diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1a7a69ed..93662ed8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -159,10 +159,19 @@ Here's a complete example of all supported config keys explained for the `contro
 ```yaml
 # Keys beginning with "cpln_" correspond to your settings in Control Plane.
 
+# Global settings that apply to `cpl` usage.
+# You can opt out of allowing the use of CPLN_ORG and CPLN_APP env vars
+# to avoid any accidents with the wrong org / app.
+allow_org_override_by_env: true
+allow_app_override_by_env: true
+
 aliases:
   common: &common
-    # Organization name for staging (customize to your needs).
-    # Production apps will use a different organization, specified below, for security.
+    # Organization for staging and QA apps is typically set as an alias.
+    # Production apps will use a different organization, specified in `apps`, for security.
+    # Change this value to your organization name
+    # or set the CPLN_ORG env var and it will override this for all `cpl` commands
+    # (provided that `allow_org_override_by_env` is set to `true`).
     cpln_org: my-org-staging
 
     # Example apps use only one location. Control Plane offers the ability to use multiple locations.
diff --git a/examples/controlplane.yml b/examples/controlplane.yml
index b76bbabf..95a334cc 100644
--- a/examples/controlplane.yml
+++ b/examples/controlplane.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Keys beginning with "cpln_" correspond to your settings in Control Plane.
 
+# Global settings that apply to `cpl` usage.
+# You can opt out of allowing the use of CPLN_ORG and CPLN_APP env vars
+# to avoid any accidents with the wrong org / app.
+allow_org_override_by_env: true
+allow_app_override_by_env: true
+
 aliases:
   common: &common
     # Organization name for staging (customize to your needs).
diff --git a/lib/command/base.rb b/lib/command/base.rb
index e4cedf8a..205524f8 100644
--- a/lib/command/base.rb
+++ b/lib/command/base.rb
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def self.common_options
       [org_option, verbose_option]
     end
 
-    def self.org_option(required: false) # rubocop:disable Metrics/MethodLength
+    def self.org_option(required: false)
       {
         name: :org,
         params: {
@@ -52,13 +52,12 @@ def self.org_option(required: false) # rubocop:disable Metrics/MethodLength
           banner: "ORG_NAME",
           desc: "Organization name",
           type: :string,
-          required: required,
-          default: ENV.fetch("CPLN_ORG", nil)
+          required: required
         }
       }
     end
 
-    def self.app_option(required: false) # rubocop:disable Metrics/MethodLength
+    def self.app_option(required: false)
       {
         name: :app,
         params: {
@@ -66,8 +65,7 @@ def self.app_option(required: false) # rubocop:disable Metrics/MethodLength
           banner: "APP_NAME",
           desc: "Application name",
           type: :string,
-          required: required,
-          default: ENV.fetch("CPLN_APP", nil)
+          required: required
         }
       }
     end
diff --git a/lib/core/config.rb b/lib/core/config.rb
index 7b47cce3..340b347e 100644
--- a/lib/core/config.rb
+++ b/lib/core/config.rb
@@ -2,22 +2,27 @@
 
 class Config # rubocop:disable Metrics/ClassLength
   attr_reader :config, :current,
-              :org, :org_comes_from_env, :app, :apps, :app_dir,
+              :org, :org_comes_from_env, :app, :apps, :app_dir, :required_options,
               # command line options
               :args, :options
 
   CONFIG_FILE_LOCATIION = ".controlplane/controlplane.yml"
 
-  def initialize(args, options)
+  def initialize(args, options, required_options)
     @args = args
     @options = options
-    @org = options[:org]&.strip
-    @org_comes_from_env = true if ENV.fetch("CPLN_ORG", nil)
-    @app = options[:app]&.strip
+    @required_options = required_options
 
     load_app_config
+
+    configure_org
+    configure_app
+
     load_apps
 
+    ensure_org! if required_options.include?(:org)
+    ensure_required_options!
+
     Shell.verbose_mode(options[:verbose])
   end
 
@@ -54,9 +59,9 @@ def ensure_current_config_app!(app_name)
   def ensure_current_config_org!(app_name)
     return if @org
 
-    raise "Can't find option 'cpln_org' for app '#{app_name}' in 'controlplane.yml', " \
-          "and CPLN_ORG env var is not set. " \
-          "The org can also be provided through --org."
+    raise "Can't find option 'cpln_org' for app '#{app_name}' in 'controlplane.yml'. " \
+          "The org can also be provided either through --org " \
+          "or the CPLN_ORG env var ('allow_org_override_by_env' must be set to true in 'controlplane.yml')."
   end
 
   def ensure_config!
@@ -71,6 +76,57 @@ def ensure_config_app!(app_name, app_options)
     raise "App '#{app_name}' is empty in 'controlplane.yml'." unless app_options
   end
 
+  def ensure_org!
+    return if @org
+
+    raise "No org provided. The org can be provided either through --org " \
+          "or the CPLN_ORG env var ('allow_org_override_by_env' must be set to true in 'controlplane.yml')."
+  end
+
+  def ensure_app!
+    return if @app
+
+    raise "No app provided. The app can be provided either through --app " \
+          "or the CPLN_APP env var ('allow_app_override_by_env' must be set to true in 'controlplane.yml')."
+  end
+
+  def ensure_required_options!
+    missing_str = required_options
+                  .reject { |option_name| %i[org app].include?(option_name) || options.key?(option_name) }
+                  .map { |option_name| "--#{option_name}" }
+                  .join(", ")
+
+    raise "Required options missing: #{missing_str}" unless missing_str.empty?
+  end
+
+  def non_empty_str_or_nil(str)
+    return str if str.nil?
+
+    str.empty? ? nil : str
+  end
+
+  def configure_org
+    if config[:allow_org_override_by_env]
+      org_from_env = non_empty_str_or_nil(ENV.fetch("CPLN_ORG", nil)&.strip)
+      if org_from_env
+        @org = org_from_env
+        @org_comes_from_env = true
+      end
+    end
+
+    return if @org
+
+    @org = non_empty_str_or_nil(options[:org]&.strip)
+  end
+
+  def configure_app
+    @app = non_empty_str_or_nil(ENV.fetch("CPLN_APP", nil)&.strip) if config[:allow_app_override_by_env]
+    return if @app
+
+    @app = non_empty_str_or_nil(options[:app]&.strip)
+    ensure_app! if required_options.include?(:app)
+  end
+
   def app_matches_current?(app_name, app_options)
     app && (app_name.to_s == app || (app_options[:match_if_app_name_starts_with] && app.start_with?(app_name.to_s)))
   end
@@ -81,7 +137,7 @@ def pick_current_config(app_name, app_options)
 
     return if @org
 
-    @org = current.fetch(:cpln_org)&.strip if current.key?(:cpln_org)
+    @org = non_empty_str_or_nil(current.fetch(:cpln_org)&.strip) if current.key?(:cpln_org)
     ensure_current_config_org!(app_name)
   end
 
diff --git a/lib/cpl.rb b/lib/cpl.rb
index 98813aaf..bd22cd71 100644
--- a/lib/cpl.rb
+++ b/lib/cpl.rb
@@ -157,8 +157,13 @@ def self.all_base_commands
       desc(usage, description, hide: hide)
       long_desc(long_description)
 
+      required_options = []
       command_options.each do |option|
-        method_option(option[:name], **option[:params])
+        # We'll handle required options manually in `Config`
+        required_options.push(option[:name]) if option[:params][:required]
+
+        params = option[:params].reject { |key, _| key == :required }
+        method_option(option[:name], **params)
       end
 
       define_method(name_for_method) do |*provided_args| # rubocop:disable Metrics/MethodLength
@@ -177,7 +182,7 @@ def self.all_base_commands
         raise_args_error.call(args, nil) if (args.empty? && requires_args) || (!args.empty? && !requires_args)
 
         begin
-          config = Config.new(args, options)
+          config = Config.new(args, options, required_options)
 
           show_info_header(config) if with_info_header