diff --git a/abra b/abra
index 6cea232..977e14a 100755
--- a/abra
+++ b/abra
@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@ require_app_latest() {
   debug "Using $APP_DIR"
 
   if [ "$abra___skip_update" = "false" ]; then
+    debug "Pulling latest '$APP' definition via git"
     (cd "$APP_DIR" && git pull > /dev/null 2>&1)
   fi
 }
@@ -467,8 +468,6 @@ load_abra_sh() {
   fi
 
   if [ -n "$abra__app_" ]; then
-    load_instance
-    load_instance_env
     require_app_latest "$TYPE"
   fi
 
@@ -809,9 +808,6 @@ sub_app_new (){
 
 ###### .. app backup
 sub_app_backup (){
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   require_app_latest "$TYPE"
 
   # Add _<service> if it's defined
@@ -829,9 +825,6 @@ sub_app_backup (){
 
 ###### .. app restore
 sub_app_restore (){
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   require_app_latest "$TYPE"
 
   FUNCTION="abra_restore_$abra__service_"
@@ -925,9 +918,6 @@ POWERED BY
 }
 
 sub_app_deploy (){
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   require_app_latest "$TYPE"
 
   CONSENT_TO_UPDATE=$abra___update
@@ -1014,9 +1004,6 @@ POWERED BY
 }
 
 sub_app_undeploy (){
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   warning "About to un-deploy $STACK_NAME from $SERVER"
   prompt_confirm
 
@@ -1031,8 +1018,6 @@ Open the app configuration in \$EDITOR."
 }
 
 sub_app_config (){
-  load_instance
-
   if [ -z "$EDITOR" ]; then
     warning "\$EDITOR not set; which text editor would you like to use?"
 
@@ -1073,9 +1058,6 @@ sub_app_check (){
     return 0
   fi
 
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   APP_ENV=$(grep -v '^#' "$ENV_FILE" | cut -d' ' -f2 | cut -d'=' -f1 | sort -u)
   STACK_ENV=$(grep -v '^#' "$APP_DIR/.env.sample" | cut -d' ' -f2 | cut -d'=' -f1 | sort -u)
 
@@ -1105,9 +1087,6 @@ POWERED BY
 }
 
 sub_app_ps (){
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   docker stack ps "$STACK_NAME"
 }
 
@@ -1133,9 +1112,6 @@ OPTIONS
 }
 
 sub_app_delete (){
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   if [ "$abra___force" != "true" ]; then
     warning "About to delete $ENV_FILE"
     prompt_confirm
@@ -1181,9 +1157,6 @@ OPTIONS
   --pass     Save the secret in \`pass\` as well"
 }
 sub_app_secret_insert() {
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   SECRET="$abra__secret_"
   VERSION="$abra__version_"
   PW="$abra__data_"
@@ -1223,9 +1196,6 @@ OPTIONS
 }
 
 sub_app_secret_delete(){
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   # if --all is provided then $abra__secret_ will be blank and this will work
   # auto-magically
   NAMES=$(docker secret ls --filter "name=${STACK_NAME}_${abra__secret_}" --format "{{.Name}}")
@@ -1266,9 +1236,6 @@ OPTIONS
 }
 
 sub_app_secret_generate(){
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   SECRET="$abra__secret_"
   VERSION="$abra__version_"
   LENGTH="$abra__length_"
@@ -1333,9 +1300,6 @@ POWERED BY
 }
 
 sub_app_run(){
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   if [ -n "$abra___user" ]; then
     RUN_USER="-u $abra___user"
   fi
@@ -1354,7 +1318,7 @@ sub_app_run(){
     exit
   fi
 
-  debug "Using Container ID ${CONTAINER}"
+  debug "Using container ID ${CONTAINER}"
 
   # 3wc: we want the "splitting" that shellcheck warns us about, so that -u and
   # $RUN_USER aren't treated as a single argument:
@@ -1378,9 +1342,6 @@ POWERED BY
 }
 
 sub_app_rollback(){
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   SERVICE="${abra__service_}"
 
   docker service rollback "${STACK_NAME}_${SERVICE}"
@@ -1404,9 +1365,6 @@ POWERED BY
 }
 
 sub_app_logs (){
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   SERVICE="${abra__service_}"
 
   if [ -z "$SERVICE" ]; then
@@ -1456,9 +1414,6 @@ POWERED BY
 }
 
 sub_app_cp() {
-  load_instance
-  load_instance_env
-
   SOURCE="${abra__src_}"
   DEST="${abra__dst_}"
 
@@ -1481,7 +1436,7 @@ sub_app_cp() {
     exit
   fi
 
-  debug "Using Container ID ${CONTAINER}"
+  debug "Using container ID ${CONTAINER}"
 
   # Replace $SERVICE with $CONTAINER in the original args
   CP_ARGS=$(echo "$SOURCE $DEST" | sed "s/$SERVICE:/$CONTAINER:/")
@@ -1762,6 +1717,11 @@ abra() {
     set +a
   fi
 
+  if [ -n "$abra__app_" ]; then
+    load_instance
+    load_instance_env
+  fi
+
   load_abra_sh
 
   # Search for sub_* functions, and check if any of them matches enabled