diff --git a/core/commands/publish.go b/core/commands/publish.go
index c3c1e50c8..d46e96edc 100644
--- a/core/commands/publish.go
+++ b/core/commands/publish.go
@@ -50,12 +50,12 @@ Publish an <ipfs-path> to another public key (not implemented):
 		cmds.StringArg("ipfs-path", true, false, "IPFS path of the object to be published.").EnableStdin(),
 	},
 	Options: []cmds.Option{
-		cmds.BoolOption("resolve", "Resolve given path before publishing (default=true)."),
-		cmds.StringOption("lifetime", "t", `Time duration that the record will be valid for. Default: 24h.
+		cmds.BoolOption("resolve", "Resolve given path before publishing.").Default(true),
+		cmds.StringOption("lifetime", "t", `Time duration that the record will be valid for.
 
     This accepts durations such as "300s", "1.5h" or "2h45m". Valid time units are
     "ns", "us" (or "µs"), "ms", "s", "m", "h".
-		`),
+		`).Default("24h"),
 		cmds.StringOption("ttl", "Time duration this record should be cached for (caution: experimental)."),
 	},
 	Run: func(req cmds.Request, res cmds.Response) {
@@ -86,25 +86,18 @@ Publish an <ipfs-path> to another public key (not implemented):
 			return
 		}
 
-		popts := &publishOpts{
-			verifyExists: true,
-			pubValidTime: time.Hour * 24,
+		popts := new(publishOpts)
+
+		popts.verifyExists, _, _ = req.Option("resolve").Bool()
+
+		validtime, _, _ := req.Option("lifetime").String()
+		d, err := time.ParseDuration(validtime)
+		if err != nil {
+			res.SetError(fmt.Errorf("error parsing lifetime option: %s", err), cmds.ErrNormal)
+			return
 		}
 
-		verif, found, _ := req.Option("resolve").Bool()
-		if found {
-			popts.verifyExists = verif
-		}
-		validtime, found, _ := req.Option("lifetime").String()
-		if found {
-			d, err := time.ParseDuration(validtime)
-			if err != nil {
-				res.SetError(fmt.Errorf("error parsing lifetime option: %s", err), cmds.ErrNormal)
-				return
-			}
-
-			popts.pubValidTime = d
-		}
+		popts.pubValidTime = d
 
 		ctx := req.Context()
 		if ttl, found, _ := req.Option("ttl").String(); found {