diff --git a/cross-project-tests/debuginfo-tests/dexter/dex/builder/ParserOptions.py b/cross-project-tests/debuginfo-tests/dexter/dex/builder/ParserOptions.py
--- a/cross-project-tests/debuginfo-tests/dexter/dex/builder/ParserOptions.py
+++ b/cross-project-tests/debuginfo-tests/dexter/dex/builder/ParserOptions.py
@@ -38,11 +38,12 @@
 
 
 def add_builder_tool_arguments(parser):
-    parser.add_argument('--binary',
-                        metavar="<file>",
-                        help='provide binary file to override --builder')
+    build_group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=True)
+    build_group.add_argument('--binary',
+                             metavar="<file>",
+                             help='provide binary file instead of --builder')
 
-    parser.add_argument(
+    build_group.add_argument(
         '--builder',
         type=str,
         choices=sorted(_find_build_scripts().keys()),
diff --git a/cross-project-tests/debuginfo-tests/dexter/dex/tools/TestToolBase.py b/cross-project-tests/debuginfo-tests/dexter/dex/tools/TestToolBase.py
--- a/cross-project-tests/debuginfo-tests/dexter/dex/tools/TestToolBase.py
+++ b/cross-project-tests/debuginfo-tests/dexter/dex/tools/TestToolBase.py
@@ -54,15 +54,11 @@
     def handle_options(self, defaults):
         options = self.context.options
 
-        # We accept either or both of --binary and --builder.
-        if not options.binary and not options.builder:
-            raise Error('expected --builder or --binary')
+        if not options.builder and (options.cflags or options.ldflags):
+            warn(self.context, '--cflags and --ldflags will be ignored when not'
+                               ' using --builder')
 
-        # --binary overrides --builder
         if options.binary:
-            if options.builder:
-                warn(self.context, "overriding --builder with --binary\n")
-
             options.binary = os.path.abspath(options.binary)
             if not os.path.isfile(options.binary):
                 raise Error('<d>could not find binary file</> <r>"{}"</>'