I've tested on a clean install of mirc 6.34, but i think i've seen the bug appears before this version.
I use win xp, and I've installed the clean mirc on a directory with a empty mirc.ini.In the directory, i've two help file, the mirc.chm and another, mirc.hlp (the file name don't change anything)
1)I've opened the clean mirc
2)I type /mirc.hlp, a shortcut to /winhelp, it open the mirc.hlp, as expected.
3)I close the mirc.hlp file and now I type /help and, as expected, the mirc help file opens.
4)I close the mirc help file, and now, retype /mirc.hlp, but nothing happen, even if mirc fake to be busy as if he should open the mirc.hlp file.
Also, i have a suggestion related to this, since /help open the mirc help file, would be nice to have /mirc not gave priority to the mirc.chm if a mirc.hlp is here.