diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9e8acbd..c6b8dd5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ First class support for:
 
 
 # Installation
+The preferred way of running CloudBender is using the public container. This ensure all tools and dependencies are in sync and underwent some basic testing during the development and build phase.  
+
+As a fall back CloudBender and its dependencies can be installed locally see step *1b* below.
 
 ## 1a. Containerized
 
@@ -50,9 +53,10 @@ which should get you something like:
 Usage: cloudbender [OPTIONS] COMMAND [ARGS]...
 
 Options:
-  --debug     Turn on debug logging.
-  --dir TEXT  Specify cloudbender project directory.
-  --help      Show this message and exit.
+  --profile TEXT  Use named AWS .config profile, overwrites any stack config
+  --dir TEXT      Specify cloudbender project directory.
+  --debug         Turn on debug logging.
+  --help          Show this message and exit.
 
 Commands:
   assimilate         Imports potentially existing resources into Pulumi...
diff --git a/cloudbender/cli.py b/cloudbender/cli.py
index 691a85e..bc78cec 100644
--- a/cloudbender/cli.py
+++ b/cloudbender/cli.py
@@ -18,10 +18,15 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 @click.group()
-@click.option("--debug", is_flag=True, help="Turn on debug logging.")
+@click.option(
+    "--profile",
+    "profile",
+    help="Use named AWS .config profile, overwrites any stack config",
+)
 @click.option("--dir", "directory", help="Specify cloudbender project directory.")
+@click.option("--debug", is_flag=True, help="Turn on debug logging.")
 @click.pass_context
-def cli(ctx, debug, directory):
+def cli(ctx, profile, debug, directory):
     setup_logging(debug)
 
     # Skip parsing all the things if we just want the versions
@@ -37,7 +42,7 @@ def cli(ctx, debug, directory):
 
         # Read global config
         try:
-            cb = CloudBender(directory)
+            cb = CloudBender(directory, profile)
         except InvalidProjectDir as e:
             logger.error(e)
             sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/cloudbender/core.py b/cloudbender/core.py
index cb272d9..2d221b0 100644
--- a/cloudbender/core.py
+++ b/cloudbender/core.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 class CloudBender(object):
     """Config Class to handle recursive conf/* config tree"""
 
-    def __init__(self, root_path):
+    def __init__(self, root_path, profile):
         self.root = pathlib.Path(root_path)
         self.sg = None
         self.all_stacks = []
@@ -22,8 +22,12 @@ class CloudBender(object):
             "docs_path": self.root.joinpath("docs"),
             "outputs_path": self.root.joinpath("outputs"),
             "artifact_paths": [self.root.joinpath("artifacts")],
+            "profile": profile,
         }
 
+        if profile:
+            logger.info("Profile overwrite: using {}".format(self.ctx["profile"]))
+
         if not self.ctx["config_path"].is_dir():
             raise InvalidProjectDir(
                 "Check '{0}' exists and is a valid CloudBender project folder.".format(
diff --git a/cloudbender/stack.py b/cloudbender/stack.py
index 40e1c8d..2ce7043 100644
--- a/cloudbender/stack.py
+++ b/cloudbender/stack.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class Stack(object):
         self.outputs = {}
         self.options = {}
         self.region = "global"
-        self.profile = "default"
+        self.profile = None
         self.onfailure = "DELETE"
         self.notfication_sns = []
 
@@ -103,10 +103,19 @@ class Stack(object):
         self.pulumi.update(sg_config.get("pulumi", {}))
 
         # by default inherit parent group settings
-        for p in ["region", "profile", "notfication_sns", "template_bucket_url"]:
+        for p in ["region", "notfication_sns", "template_bucket_url"]:
             if p in sg_config:
                 setattr(self, p, sg_config[p])
 
+        # profile needs special treatment due to cmd line overwrite option
+        if self.ctx["profile"]:
+            self.profile = self.ctx["profile"]
+        else:
+            if "profile" in sg_config:
+                self.profile = sg_config["profile"]
+            else:
+                self.profile = "default"
+
         # now override stack specific settings
         _config = read_config_file(self.path, sg_config.get("variables", {}))
         for p in [