diff --git a/cmd/influxd/launcher/launcher.go b/cmd/influxd/launcher/launcher.go
index dab7bb6af12..9a486af3185 100644
--- a/cmd/influxd/launcher/launcher.go
+++ b/cmd/influxd/launcher/launcher.go
@@ -14,8 +14,11 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/influxdata/flux/control"
 	"github.com/influxdata/flux/execute"
+	"github.com/influxdata/influxdb/kit/signals"
+	"github.com/influxdata/influxdb/telemetry"
 	"github.com/opentracing/opentracing-go"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	jaegerconfig "github.com/uber/jaeger-client-go/config"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 	"go.uber.org/zap/zapcore"
@@ -65,6 +68,128 @@ const (
 	JaegerTracing = "jaeger"
 )
 
+func NewCommand() *cobra.Command {
+	l := NewLauncher()
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "run",
+		Short: "Start the influxd server (default)",
+		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+			// exit with SIGINT and SIGTERM
+			ctx := context.Background()
+			ctx = signals.WithStandardSignals(ctx)
+
+			// m.SetBuild(version, commit, date)
+			if err := l.run(ctx); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+				os.Exit(1)
+			} else if !l.Running() {
+				os.Exit(1)
+			}
+
+			var wg sync.WaitGroup
+			if !l.ReportingDisabled() {
+				reporter := telemetry.NewReporter(l.Registry())
+				reporter.Interval = 8 * time.Hour
+				reporter.Logger = l.Logger()
+				wg.Add(1)
+				go func() {
+					defer wg.Done()
+					reporter.Report(ctx)
+				}()
+			}
+
+			<-ctx.Done()
+
+			// Attempt clean shutdown.
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 2*time.Second)
+			defer cancel()
+			l.Shutdown(ctx)
+			wg.Wait()
+		},
+	}
+
+	buildLauncherCommand(l, cmd)
+
+	return cmd
+}
+
+func buildLauncherCommand(l *Launcher, cmd *cobra.Command) {
+	dir, err := fs.InfluxDir()
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(fmt.Errorf("failed to determine influx directory: %v", err))
+	}
+
+	opts := []cli.Opt{
+		{
+			DestP:   &l.logLevel,
+			Flag:    "log-level",
+			Default: "info",
+			Desc:    "supported log levels are debug, info, and error",
+		},
+		{
+			DestP:   &l.tracingType,
+			Flag:    "tracing-type",
+			Default: "",
+			Desc:    fmt.Sprintf("supported tracing types are %s, %s", LogTracing, JaegerTracing),
+		},
+		{
+			DestP:   &l.httpBindAddress,
+			Flag:    "http-bind-address",
+			Default: ":9999",
+			Desc:    "bind address for the REST HTTP API",
+		},
+		{
+			DestP:   &l.boltPath,
+			Flag:    "bolt-path",
+			Default: filepath.Join(dir, "influxd.bolt"),
+			Desc:    "path to boltdb database",
+		},
+		{
+			DestP: &l.assetsPath,
+			Flag:  "assets-path",
+			Desc:  "override default assets by serving from a specific directory (developer mode)",
+		},
+		{
+			DestP:   &l.storeType,
+			Flag:    "store",
+			Default: "bolt",
+			Desc:    "backing store for REST resources (bolt or memory)",
+		},
+		{
+			DestP:   &l.testing,
+			Flag:    "e2e-testing",
+			Default: false,
+			Desc:    "add /debug/flush endpoint to clear stores; used for end-to-end tests",
+		},
+		{
+			DestP:   &l.enginePath,
+			Flag:    "engine-path",
+			Default: filepath.Join(dir, "engine"),
+			Desc:    "path to persistent engine files",
+		},
+		{
+			DestP:   &l.secretStore,
+			Flag:    "secret-store",
+			Default: "bolt",
+			Desc:    "data store for secrets (bolt or vault)",
+		},
+		{
+			DestP:   &l.protosPath,
+			Flag:    "protos-path",
+			Default: filepath.Join(dir, "protos"),
+			Desc:    "path to protos on the filesystem",
+		},
+		{
+			DestP:   &l.reportingDisabled,
+			Flag:    "reporting-disabled",
+			Default: false,
+			Desc:    "disable sending telemetry data to https://telemetry.influxdata.com every 8 hours",
+		},
+	}
+
+	cli.BindOptions(cmd, opts)
+}
+
 // Launcher represents the main program execution.
 type Launcher struct {
 	wg      sync.WaitGroup
@@ -103,9 +228,6 @@ type Launcher struct {
 	logger             *zap.Logger
 	reg                *prom.Registry
 
-	// BuildInfo contains commit, version and such of influxdb.
-	BuildInfo platform.BuildInfo
-
 	Stdin      io.Reader
 	Stdout     io.Writer
 	Stderr     io.Writer
@@ -141,13 +263,6 @@ func (m *Launcher) Logger() *zap.Logger {
 	return m.logger
 }
 
-// SetBuild adds version, commit, and date to prometheus metrics.
-func (m *Launcher) SetBuild(version, commit, date string) {
-	m.BuildInfo.Version = version
-	m.BuildInfo.Commit = commit
-	m.BuildInfo.Date = date
-}
-
 // URL returns the URL to connect to the HTTP server.
 func (m *Launcher) URL() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("http://127.0.0.1:%d", m.httpPort)
@@ -200,84 +315,16 @@ func (m *Launcher) Cancel() { m.cancel() }
 
 // Run executes the program with the given CLI arguments.
 func (m *Launcher) Run(ctx context.Context, args ...string) error {
-	dir, err := fs.InfluxDir()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to determine influx directory: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	prog := &cli.Program{
-		Name: "influxd",
-		Run:  func() error { return m.run(ctx) },
-		Opts: []cli.Opt{
-			{
-				DestP:   &m.logLevel,
-				Flag:    "log-level",
-				Default: "info",
-				Desc:    "supported log levels are debug, info, and error",
-			},
-			{
-				DestP:   &m.tracingType,
-				Flag:    "tracing-type",
-				Default: "",
-				Desc:    fmt.Sprintf("supported tracing types are %s, %s", LogTracing, JaegerTracing),
-			},
-			{
-				DestP:   &m.httpBindAddress,
-				Flag:    "http-bind-address",
-				Default: ":9999",
-				Desc:    "bind address for the REST HTTP API",
-			},
-			{
-				DestP:   &m.boltPath,
-				Flag:    "bolt-path",
-				Default: filepath.Join(dir, "influxd.bolt"),
-				Desc:    "path to boltdb database",
-			},
-			{
-				DestP: &m.assetsPath,
-				Flag:  "assets-path",
-				Desc:  "override default assets by serving from a specific directory (developer mode)",
-			},
-			{
-				DestP:   &m.storeType,
-				Flag:    "store",
-				Default: "bolt",
-				Desc:    "backing store for REST resources (bolt or memory)",
-			},
-			{
-				DestP:   &m.testing,
-				Flag:    "e2e-testing",
-				Default: false,
-				Desc:    "add /debug/flush endpoint to clear stores; used for end-to-end tests",
-			},
-			{
-				DestP:   &m.enginePath,
-				Flag:    "engine-path",
-				Default: filepath.Join(dir, "engine"),
-				Desc:    "path to persistent engine files",
-			},
-			{
-				DestP:   &m.secretStore,
-				Flag:    "secret-store",
-				Default: "bolt",
-				Desc:    "data store for secrets (bolt or vault)",
-			},
-			{
-				DestP:   &m.protosPath,
-				Flag:    "protos-path",
-				Default: filepath.Join(dir, "protos"),
-				Desc:    "path to protos on the filesystem",
-			},
-			{
-				DestP:   &m.reportingDisabled,
-				Flag:    "reporting-disabled",
-				Default: false,
-				Desc:    "disable sending telemetry data to https://telemetry.influxdata.com every 8 hours",
-			},
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "run",
+		Short: "Start the influxd server (default)",
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			return m.run(ctx)
 		},
 	}
 
-	cmd := cli.NewCommand(prog)
+	buildLauncherCommand(m, cmd)
+
 	cmd.SetArgs(args)
 	return cmd.Execute()
 }
@@ -304,10 +351,11 @@ func (m *Launcher) run(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	info := platform.GetBuildInfo()
 	m.logger.Info("Welcome to InfluxDB",
-		zap.String("version", m.BuildInfo.Version),
-		zap.String("commit", m.BuildInfo.Commit),
-		zap.String("build_date", m.BuildInfo.Date),
+		zap.String("version", info.Version),
+		zap.String("commit", info.Commit),
+		zap.String("build_date", info.Date),
 	)
 
 	switch m.tracingType {
@@ -373,7 +421,7 @@ func (m *Launcher) run(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 	m.reg = prom.NewRegistry()
 	m.reg.MustRegister(
 		prometheus.NewGoCollector(),
-		infprom.NewInfluxCollector(m.boltClient, m.BuildInfo),
+		infprom.NewInfluxCollector(m.boltClient, info),
 	)
 	m.reg.WithLogger(m.logger)
 	m.reg.MustRegister(m.boltClient)
diff --git a/cmd/influxd/main.go b/cmd/influxd/main.go
index da8fb687b5a..f058e0838d8 100644
--- a/cmd/influxd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/influxd/main.go
@@ -1,19 +1,17 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"context"
-	"fmt"
 	_ "net/http/pprof"
 	"os"
-	"sync"
-	"time"
+	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/influxdata/influxdb"
 	"github.com/influxdata/influxdb/cmd/influxd/launcher"
-	"github.com/influxdata/influxdb/kit/signals"
 	_ "github.com/influxdata/influxdb/query/builtin"
-	"github.com/influxdata/influxdb/telemetry"
 	_ "github.com/influxdata/influxdb/tsdb/tsi1"
 	_ "github.com/influxdata/influxdb/tsdb/tsm1"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -22,37 +20,36 @@ var (
 	date    = "unknown"
 )
 
-func main() {
-	// exit with SIGINT and SIGTERM
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	ctx = signals.WithStandardSignals(ctx)
-
-	m := launcher.NewLauncher()
-	m.SetBuild(version, commit, date)
-	if err := m.Run(ctx, os.Args[1:]...); err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	} else if !m.Running() {
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
+var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "influxd",
+	Short: "Influx Server",
+}
 
-	var wg sync.WaitGroup
-	if !m.ReportingDisabled() {
-		reporter := telemetry.NewReporter(m.Registry())
-		reporter.Interval = 8 * time.Hour
-		reporter.Logger = m.Logger()
-		wg.Add(1)
-		go func() {
-			defer wg.Done()
-			reporter.Report(ctx)
-		}()
+func init() {
+	influxdb.SetBuildInfo(version, commit, date)
+	viper.SetEnvPrefix("INFLUXD")
+	viper.AutomaticEnv()
+	viper.SetEnvKeyReplacer(strings.NewReplacer("-", "_"))
+	rootCmd.InitDefaultHelpCmd()
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(launcher.NewCommand())
+}
+
+// find determines the default behavior when running influxd.
+// Specifically, find will return the influxd run command if no sub-command
+// was specified.
+func find(args []string) *cobra.Command {
+	cmd, _, err := rootCmd.Find(args)
+	if err == nil && cmd == rootCmd {
+		// Execute the run command if no sub-command is specified
+		return launcher.NewCommand()
 	}
 
-	<-ctx.Done()
+	return rootCmd
+}
 
-	// Attempt clean shutdown.
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 2*time.Second)
-	defer cancel()
-	m.Shutdown(ctx)
-	wg.Wait()
+func main() {
+	cmd := find(os.Args[1:])
+	if err := cmd.Execute(); err != nil {
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index e57640ed5af..ac7bd6c8339 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -157,9 +157,6 @@ github.com/google/uuid v1.0.0 h1:b4Gk+7WdP/d3HZH8EJsZpvV7EtDOgaZLtnaNGIu1adA=
 github.com/google/uuid v1.0.0/go.mod h1:TIyPZe4MgqvfeYDBFedMoGGpEw/LqOeaOT+nhxU+yHo=
 github.com/gopherjs/gopherjs v0.0.0-20181103185306-d547d1d9531e h1:JKmoR8x90Iww1ks85zJ1lfDGgIiMDuIptTOhJq+zKyg=
 github.com/gopherjs/gopherjs v0.0.0-20181103185306-d547d1d9531e/go.mod h1:wJfORRmW1u3UXTncJ5qlYoELFm8eSnnEO6hX4iZ3EWY=
-github.com/goreleaser/goreleaser v0.94.0/go.mod h1:OjbYR2NhOI6AEUWCowMSBzo9nP1aRif3sYtx+rhp+Zo=
-github.com/goreleaser/goreleaser v0.97.0 h1:2/GZKg0cLk5HgIiiSaW/lbDfj0T/GMgF6qEFexy0Vfs=
-github.com/goreleaser/goreleaser v0.97.0/go.mod h1:MnjA0e0Uq6ISqjG1WxxMAl+3VS1QYjILSWVnMYDxasE=
 github.com/goreleaser/nfpm v0.9.7 h1:h8RQMDztu6cW7b0/s4PGbdeMYykAbJG0UMXaWG5uBMI=
 github.com/goreleaser/nfpm v0.9.7/go.mod h1:F2yzin6cBAL9gb+mSiReuXdsfTrOQwDMsuSpULof+y4=
 github.com/gorilla/context v1.1.1/go.mod h1:kBGZzfjB9CEq2AlWe17Uuf7NDRt0dE0s8S51q0aT7Yg=
diff --git a/kit/cli/viper.go b/kit/cli/viper.go
index 4314ae6efdc..00c39c144ea 100644
--- a/kit/cli/viper.go
+++ b/kit/cli/viper.go
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ package cli
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
-	"time"
 )
 
 // Opt is a single command-line option
@@ -57,49 +57,66 @@ func NewCommand(p *Program) *cobra.Command {
 	// This normalizes "-" to an underscore in env names.
 	viper.SetEnvKeyReplacer(strings.NewReplacer("-", "_"))
 
-	for _, o := range p.Opts {
-		switch o.DestP.(type) {
+	BindOptions(cmd, p.Opts)
+
+	return cmd
+}
+
+// BindOptions adds opts to the specified command and automatically
+// registers those options with viper.
+func BindOptions(cmd *cobra.Command, opts []Opt) {
+	for _, o := range opts {
+		switch destP := o.DestP.(type) {
 		case *string:
-			if o.Default == nil {
-				o.Default = ""
+			var d string
+			if o.Default != nil {
+				d = o.Default.(string)
 			}
-			cmd.Flags().StringVar(o.DestP.(*string), o.Flag, o.Default.(string), o.Desc)
-			viper.BindPFlag(o.Flag, cmd.Flags().Lookup(o.Flag))
-			*o.DestP.(*string) = viper.GetString(o.Flag)
+			cmd.Flags().StringVar(destP, o.Flag, d, o.Desc)
+			mustBindPFlag(o.Flag, cmd)
+			*destP = viper.GetString(o.Flag)
 		case *int:
-			if o.Default == nil {
-				o.Default = 0
+			var d int
+			if o.Default != nil {
+				d = o.Default.(int)
 			}
-			cmd.Flags().IntVar(o.DestP.(*int), o.Flag, o.Default.(int), o.Desc)
-			viper.BindPFlag(o.Flag, cmd.Flags().Lookup(o.Flag))
-			*o.DestP.(*int) = viper.GetInt(o.Flag)
+			cmd.Flags().IntVar(destP, o.Flag, d, o.Desc)
+			mustBindPFlag(o.Flag, cmd)
+			*destP = viper.GetInt(o.Flag)
 		case *bool:
-			if o.Default == nil {
-				o.Default = false
+			var d bool
+			if o.Default != nil {
+				d = o.Default.(bool)
 			}
-			cmd.Flags().BoolVar(o.DestP.(*bool), o.Flag, o.Default.(bool), o.Desc)
-			viper.BindPFlag(o.Flag, cmd.Flags().Lookup(o.Flag))
-			*o.DestP.(*bool) = viper.GetBool(o.Flag)
+			cmd.Flags().BoolVar(destP, o.Flag, d, o.Desc)
+			mustBindPFlag(o.Flag, cmd)
+			*destP = viper.GetBool(o.Flag)
 		case *time.Duration:
-			if o.Default == nil {
-				o.Default = time.Duration(0)
+			var d time.Duration
+			if o.Default != nil {
+				d = o.Default.(time.Duration)
 			}
-			cmd.Flags().DurationVar(o.DestP.(*time.Duration), o.Flag, o.Default.(time.Duration), o.Desc)
-			viper.BindPFlag(o.Flag, cmd.Flags().Lookup(o.Flag))
-			*o.DestP.(*time.Duration) = viper.GetDuration(o.Flag)
+			cmd.Flags().DurationVar(destP, o.Flag, d, o.Desc)
+			mustBindPFlag(o.Flag, cmd)
+			*destP = viper.GetDuration(o.Flag)
 		case *[]string:
-			if o.Default == nil {
-				o.Default = []string{}
+			var d []string
+			if o.Default != nil {
+				d = o.Default.([]string)
 			}
-			cmd.Flags().StringSliceVar(o.DestP.(*[]string), o.Flag, o.Default.([]string), o.Desc)
-			viper.BindPFlag(o.Flag, cmd.Flags().Lookup(o.Flag))
-			*o.DestP.(*[]string) = viper.GetStringSlice(o.Flag)
+			cmd.Flags().StringSliceVar(destP, o.Flag, d, o.Desc)
+			mustBindPFlag(o.Flag, cmd)
+			*destP = viper.GetStringSlice(o.Flag)
 		default:
 			// if you get a panic here, sorry about that!
 			// anyway, go ahead and make a PR and add another type.
 			panic(fmt.Errorf("unknown destination type %t", o.DestP))
 		}
 	}
+}
 
-	return cmd
+func mustBindPFlag(key string, cmd *cobra.Command) {
+	if err := viper.BindPFlag(key, cmd.Flags().Lookup(key)); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 }