diff --git a/cmd/audit.go b/cmd/audit.go
index 57cdc35..4c95e04 100644
--- a/cmd/audit.go
+++ b/cmd/audit.go
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ func newAuditCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.auditList()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	auditDescribeCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "describe <rqid>",
@@ -36,7 +35,6 @@ func newAuditCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.auditDescribe(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	auditDescribeCmd.Flags().String("phase", "response", "phase of the audit trace. One of [request, response, single, error, opened, closed]")
diff --git a/cmd/billing.go b/cmd/billing.go
index 46c930d..da886f9 100644
--- a/cmd/billing.go
+++ b/cmd/billing.go
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ func newBillingCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			}
 			return c.projectsBilling()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	containerBillingCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "container",
@@ -70,7 +69,6 @@ export CLOUDCTL_COSTS_MEMORY_GI_HOUR=0.01  # costs per memory hour
 			}
 			return c.containerUsage()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterBillingCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "cluster",
@@ -89,7 +87,6 @@ export CLOUDCTL_COSTS_HOUR=0.01        # costs per hour
 			}
 			return c.clusterUsage()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	ipBillingCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "ip",
@@ -108,7 +105,6 @@ export CLOUDCTL_COSTS_HOUR=0.01        # costs per hour
 			}
 			return c.ipUsage()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	machineBillingCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "machine",
@@ -127,7 +123,6 @@ export CLOUDCTL_COSTS_HOUR=0.01        # costs per hour
 			}
 			return c.machineUsage()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	productOptionBillingCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "product-option",
@@ -146,7 +141,6 @@ export CLOUDCTL_COSTS_HOUR=0.01        # costs per hour
 			}
 			return c.productOptionUsage()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	networkTrafficBillingCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "network-traffic",
@@ -167,7 +161,6 @@ export CLOUDCTL_COSTS_TOTAL_NETWORK_TRAFFIC_GI=0.01           # costs per gi
 			}
 			return c.networkTrafficUsage()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	s3BillingCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "s3",
@@ -186,7 +179,6 @@ export CLOUDCTL_COSTS_STORAGE_GI_HOUR=0.01        # costs per storage hour
 			}
 			return c.s3Usage()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	volumeBillingCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "volume",
@@ -205,7 +197,6 @@ export CLOUDCTL_COSTS_STORAGE_GI_HOUR=0.01        # costs per capacity hour
 			}
 			return c.volumeUsage()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresBillingCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "postgres",
@@ -226,7 +217,6 @@ export CLOUDCTL_COSTS_STORAGE_GI_HOUR=0.01 # Costs per capacity hour
 			}
 			return c.postgresUsage()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	billingCmd.AddCommand(projectBillingCmd)
diff --git a/cmd/cluster.go b/cmd/cluster.go
index 4ed4d43..07ba5e5 100644
--- a/cmd/cluster.go
+++ b/cmd/cluster.go
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.clusterCreate()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	clusterListCmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -64,7 +63,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.clusterList()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterDeleteCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "delete <clusterid>",
@@ -74,7 +72,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterDelete(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterDescribeCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "describe <clusterid>",
@@ -83,7 +80,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterDescribe(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterKubeconfigCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "kubeconfig <clusterid>",
@@ -92,7 +88,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterKubeconfig(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	clusterReconcileCmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -102,7 +97,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.reconcileCluster(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterUpdateCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "update <clusterid>",
@@ -111,7 +105,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.updateCluster(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterInputsCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "inputs",
@@ -119,7 +112,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.clusterInputs()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterMachineCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "machine",
@@ -134,7 +126,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterMachines(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterIssuesCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "issues [<clusterid>]",
@@ -144,7 +135,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterIssues(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterMonitoringSecretCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "monitoring-secret <clusterid>",
@@ -153,7 +143,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterMonitoringSecret(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterMachineSSHCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "ssh <clusterid>",
@@ -162,7 +151,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterMachineSSH(args, false)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterMachineConsoleCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "console <clusterid>",
@@ -171,7 +159,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterMachineSSH(args, true)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterMachineResetCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "reset <clusterid>",
@@ -180,7 +167,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterMachineReset(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterMachineCycleCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "cycle <clusterid>",
@@ -189,7 +175,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterMachineCycle(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterMachineReinstallCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "reinstall <clusterid>",
@@ -198,7 +183,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterMachineReinstall(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterMachinePackagesCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "packages <clusterid>",
@@ -207,7 +191,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterMachinePackages(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterLogsCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "logs <clusterid>",
@@ -216,7 +199,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterLogs(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterDNSManifestCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "dns-manifest <clusterid>",
@@ -225,7 +207,6 @@ func newClusterCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.clusterDNSManifest(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ClusterListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	clusterCreateCmd.Flags().String("name", "", "name of the cluster, max 10 characters. [required]")
diff --git a/cmd/cluster_audit.go b/cmd/cluster_audit.go
index ef7a5aa..16d5b4a 100644
--- a/cmd/cluster_audit.go
+++ b/cmd/cluster_audit.go
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ func newClusterAuditCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			}
 			return fmt.Errorf("no command specified")
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	modeCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "mode --cluster-id=<clusterid>",
@@ -51,7 +50,6 @@ func newClusterAuditCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			"blocking\tBlock API server responses on processing each individual event.",
 			"blocking-strict\tSame as blocking, but when there is a failure during audit logging at the RequestReceived stage, the whole request to the kube-apiserver fails. This is the default.",
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	policyCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "policy --cluster-id=<clusterid>",
@@ -60,7 +58,6 @@ func newClusterAuditCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return w.auditPolicy()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	splunkCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "splunk --cluster-id=<clusterid>",
@@ -68,7 +65,6 @@ func newClusterAuditCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return w.splunk()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	clusterForwardingCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "cluster-forwarding --cluster-id=<clusterid>",
@@ -77,7 +73,6 @@ func newClusterAuditCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return w.clusterForwarding()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	clusterAuditCmd.Flags().Bool("disabled", false, "disables the entire audit functionality, enable again with --disabled=false, requires --yes-i-really-mean-it flag")
diff --git a/cmd/context.go b/cmd/context.go
index a281e1a..674b2b2 100644
--- a/cmd/context.go
+++ b/cmd/context.go
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ contexts:
 			}
 			return nil
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	contextShortCmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -51,7 +50,6 @@ contexts:
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return contextShort()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	contextCmd.AddCommand(contextShortCmd)
diff --git a/cmd/dashboard.go b/cmd/dashboard.go
index 2e5e1fd..98ffb6c 100644
--- a/cmd/dashboard.go
+++ b/cmd/dashboard.go
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ func newDashboardCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return runDashboard(c.cloud)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	tabs := dashboardTabs(nil, nil, nil)
diff --git a/cmd/health.go b/cmd/health.go
index b274c81..32cbfa4 100644
--- a/cmd/health.go
+++ b/cmd/health.go
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ func newHealthCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 
 			return output.New().Print(resp.Payload.Services)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	return healthCmd
 }
diff --git a/cmd/helper/helper.go b/cmd/helper/helper.go
index f0b1ca6..d90f991 100644
--- a/cmd/helper/helper.go
+++ b/cmd/helper/helper.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"math"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -184,3 +185,16 @@ func ClientNoAuth() runtime.ClientAuthInfoWriterFunc {
 	noAuth := func(_ runtime.ClientRequest, _ strfmt.Registry) error { return nil }
 	return runtime.ClientAuthInfoWriterFunc(noAuth)
 }
+
+func ExpandHomeDir(path string) (string, error) {
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(path, "~/") {
+		return path, nil
+	}
+
+	homedir, err := os.UserHomeDir()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("unable to expand home dir: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return filepath.Join(homedir, strings.TrimLeft(path, "~/")), nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/helper/helper_test.go b/cmd/helper/helper_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ddc17f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/helper/helper_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+package helper
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestExpandHomeDir(t *testing.T) {
+	homedir, err := os.UserHomeDir()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		path    string
+		want    string
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "no home dir",
+			path:    "/my/absolute/path",
+			want:    "/my/absolute/path",
+			wantErr: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "with home dir",
+			path:    "~/file",
+			want:    homedir + "/file",
+			wantErr: false,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := ExpandHomeDir(tt.path)
+			if (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
+				t.Errorf("ExpandHomeDir() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
+				return
+			}
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("ExpandHomeDir() = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/ip.go b/cmd/ip.go
index 5bcc45a..c1cfb7f 100644
--- a/cmd/ip.go
+++ b/cmd/ip.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ func newIPCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.ipList()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	ipStaticCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "static <ip>",
@@ -35,7 +34,6 @@ func newIPCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.ipStatic(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	ipAllocateCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "allocate <ip>",
@@ -43,7 +41,6 @@ func newIPCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.ipAllocate()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	ipFreeCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "delete <ip>",
@@ -52,7 +49,6 @@ func newIPCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.ipFree(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	ipCmd.AddCommand(ipListCmd)
diff --git a/cmd/login.go b/cmd/login.go
index 0057faf..03a8dff 100644
--- a/cmd/login.go
+++ b/cmd/login.go
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ func newLoginCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 
 			return nil
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	loginCmd.Flags().Bool("print-only", false, "If true, the token is printed to stdout")
 	return loginCmd
diff --git a/cmd/logout.go b/cmd/logout.go
index bf73413..5477da7 100644
--- a/cmd/logout.go
+++ b/cmd/logout.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ func newLogoutCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 
 			return nil
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	return logoutCmd
 }
diff --git a/cmd/postgres.go b/cmd/postgres.go
index c7704ab..4ce3b20 100644
--- a/cmd/postgres.go
+++ b/cmd/postgres.go
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresCreate()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresCreateStandbyCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "create-standby",
@@ -81,7 +80,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresCreateStandby()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresPromoteToPrimaryCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "promote-to-primary",
@@ -89,7 +87,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresPromoteToPrimary(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresDemoteToStandbyCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "demote-to-standby",
@@ -97,7 +94,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresDemoteToStandby(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresRestoreCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "restore",
@@ -105,7 +101,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresRestore()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresApplyCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "apply",
@@ -113,7 +108,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresApply()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresEditCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "edit",
@@ -121,7 +115,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresEdit(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresUpdateCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "update",
@@ -129,7 +122,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresUpdate(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresAcceptRestoreCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "restore-accepted",
@@ -137,7 +129,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresAcceptRestore(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresListCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "list",
@@ -146,7 +137,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresFind()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresListBackupsCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "list-backups",
@@ -154,7 +144,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresListBackups(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresDeleteCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "delete <postgres>",
@@ -163,7 +152,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresDelete(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresDescribeCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "describe <postgres>",
@@ -171,7 +159,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresDescribe(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresConnectionStringCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "connectionstring <postgres>",
@@ -179,7 +166,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresConnectionString(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresVersionsCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "version",
@@ -187,7 +173,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresVersions()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresPartitionsCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "partition",
@@ -195,7 +180,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresPartitions()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresBackupCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "backup-config",
@@ -208,7 +192,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresBackupCreate(false)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresBackupAutoCreateCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "auto-create",
@@ -216,7 +199,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresBackupCreate(true)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresBackupUpdateCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "update",
@@ -224,7 +206,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresBackupUpdate()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresBackupListCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "list",
@@ -233,7 +214,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresBackupList()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresBackupDescribeCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "describe",
@@ -241,7 +221,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresBackupDescribe(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	postgresBackupDeleteCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "delete <backup-config>",
@@ -250,7 +229,6 @@ postgres=#
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.postgresBackupDelete(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	postgresCmd.AddCommand(postgresBackupCmd)
diff --git a/cmd/project.go b/cmd/project.go
index 163ca2c..453ed9e 100644
--- a/cmd/project.go
+++ b/cmd/project.go
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ func newProjectCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.projectCreate()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	projectDescribeCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "describe <projectID>",
@@ -37,7 +36,6 @@ func newProjectCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.projectDescribe(args)
 		},
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ProjectListCompletion,
 	}
 	projectDeleteCmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -47,7 +45,6 @@ func newProjectCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.projectDelete(args)
 		},
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ProjectListCompletion,
 	}
 	projectApplyCmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -56,7 +53,6 @@ func newProjectCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.projectApply()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	projectEditCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "edit <projectID>",
@@ -64,7 +60,6 @@ func newProjectCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.projectEdit(args)
 		},
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.ProjectListCompletion,
 	}
 	projectListCmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -74,7 +69,6 @@ func newProjectCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.projectList()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	projectCreateCmd.Flags().String("name", "", "name of the project, max 10 characters. [required]")
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 6db7b0d..e80b9a0 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"log"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net/url"
@@ -11,32 +12,43 @@ import (
 	cloudgo "github.com/fi-ts/cloud-go"
 	"github.com/fi-ts/cloud-go/api/client"
 	"github.com/fi-ts/cloudctl/cmd/completion"
+	"github.com/fi-ts/cloudctl/cmd/helper"
 	"github.com/fi-ts/cloudctl/pkg/api"
 	"github.com/metal-stack/metal-lib/pkg/genericcli"
+	"github.com/spf13/afero"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 )
 
-var (
-	// will bind all viper flags to subcommands and
-	// prevent overwrite of identical flag names from other commands
-	// see https://github.com/spf13/viper/issues/233#issuecomment-386791444
-	bindPFlags = func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		err := viper.BindPFlags(cmd.Flags())
-		if err != nil {
-			fmt.Printf("error during setup:%v", err)
-			os.Exit(1)
-		}
-	}
+const (
+	binaryName = "cloudctl"
 )
 
-func newRootCmd() *cobra.Command {
-	name := "cloudctl"
+type config struct {
+	fs          afero.Fs
+	out         io.Writer
+	cloud       *client.CloudAPI
+	comp        *completion.Completion
+	consoleHost string
+	log         *slog.Logger
+}
+
+func newRootCmd(cfg *config) *cobra.Command {
 	rootCmd := &cobra.Command{
-		Use:          name,
+		Use:          binaryName,
 		Short:        "a cli to manage cloud entities.",
 		Long:         "with cloudctl you can manage kubernetes cluster, view networks et.al.",
 		SilenceUsage: true,
+		PersistentPreRunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			viper.SetFs(cfg.fs)
+			genericcli.Must(viper.BindPFlags(cmd.Flags()))
+			genericcli.Must(viper.BindPFlags(cmd.PersistentFlags()))
+			// we cannot instantiate the config earlier because
+			// cobra flags do not work so early in the game
+			genericcli.Must(initConfigWithViperCtx(cfg))
+
+			return nil
+		},
 	}
 
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringP("url", "u", "", "api server address. Can be specified with CLOUDCTL_URL environment variable.")
@@ -56,15 +68,10 @@ func newRootCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	`)
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolP("yes-i-really-mean-it", "", false, "skips security prompts (which can be dangerous to set blindly because actions can lead to data loss or additional costs)")
 
-	genericcli.Must(viper.BindPFlags(rootCmd.Flags()))
-	genericcli.Must(viper.BindPFlags(rootCmd.PersistentFlags()))
-
-	cfg := getConfig(name)
-
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(newAuditCmd(cfg))
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(newClusterCmd(cfg))
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(newDashboardCmd(cfg))
-	rootCmd.AddCommand(newUpdateCmd(cfg, name))
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(newUpdateCmd(cfg, binaryName))
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(newLoginCmd(cfg))
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(newLogoutCmd(cfg))
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(newWhoamiCmd())
@@ -84,7 +91,15 @@ func newRootCmd() *cobra.Command {
 
 // Execute is the entrypoint of the cloudctl application
 func Execute() {
-	cmd := newRootCmd()
+	// the config will be provided with more values on cobra init
+	// cobra flags do not work so early in the game
+	c := &config{
+		fs:   afero.NewOsFs(),
+		out:  os.Stdout,
+		comp: &completion.Completion{},
+	}
+
+	cmd := newRootCmd(c)
 	err := cmd.Execute()
 	if err != nil {
 		if viper.GetBool("debug") {
@@ -94,16 +109,8 @@ func Execute() {
 	}
 }
 
-type config struct {
-	name        string
-	cloud       *client.CloudAPI
-	comp        *completion.Completion
-	consoleHost string
-	log         *slog.Logger
-}
-
-func getConfig(name string) *config {
-	viper.SetEnvPrefix(strings.ToUpper(name))
+func initConfigWithViperCtx(cfg *config) error {
+	viper.SetEnvPrefix(strings.ToUpper(binaryName))
 	viper.SetEnvKeyReplacer(strings.NewReplacer("-", "_"))
 	viper.AutomaticEnv()
 
@@ -117,12 +124,12 @@ func getConfig(name string) *config {
 		}
 	} else {
 		viper.SetConfigName("config")
-		viper.AddConfigPath(fmt.Sprintf("/etc/%s", name))
+		viper.AddConfigPath(fmt.Sprintf("/etc/%s", binaryName))
 		h, err := os.UserHomeDir()
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Printf("unable to figure out user home directory, skipping config lookup path: %v", err)
 		} else {
-			viper.AddConfigPath(fmt.Sprintf(h+"/.%s", name))
+			viper.AddConfigPath(fmt.Sprintf(h+"/.%s", binaryName))
 		}
 		viper.AddConfigPath(".")
 		if err := viper.ReadInConfig(); err != nil {
@@ -133,12 +140,22 @@ func getConfig(name string) *config {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if viper.IsSet("kubeconfig") {
+		kubeconfigPath, err := helper.ExpandHomeDir(viper.GetString("kubeconfig"))
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("unable to get kubeconfig path: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		viper.Set("kubeconfig", kubeconfigPath)
+	}
+
 	ctx := api.MustDefaultContext()
 
 	opts := &slog.HandlerOptions{}
 	if viper.GetBool("debug") {
 		opts.Level = slog.LevelDebug
 	}
+	cfg.log = slog.New(slog.NewJSONHandler(os.Stdout, opts))
 
 	driverURL := viper.GetString("url")
 	if driverURL == "" && ctx.ApiURL != "" {
@@ -166,19 +183,14 @@ func getConfig(name string) *config {
 		log.Fatalf("error initializing cloud-api client: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	comp := completion.NewCompletion(cloud)
+	cfg.cloud = cloud
+	cfg.comp = completion.NewCompletion(cloud)
 
 	parsedURL, err := url.Parse(driverURL)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("could not parse driver url: %v", err)
 	}
-	consoleHost := parsedURL.Host
-
-	return &config{
-		name:        name,
-		cloud:       cloud,
-		comp:        comp,
-		consoleHost: consoleHost,
-		log:         slog.New(slog.NewJSONHandler(os.Stdout, opts)),
-	}
+	cfg.consoleHost = parsedURL.Host
+
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/cmd/s3.go b/cmd/s3.go
index 6434dc4..9455814 100644
--- a/cmd/s3.go
+++ b/cmd/s3.go
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ func newS3Cmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.s3Describe()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	s3CreateCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "create",
@@ -32,7 +31,6 @@ func newS3Cmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.s3Create()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	s3DeleteCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "delete",
@@ -41,7 +39,6 @@ func newS3Cmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.s3Delete()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	s3ListCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "list",
@@ -50,7 +47,6 @@ func newS3Cmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.s3List()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	s3PartitionListCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "partitions",
@@ -59,7 +55,6 @@ func newS3Cmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.s3ListPartitions()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	s3AddKeyCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "add-key",
@@ -67,7 +62,6 @@ func newS3Cmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.s3AddKey()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	s3RemoveKeyCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "remove-key",
@@ -75,7 +69,6 @@ func newS3Cmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.s3RemoveKey()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	s3CreateCmd.Flags().StringP("id", "i", "", "id of the s3 user [required]")
diff --git a/cmd/tenant.go b/cmd/tenant.go
index a7edc07..79fa2ed 100644
--- a/cmd/tenant.go
+++ b/cmd/tenant.go
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ func newTenantCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.tenantList()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	tenantDescribeCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "describe <tenantID>",
@@ -36,7 +35,6 @@ func newTenantCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.tenantDescribe(args)
 		},
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.TenantListCompletion,
 	}
 	tenantEditCmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -45,7 +43,6 @@ func newTenantCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.tenantEdit(args)
 		},
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.TenantListCompletion,
 	}
 	tenantApplyCmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -54,7 +51,6 @@ func newTenantCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.tenantApply()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	tenantListCmd.Flags().String("id", "", "show projects of given id")
diff --git a/cmd/version.go b/cmd/version.go
index 097b1f4..87be17c 100644
--- a/cmd/version.go
+++ b/cmd/version.go
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ func newVersionCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			}
 			return nil
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	return versionCmd
 }
diff --git a/cmd/volume.go b/cmd/volume.go
index 38eddaa..089757a 100644
--- a/cmd/volume.go
+++ b/cmd/volume.go
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ func newVolumeCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.volumeFind()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	volumeDescribeCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "describe <volume>",
@@ -35,7 +34,6 @@ func newVolumeCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.volumeDescribe(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.VolumeListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	volumeDeleteCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "delete <volume>",
@@ -45,7 +43,6 @@ func newVolumeCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.volumeDelete(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.VolumeListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	volumeManifestCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "manifest <volume>",
@@ -55,7 +52,6 @@ func newVolumeCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 			return c.volumeManifest(args)
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: c.comp.VolumeListCompletion,
-		PreRun:            bindPFlags,
 	}
 	volumeEncryptionSecretManifestCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "encryption-secret-manifest",
@@ -64,7 +60,6 @@ func newVolumeCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.volumeEncryptionSecretManifest()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	volumeClusterInfoCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "clusterinfo",
@@ -72,7 +67,6 @@ func newVolumeCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.volumeClusterInfo()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	snapshotCmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -87,7 +81,6 @@ func newVolumeCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.snapshotFind()
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	snapshotDescribeCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "describe <snapshot>",
@@ -95,7 +88,6 @@ func newVolumeCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.snapshotDescribe(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	snapshotDeleteCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "delete <snapshot>",
@@ -104,7 +96,6 @@ func newVolumeCmd(c *config) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return c.snapshotDelete(args)
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 
 	snapshotListCmd.Flags().StringP("snapshotid", "", "", "snapshotid to filter [optional]")
diff --git a/cmd/whoami.go b/cmd/whoami.go
index be1ccb6..76fecf8 100644
--- a/cmd/whoami.go
+++ b/cmd/whoami.go
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ func newWhoamiCmd() *cobra.Command {
 
 			return nil
 		},
-		PreRun: bindPFlags,
 	}
 	return whoamiCmd
 }