig_path = os.path.join(args.project_dir, 'sdkconfig')
         sdkconfig_old = sdkconfig_path + ".old"
@@ -370,10 +375,14 @@ def action_extensions(base_actions, project_path):
                 "help": "Read otadata partition.",
                 "options": global_options,
             },
+            "build-system-targets": {
+                "callback": list_build_system_targets,
+                "help": "Print list of build system targets.",
+            },
             "fallback": {
                 "callback": fallback_target,
                 "help": "Handle for targets not known for idf.py.",
-                "hidden": True
+                "hidden": True,
             }
         }
     }