diff --git a/doc/whatsnew/fragments/8715.performance b/doc/whatsnew/fragments/8715.performance
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..319af164d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/whatsnew/fragments/8715.performance
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+Exit immediately if all messages are disabled.
+
+Closes #8715
diff --git a/pylint/lint/run.py b/pylint/lint/run.py
index 776803f2e4..e7a0fde8e6 100644
--- a/pylint/lint/run.py
+++ b/pylint/lint/run.py
@@ -175,9 +175,11 @@ def __init__(
                 sys.exit(code)
             return
 
-        # Display help messages if there are no files to lint
-        if not args:
-            print(linter.help())
+        # Display help if there are no files to lint or no checks enabled
+        if not args or len(linter.config.disable) == len(
+            linter.msgs_store._messages_definitions
+        ):
+            print("No files to lint: exiting.")
             sys.exit(32)
 
         if linter.config.jobs < 0:
diff --git a/tests/test_self.py b/tests/test_self.py
index fd3bb5ff02..3970f22641 100644
--- a/tests/test_self.py
+++ b/tests/test_self.py
@@ -212,6 +212,11 @@ def test_nonexistent_config_file(self) -> None:
     def test_error_missing_arguments(self) -> None:
         self._runtest([], code=32)
 
+    def test_disable_all(self) -> None:
+        out = StringIO()
+        self._runtest([UNNECESSARY_LAMBDA, "--disable=all"], out=out, code=32)
+        assert "No files to lint: exiting." in out.getvalue().strip()
+
     def test_no_out_encoding(self) -> None:
         """Test redirection of stdout with non ascii characters."""
         # This test reproduces bug #48066 ; it happens when stdout is redirected