diff --git a/cmd/ipfs/daemon.go b/cmd/ipfs/daemon.go
index a04fbed72..03b6fb5e9 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfs/daemon.go
+++ b/cmd/ipfs/daemon.go
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ Headers.
 		// cmds.StringOption(swarmAddrKwd, "Address for the swarm socket (overrides config)"),
 	},
 	Subcommands: map[string]*cmds.Command{},
+	NoRemote:    true,
+	Extra:       commands.CreateCmdExtras(commands.SetDoesNotUseConfigAsInput(true)),
 	Run:         daemonFunc,
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/ipfs/init.go b/cmd/ipfs/init.go
index 4359c19a7..22593e95c 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfs/init.go
+++ b/cmd/ipfs/init.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	assets "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/assets"
 	oldcmds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/commands"
 	core "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core"
+	"github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands"
 	namesys "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/namesys"
 	fsrepo "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/repo/fsrepo"
 
@@ -66,6 +67,8 @@ environment variable:
 		// name of the file?
 		// TODO cmds.StringOption("event-logs", "l", "Location for machine-readable event logs."),
 	},
+	NoRemote: true,
+	Extra:    commands.CreateCmdExtras(commands.SetDoesNotUseRepo(true), commands.SetDoesNotUseConfigAsInput(true)),
 	PreRun: func(req *cmds.Request, env cmds.Environment) error {
 		cctx := env.(*oldcmds.Context)
 		daemonLocked, err := fsrepo.LockedByOtherProcess(cctx.ConfigRoot)
diff --git a/cmd/ipfs/ipfs.go b/cmd/ipfs/ipfs.go
index 8cb5acf07..88aeb555b 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfs/ipfs.go
+++ b/cmd/ipfs/ipfs.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-
 	commands "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands"
 
 	cmds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-cmds"
@@ -39,59 +37,3 @@ func init() {
 		}
 	}
 }
-
-// NB: when necessary, properties are described using negatives in order to
-// provide desirable defaults
-type cmdDetails struct {
-	cannotRunOnClient bool
-	cannotRunOnDaemon bool
-	doesNotUseRepo    bool
-
-	// doesNotUseConfigAsInput describes commands that do not use the config as
-	// input. These commands either initialize the config or perform operations
-	// that don't require access to the config.
-	//
-	// pre-command hooks that require configs must not be run before these
-	// commands.
-	doesNotUseConfigAsInput bool
-
-	// preemptsAutoUpdate describes commands that must be executed without the
-	// auto-update pre-command hook
-	preemptsAutoUpdate bool
-}
-
-func (d *cmdDetails) String() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("on client? %t, on daemon? %t, uses repo? %t",
-		d.canRunOnClient(), d.canRunOnDaemon(), d.usesRepo())
-}
-
-func (d *cmdDetails) Loggable() map[string]interface{} {
-	return map[string]interface{}{
-		"canRunOnClient":     d.canRunOnClient(),
-		"canRunOnDaemon":     d.canRunOnDaemon(),
-		"preemptsAutoUpdate": d.preemptsAutoUpdate,
-		"usesConfigAsInput":  d.usesConfigAsInput(),
-		"usesRepo":           d.usesRepo(),
-	}
-}
-
-func (d *cmdDetails) usesConfigAsInput() bool { return !d.doesNotUseConfigAsInput }
-func (d *cmdDetails) canRunOnClient() bool    { return !d.cannotRunOnClient }
-func (d *cmdDetails) canRunOnDaemon() bool    { return !d.cannotRunOnDaemon }
-func (d *cmdDetails) usesRepo() bool          { return !d.doesNotUseRepo }
-
-// "What is this madness!?" you ask. Our commands have the unfortunate problem of
-// not being able to run on all the same contexts. This map describes these
-// properties so that other code can make decisions about whether to invoke a
-// command or return an error to the user.
-var cmdDetailsMap = map[string]cmdDetails{
-	"init":        {doesNotUseConfigAsInput: true, cannotRunOnDaemon: true, doesNotUseRepo: true},
-	"daemon":      {doesNotUseConfigAsInput: true, cannotRunOnDaemon: true},
-	"commands":    {doesNotUseRepo: true},
-	"version":     {doesNotUseConfigAsInput: true, doesNotUseRepo: true}, // must be permitted to run before init
-	"log":         {cannotRunOnClient: true},
-	"diag/cmds":   {cannotRunOnClient: true},
-	"repo/fsck":   {cannotRunOnDaemon: true},
-	"config/edit": {cannotRunOnDaemon: true, doesNotUseRepo: true},
-	"cid":         {doesNotUseRepo: true},
-}
diff --git a/cmd/ipfs/main.go b/cmd/ipfs/main.go
index 2a10c7c2d..312113cc8 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfs/main.go
+++ b/cmd/ipfs/main.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"runtime/pprof"
-	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	util "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/cmd/ipfs/util"
@@ -202,16 +201,17 @@ func apiAddrOption(req *cmds.Request) (ma.Multiaddr, error) {
 func makeExecutor(req *cmds.Request, env interface{}) (cmds.Executor, error) {
 	exe := cmds.NewExecutor(req.Root)
 	cctx := env.(*oldcmds.Context)
-	details := commandDetails(req.Path)
 
 	// Check if the command is disabled.
-	if details.cannotRunOnClient && details.cannotRunOnDaemon {
+	if req.Command.NoLocal && req.Command.NoRemote {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("command disabled: %v", req.Path)
 	}
 
 	// Can we just run this locally?
-	if !details.cannotRunOnClient && details.doesNotUseRepo {
-		return exe, nil
+	if !req.Command.NoLocal {
+		if doesNotUseRepo, ok := corecmds.GetDoesNotUseRepo(req.Command.Extra); doesNotUseRepo && ok {
+			return exe, nil
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Get the API option from the commandline.
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ func makeExecutor(req *cmds.Request, env interface{}) (cmds.Executor, error) {
 	daemonRequested := apiAddr != nil && req.Command != daemonCmd
 
 	// Run this on the client if required.
-	if details.cannotRunOnDaemon || req.Command.External {
+	if req.Command.NoRemote {
 		if daemonRequested {
 			// User requested that the command be run on the daemon but we can't.
 			// NOTE: We drop this check for the `ipfs daemon` command.
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ func makeExecutor(req *cmds.Request, env interface{}) (cmds.Executor, error) {
 
 	// Still no api specified? Run it on the client or fail.
 	if apiAddr == nil {
-		if details.cannotRunOnClient {
+		if req.Command.NoLocal {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("command must be run on the daemon: %v", req.Path)
 		}
 		return exe, nil
@@ -293,22 +293,6 @@ func makeExecutor(req *cmds.Request, env interface{}) (cmds.Executor, error) {
 	return cmdhttp.NewClient(host, opts...), nil
 }
 
-// commandDetails returns a command's details for the command given by |path|.
-func commandDetails(path []string) cmdDetails {
-	if len(path) == 0 {
-		// special case root command
-		return cmdDetails{doesNotUseRepo: true}
-	}
-	var details cmdDetails
-	// find the last command in path that has a cmdDetailsMap entry
-	for i := range path {
-		if cmdDetails, found := cmdDetailsMap[strings.Join(path[:i+1], "/")]; found {
-			details = cmdDetails
-		}
-	}
-	return details
-}
-
 func getRepoPath(req *cmds.Request) (string, error) {
 	repoOpt, found := req.Options["config"].(string)
 	if found && repoOpt != "" {
diff --git a/cmd/ipfs/rotate.go b/cmd/ipfs/rotate.go
index 335b1bfac..2dd583ab6 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfs/rotate.go
+++ b/cmd/ipfs/rotate.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ environment variable:
 		cmds.StringOption(algorithmOptionName, "a", "Cryptographic algorithm to use for key generation.").WithDefault(algorithmDefault),
 		cmds.IntOption(bitsOptionName, "b", "Number of bits to use in the generated RSA private key."),
 	},
+	NoRemote: true,
 	PreRun: func(req *cmds.Request, env cmds.Environment) error {
 		cctx := env.(*oldcmds.Context)
 		daemonLocked, err := fsrepo.LockedByOtherProcess(cctx.ConfigRoot)
diff --git a/core/commands/active.go b/core/commands/active.go
index 9f924e9a9..34a2c9b9c 100644
--- a/core/commands/active.go
+++ b/core/commands/active.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ var ActiveReqsCmd = &cmds.Command{
 Lists running and recently run commands.
 `,
 	},
+	NoLocal: true,
 	Run: func(req *cmds.Request, res cmds.ResponseEmitter, env cmds.Environment) error {
 		ctx := env.(*oldcmds.Context)
 		return cmds.EmitOnce(res, ctx.ReqLog.Report())
diff --git a/core/commands/cid.go b/core/commands/cid.go
index dd01349d6..13c3e83a9 100644
--- a/core/commands/cid.go
+++ b/core/commands/cid.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ var CidCmd = &cmds.Command{
 		"codecs": codecsCmd,
 		"hashes": hashesCmd,
 	},
+	Extra: CreateCmdExtras(SetDoesNotUseRepo(true)),
 }
 
 const (
diff --git a/core/commands/commands.go b/core/commands/commands.go
index 404230695..b45ac54c6 100644
--- a/core/commands/commands.go
+++ b/core/commands/commands.go
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ func CommandsCmd(root *cmds.Command) *cmds.Command {
 		Options: []cmds.Option{
 			cmds.BoolOption(flagsOptionName, "f", "Show command flags"),
 		},
+		Extra: CreateCmdExtras(SetDoesNotUseRepo(true)),
 		Run: func(req *cmds.Request, res cmds.ResponseEmitter, env cmds.Environment) error {
 			rootCmd := cmd2outputCmd("ipfs", root)
 			rootCmd.showOpts, _ = req.Options[flagsOptionName].(bool)
diff --git a/core/commands/config.go b/core/commands/config.go
index 90f5eca82..50af44343 100644
--- a/core/commands/config.go
+++ b/core/commands/config.go
@@ -239,7 +239,8 @@ To use 'ipfs config edit', you must have the $EDITOR environment
 variable set to your preferred text editor.
 `,
 	},
-
+	NoRemote: true,
+	Extra:    CreateCmdExtras(SetDoesNotUseRepo(true)),
 	Run: func(req *cmds.Request, res cmds.ResponseEmitter, env cmds.Environment) error {
 		cfgRoot, err := cmdenv.GetConfigRoot(env)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/core/commands/external.go b/core/commands/external.go
index 37105c31e..0eb4de036 100644
--- a/core/commands/external.go
+++ b/core/commands/external.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ func ExternalBinary(instructions string) *cmds.Command {
 			cmds.StringArg("args", false, true, "Arguments for subcommand."),
 		},
 		External: true,
+		NoRemote: true,
 		Run: func(req *cmds.Request, res cmds.ResponseEmitter, env cmds.Environment) error {
 			binname := strings.Join(append([]string{"ipfs"}, req.Path...), "-")
 			_, err := exec.LookPath(binname)
diff --git a/core/commands/extra.go b/core/commands/extra.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e70fb029a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/commands/extra.go
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+package commands
+
+import cmds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-cmds"
+
+func CreateCmdExtras(opts ...func(e *cmds.Extra)) *cmds.Extra {
+	e := new(cmds.Extra)
+	for _, o := range opts {
+		o(e)
+	}
+	return e
+}
+
+type doesNotUseRepo struct{}
+
+func SetDoesNotUseRepo(val bool) func(e *cmds.Extra) {
+	return func(e *cmds.Extra) {
+		e.SetValue(doesNotUseRepo{}, val)
+	}
+}
+
+func GetDoesNotUseRepo(e *cmds.Extra) (val bool, found bool) {
+	return getBoolFlag(e, doesNotUseRepo{})
+}
+
+// doesNotUseConfigAsInput describes commands that do not use the config as
+// input. These commands either initialize the config or perform operations
+// that don't require access to the config.
+//
+// pre-command hooks that require configs must not be run before these
+// commands.
+type doesNotUseConfigAsInput struct{}
+
+func SetDoesNotUseConfigAsInput(val bool) func(e *cmds.Extra) {
+	return func(e *cmds.Extra) {
+		e.SetValue(doesNotUseConfigAsInput{}, val)
+	}
+}
+
+func GetDoesNotUseConfigAsInput(e *cmds.Extra) (val bool, found bool) {
+	return getBoolFlag(e, doesNotUseConfigAsInput{})
+}
+
+// preemptsAutoUpdate describes commands that must be executed without the
+// auto-update pre-command hook
+type preemptsAutoUpdate struct{}
+
+func SetPreemptsAutoUpdate(val bool) func(e *cmds.Extra) {
+	return func(e *cmds.Extra) {
+		e.SetValue(preemptsAutoUpdate{}, val)
+	}
+}
+
+func GetPreemptsAutoUpdate(e *cmds.Extra) (val bool, found bool) {
+	return getBoolFlag(e, preemptsAutoUpdate{})
+}
+
+func getBoolFlag(e *cmds.Extra, key interface{}) (val bool, found bool) {
+	var ival interface{}
+	ival, found = e.GetValue(key)
+	if !found {
+		return false, false
+	}
+	val = ival.(bool)
+	return val, found
+}
diff --git a/core/commands/keystore.go b/core/commands/keystore.go
index a50ee0b4f..639cc5fab 100644
--- a/core/commands/keystore.go
+++ b/core/commands/keystore.go
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ path can be specified with '--output=<path>' or '-o=<path>'.
 	Options: []cmds.Option{
 		cmds.StringOption(outputOptionName, "o", "The path where the output should be stored."),
 	},
+	NoRemote: true,
 	Run: func(req *cmds.Request, res cmds.ResponseEmitter, env cmds.Environment) error {
 		name := req.Arguments[0]
 
diff --git a/core/commands/log.go b/core/commands/log.go
index ff560ae4b..78ff8a6b5 100644
--- a/core/commands/log.go
+++ b/core/commands/log.go
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ the event log.
 			One of: debug, info, warn, error, dpanic, panic, fatal.
 		`),
 	},
+	NoLocal: true,
 	Run: func(req *cmds.Request, res cmds.ResponseEmitter, env cmds.Environment) error {
 		args := req.Arguments
 		subsystem, level := args[0], args[1]
diff --git a/core/commands/repo.go b/core/commands/repo.go
index d3de85fdd..0a91648a8 100644
--- a/core/commands/repo.go
+++ b/core/commands/repo.go
@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ var repoFsckCmd = &cmds.Command{
 'ipfs repo fsck' is now a no-op.
 `,
 	},
+	NoRemote: true,
 	Run: func(req *cmds.Request, res cmds.ResponseEmitter, env cmds.Environment) error {
 		return cmds.EmitOnce(res, &MessageOutput{"`ipfs repo fsck` is deprecated and does nothing.\n"})
 	},
diff --git a/core/commands/version.go b/core/commands/version.go
index ce7b60edd..834326d17 100644
--- a/core/commands/version.go
+++ b/core/commands/version.go
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ var VersionCmd = &cmds.Command{
 		cmds.BoolOption(versionRepoOptionName, "Show repo version."),
 		cmds.BoolOption(versionAllOptionName, "Show all version information"),
 	},
+	// must be permitted to run before init
+	Extra: CreateCmdExtras(SetDoesNotUseRepo(true), SetDoesNotUseConfigAsInput(true)),
 	Run: func(req *cmds.Request, res cmds.ResponseEmitter, env cmds.Environment) error {
 		return cmds.EmitOnce(res, &VersionOutput{
 			Version: version.CurrentVersionNumber,
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index c048b9097..727139ac7 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/ipfs/go-graphsync v0.0.5
 	github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-blockstore v0.1.4
 	github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-chunker v0.0.5
-	github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-cmds v0.2.9
+	github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-cmds v0.3.0
 	github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-config v0.9.0
 	github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-ds-help v0.1.1
 	github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-exchange-interface v0.0.1
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index e235f313e..3103e45e2 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -340,8 +340,8 @@ github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-chunker v0.0.1 h1:cHUUxKFQ99pozdahi+uSC/3Y6HeRpi9oTeUHbE
 github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-chunker v0.0.1/go.mod h1:tWewYK0we3+rMbOh7pPFGDyypCtvGcBFymgY4rSDLAw=
 github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-chunker v0.0.5 h1:ojCf7HV/m+uS2vhUGWcogIIxiO5ubl5O57Q7NapWLY8=
 github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-chunker v0.0.5/go.mod h1:jhgdF8vxRHycr00k13FM8Y0E+6BoalYeobXmUyTreP8=
-github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-cmds v0.2.9 h1:zQTENe9UJrtCb2bOtRoDGjtuo3rQjmuPdPnVlqoBV/M=
-github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-cmds v0.2.9/go.mod h1:ZgYiWVnCk43ChwoH8hAmI1IRbuVtq3GSTHwtRB/Kqhk=
+github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-cmds v0.3.0 h1:mi9oYrSCox5aBhutqAYqw6/9crlyGbw4E/aJtwS4zI4=
+github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-cmds v0.3.0/go.mod h1:ZgYiWVnCk43ChwoH8hAmI1IRbuVtq3GSTHwtRB/Kqhk=
 github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-config v0.9.0 h1:qTXJ9CyOyQv1LFJUMysxz8fi6RxxnP9QqcmiobuANvw=
 github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-config v0.9.0/go.mod h1:GQUxqb0NfkZmEU92PxqqqLVVFTLpoGGUlBaTyDaAqrE=
 github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-delay v0.0.0-20181109222059-70721b86a9a8/go.mod h1:8SP1YXK1M1kXuc4KJZINY3TQQ03J2rwBG9QfXmbRPrw=