diff --git a/cmd/access.go b/cmd/access.go
index 16b6988..57b5e61 100644
--- a/cmd/access.go
+++ b/cmd/access.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/stacks"
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/stringslice"
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/ui"
+	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/utils"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws/session"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ var accessCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short:                 "list users with access to the app",
 	Args:                  cobra.NoArgs,
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		var err error
 		sess, err := adminSession(SessionDurationSeconds)
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ Updates the application Cloudformation stack to add access for the user.`,
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.MinimumNArgs(1),
 	Example:               "apppack -a my-app access add user1@example.com user2@example.com",
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		for _, email := range args {
 			if !validateEmail(email) {
 				checkErr(fmt.Errorf("%s does not appear to be a valid email address", email))
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ Updates the application Cloudformation stack to remove access for the user.`,
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.MinimumNArgs(1),
 	Example:               "apppack -a my-app access remove user1@example.com user2@example.com",
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		for _, email := range args {
 			if !validateEmail(email) {
 				checkErr(fmt.Errorf("%s does not appear to be a valid email address", email))
@@ -195,7 +196,7 @@ func init() {
 		"account",
 		"c",
 		"",
-		"AWS account ID or alias (not needed if you are only the administrator of one account)",
+		utils.AccountFlagHelpText,
 	)
 	accessCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(
 		&UseAWSCredentials,
diff --git a/cmd/admins.go b/cmd/admins.go
index 8c3d8f3..2214751 100644
--- a/cmd/admins.go
+++ b/cmd/admins.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/stacks"
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/stringslice"
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/ui"
+	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/utils"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws/session"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ var adminsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	Args:                  cobra.NoArgs,
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(SessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ var adminsAddCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.MinimumNArgs(1),
 	Example:               "apppack admins add user1@example.com user2@example.com",
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		for _, email := range args {
 			if !validateEmail(email) {
 				checkErr(fmt.Errorf("%s does not appear to be a valid email address", email))
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ var adminsRemoveCmd = &cobra.Command{
 Updates the application Cloudformation stack to remove an administrators.`,
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.MinimumNArgs(1),
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		for _, email := range args {
 			if !validateEmail(email) {
 				checkErr(fmt.Errorf("%s does not appear to be a valid email address", email))
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ func init() {
 		"account",
 		"c",
 		"",
-		"AWS account ID or alias (not needed if you are only the administrator of one account)",
+		utils.AccountFlagHelpText,
 	)
 	adminsCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(
 		&UseAWSCredentials,
diff --git a/cmd/create.go b/cmd/create.go
index 08ffe28..6a3c7bd 100644
--- a/cmd/create.go
+++ b/cmd/create.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/bridge"
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/stacks"
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/ui"
+	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/utils"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws/session"
 	"github.com/logrusorgru/aurora"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -293,7 +294,7 @@ var createRegionCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short:                 "setup AppPack resources for an AWS region",
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
 		region := sess.Config.Region
@@ -310,7 +311,7 @@ var createRegionCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(createCmd)
-	createCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&AccountIDorAlias, "account", "c", "", "AWS account ID or alias (not needed if you are only the administrator of one account)")
+	createCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&AccountIDorAlias, "account", "c", "", utils.AccountFlagHelpText)
 	createCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&UseAWSCredentials, "aws-credentials", false, "use AWS credentials instead of AppPack.io federation")
 	createCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&createChangeSet, "check", false, "check stack in Cloudformation before creating")
 	createCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&nonInteractive, "non-interactive", false, "do not prompt for missing flags")
diff --git a/cmd/destroy.go b/cmd/destroy.go
index f85d4db..8871d65 100644
--- a/cmd/destroy.go
+++ b/cmd/destroy.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/stacks"
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/ui"
+	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/utils"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws/session"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ var destroyAccountCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short:                 "destroy AWS resources used by your AppPack account",
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ var destroyRegionCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short:                 "destroy AWS resources used by an AppPack region",
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ var destroyRedisCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ var destroyDatabaseCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ var destroyClusterCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ var destroyAppCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ var destroyPipelineCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -184,7 +185,7 @@ var destroyCustomDomainCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -194,7 +195,7 @@ var destroyCustomDomainCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(destroyCmd)
-	destroyCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&AccountIDorAlias, "account", "c", "", "AWS account ID or alias (not needed if you are only the administrator of one account)")
+	destroyCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&AccountIDorAlias, "account", "c", "", utils.AccountFlagHelpText)
 	destroyCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&UseAWSCredentials, "aws-credentials", false, "use AWS credentials instead of AppPack.io federation")
 	destroyCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&region, "region", "", "AWS region to destroy resources in")
 
diff --git a/cmd/modify.go b/cmd/modify.go
index 5f04611..a6730a1 100644
--- a/cmd/modify.go
+++ b/cmd/modify.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ package cmd
 
 // func init() {
 // 	rootCmd.AddCommand(modifyCmd)
-// 	modifyCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&AccountIDorAlias, "account", "c", "", "AWS account ID or alias (not needed if you are only the administrator of one account)")
+// 	modifyCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&AccountIDorAlias, "account", "c", "", utils.AccountFlagHelpText)
 // 	modifyCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&UseAWSCredentials, "aws-credentials", false, "use AWS credentials instead of AppPack.io federation")
 // 	modifyCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&createChangeSet, "check", false, "check stack in Cloudformation before creating")
 // 	modifyCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&nonInteractive, "non-interactive", false, "do not prompt for user input")
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 3f11394..c065119 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -50,6 +50,14 @@ var (
 	MaxSessionDurationSeconds = 3600
 )
 
+func userHasMultipleAccounts() bool {
+	ui.StartSpinner()
+	admins, err := auth.AdminList()
+	checkErr(err)
+	ui.Spinner.Stop()
+	return len(admins) > 1
+}
+
 // rootCmd represents the base command when called without any subcommands
 var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:                   "apppack",
@@ -57,13 +65,22 @@ var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  `AppPack is a tool to manage applications deployed on AWS via AppPack.io`,
 	DisableAutoGenTag:     true,
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
-	PersistentPreRun: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	PersistentPreRun: func(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 		if debug {
 			logrus.SetOutput(os.Stdout)
 			logrus.SetLevel(logrus.DebugLevel)
 		} else {
 			logrus.SetLevel(logrus.ErrorLevel)
 		}
+		// Check for account flag or environment variable
+		if AccountIDorAlias == "" {
+			AccountIDorAlias = os.Getenv("APPPACK_ACCOUNT")
+		}
+
+		// If neither is set and the user has multiple accounts, throw an error
+		if AccountIDorAlias == "" && userHasMultipleAccounts() {
+			checkErr(fmt.Errorf("you must specify an account using the -c flag or the APPPACK_ACCOUNT environment variable"))
+		}
 	},
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/stacks.go b/cmd/stacks.go
index 787972f..f42a93d 100644
--- a/cmd/stacks.go
+++ b/cmd/stacks.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/bridge"
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/ui"
+	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/utils"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/cloudformation"
 	"github.com/juju/ansiterm/tabwriter"
 	"github.com/logrusorgru/aurora"
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ var stacksCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.NoArgs,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(SessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -113,6 +114,6 @@ var stacksCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(stacksCmd)
-	stacksCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&AccountIDorAlias, "account", "c", "", "AWS account ID or alias (not needed if you are only the administrator of one account)")
+	stacksCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&AccountIDorAlias, "account", "c", "", utils.AccountFlagHelpText)
 	stacksCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&UseAWSCredentials, "aws-credentials", false, "use AWS credentials instead of AppPack.io federation")
 }
diff --git a/cmd/upgrade.go b/cmd/upgrade.go
index 703973f..24d317a 100644
--- a/cmd/upgrade.go
+++ b/cmd/upgrade.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/stacks"
 	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/ui"
+	"github.com/apppackio/apppack/utils"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws/session"
 	"github.com/logrusorgru/aurora"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ var upgradeAccountCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short:                 "upgrade your AppPack account stack",
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ var upgradeRegionCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short:                 "upgrade your AppPack region stack",
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ var upgradeAppCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ var upgradePipelineCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ var upgradeClusterCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ var upgradeRedisCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ var upgradeDatabaseCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:                  "*Requires admin permissions.*",
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		ui.StartSpinner()
 		sess, err := adminSession(MaxSessionDurationSeconds)
 		checkErr(err)
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ var upgradeDatabaseCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(upgradeCmd)
-	upgradeCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&AccountIDorAlias, "account", "c", "", "AWS account ID or alias (not needed if you are only the administrator of one account)")
+	upgradeCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&AccountIDorAlias, "account", "c", "", utils.AccountFlagHelpText)
 	upgradeCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&UseAWSCredentials, "aws-credentials", false, "use AWS credentials instead of AppPack.io federation")
 	upgradeCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&createChangeSet, "check", false, "check stack in Cloudformation before creating")
 	upgradeCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&region, "region", "", "AWS region to upgrade resources in")
diff --git a/utils/utils.go b/utils/utils.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0f250a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/utils.go
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+package utils
+
+var AccountFlagHelpText string = "AWS account ID or alias. Use this flag to override the APPPACK_ACCOUNT environment variable (not needed if you are the administrator of only one account)."