diff --git a/.talismanrc b/.talismanrc
index 371c4f04..84e0e091 100644
--- a/.talismanrc
+++ b/.talismanrc
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ fileignoreconfig:
     - "'SECRET=hunter2'"
     - "formFieldKey"
 - filename: test/integration/projects-create.test.ts
-  checksum: 4826ca20f0c7fe1f23b82598ceed0a374199e2bb8b604b676efcf720244ff961
+  checksum: c567d31fb18d0910410ce455c0a1b2f8ce6c8d46038396ec813ef73bd5fb8105
 - filename: test/fixtures/README.md
   checksum: d801c84c8b7d7f38f967573e9a3a70da4405b7cbcbf10d2a6e5be3d65fb3daa1
   allowed_patterns:
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ fileignoreconfig:
     - "a project name passed on argv to the project resolver"
     - "expect\\(Object.keys\\(DEPENDENCIES\\)\\).toEqual\\(\\['project', 'env'\\]\\)"
 - filename: AGENTS.md
-  checksum: ba37b6b17d97940a6f7d5e69a531796ab0ee5b6859a9cd5cbdec56e4b7731b26
+  checksum: 3379e8c597c8306e7377e60667f7df6e599e45e289928bc88b217356aa43feb1
   allowed_patterns:
     - "Do not add an exemption to a guard to make a new file pass"
     - "passes its own error wording to `client.request\\(req, MESSAGES\\)`"
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ fileignoreconfig:
 - filename: test/guards/layering.test.ts
   checksum: 55893e6e919b1e462afc989110cb9360e38aa18d06de932587beaa9006042639
 - filename: src/commands/launch/projects/create.test.ts
-  checksum: 9c40b4b6ed4f7d678ecb921a71f5af7284cd685c1337f47144456ae43a38b1ad
+  checksum: 2c407c366f2a1da2647fc6eb7e6ad1bb8cbe3c7f901090432ab0e27df2e5d4d6
 - filename: src/commands/launch/projects/delete.test.ts
   checksum: d67d8a804d14f9b809153d10b0cf9d5e52b70f9e0b65678ebb1663a7d2da22c1
 - filename: test/integration/projects-delete.test.ts
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ fileignoreconfig:
 - filename: test/credential-guard.setup.ts
   checksum: 519ccbeb0552fdb1d5f27308c56477c0258ee6cc0adec8f618e8e5bc047cbf6d
 - filename: src/environments/types.ts
-  checksum: 6c054295075e51e9ce0f4514ebdc86a48bb74db9932a2baaa9f9158e9c14c6e8
+  checksum: 2825d0e70757022e518465b134878b8cc8f9eccaf4e9ad088d73a31b9a35a826
 - filename: src/commands/launch/env/get.test.ts
   checksum: 6e739ef12bc0d887e652e23ee54d9fac30dd6a3505cf464cdaefc0e696cf3e51
 - filename: test/integration/environments-delete.test.ts
@@ -331,13 +331,13 @@ fileignoreconfig:
 - filename: src/commands/launch/env/update.test.ts
   checksum: 2da219594e7bdd589adc0eff9ff035252a75aaa51dfa20514b18fd3266d7b752
 - filename: README.md
-  checksum: 112b973a24e59f79786df1b85b83ea35b1e355c52a8cbf3b28d98511959c60c8
+  checksum: d955f95b66f10259eb2ddbe1935a67ce3c7f3a28187f0398e0af39ff75267c01
   allowed_patterns:
     - "password-protection"
     - "-p, --password"
     - "-u, --username"
 - filename: test/integration/environments-create.test.ts
-  checksum: 0c64a4408d3c150a33c442403688d1e1d058f415cfdba704e372455927daa7e4
+  checksum: 538527a26bc002aa21319aa615c9a9f00aaed494d0bdefc8db75c0eff3f8ec54
 - filename: src/commands/launch/variables/list.test.ts
   checksum: 87ccb762f4931326fc50bca1c01aeb4a16d552e4dfa141d00370fdfafa4363be
 - filename: src/commands/launch/variables/set.test.ts
@@ -353,9 +353,9 @@ fileignoreconfig:
 - filename: src/stacks/stacks.api.ts
   checksum: d59622ca6411b93d5469a1895b08ccde4b9cd83fbb909c82076ea70d74b5e1e4
 - filename: src/variables/variable.chooser.ts
-  checksum: c776a4184eb1819055622784bc6f3342b67bc1babdca0cdbbe72a4a871cc2498
+  checksum: 767bbcee93b0c10c5c9d0b526ce57770cc6323be52d8a4cc1c0452c880b5ab8e
 - filename: src/variables/variable.create.test.ts
-  checksum: c888e2a4aca9c6855c79d743368387aeb0ab5db907beca8bef1113bc05a5260d
+  checksum: a2650ca8e081afcf76c801d20e2df4baa96f814d1513080ba24971db0ae3a1bf
 - filename: src/variables/variable.dotenv.test.ts
   checksum: c3d5e33189736bb42b7c4fac7375cf0307681b34feca4830b49331f55a130f78
 - filename: src/variables/variable.dotenv.ts
@@ -365,9 +365,9 @@ fileignoreconfig:
 - filename: src/variables/variable.files.test.ts
   checksum: d8b0efd6bb448c4d501ba52c47119b352ef29d6b5b66cec0e7d373a0ce91a36c
 - filename: src/variables/variable.inputs.test.ts
-  checksum: c434fd7f32ab0bd17db8f214ba54861b7d8ae8d8481dbbc1978f9dab35fd2429
+  checksum: 4b3b9a6c353d099a65ef8f522cff8e46e5c0edbf66bcdb59e0d6dd4f87c78c84
 - filename: src/variables/variable.inputs.ts
-  checksum: 050b93e158a1ff29f309f1531b085aa9f0327b47a8029038356869b2864531b2
+  checksum: 0f572a86e0c0edbe707882df623a3a7f69715572812ae655eb6aa5e4579b496b
 - filename: src/variables/variable.merge.test.ts
   checksum: 581a5cc5d9d23223643bd461525c6755205ebf16f33ae7388c8e88de19461fbf
 - filename: src/variables/variable.merge.ts
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 8ff3847f..83c0c9bd 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -361,10 +361,9 @@ than return a truncated list.
 `projects:create` and `env:create` take `--var` and `--dotenv` and reach the same resolver through
 `EnvironmentBuilder`, which asks last - after Contentstack Authentication, where V1 asked - with no auto-detection.
 With neither flag it offers a checkbox over the sources plus `Skip adding environment variables`, which cannot be
-combined with the others; without a terminal it sends an empty list. `--no-vars` is the flag form of that Skip
-choice, so a fully flagged create on a terminal asks nothing: it sends an empty list without the checkbox. Combined
-with `--var`, `--dotenv` or `--from-stack` it is a usage error from the `noVarsAlone` rule rather than oclif's
-`exclusive`, whose `--help` usage line would show those three sources excluding each other.
+combined with the others; a bare Enter with nothing ticked skips the same way, and without a terminal it sends an
+empty list. There is no `--no-vars` flag: variables are never required, so a fully flagged create on a terminal
+stops only at that checkbox, and a pipe or CI run skips it.
 
 **`--from-stack` and `--alias`.** `--from-stack` is a bare flag on `variables:set`, `projects:create` and
 `env:create`; `--alias <name>` (`-a`) names a delivery token saved with `csdx auth:tokens:add`, and is a usage error
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d4e28add..da7eeeae 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ USAGE
   $ csdx launch:env:create [-c <value>] [-d <value>] [--org <value>] [--project <value>] [--name <value>]
     [--description <value>] [--branch <value>] [--framework <value>] [--build-cmd <value>] [--server-cmd <value>]
     [--output-dir <value>] [--res-mode <value>] [--auto-deploy <value>] [--cs-auth <value>] [--var <value>...] [--dotenv
-    <value>...] [--from-stack] [-a <value>] [--no-vars]
+    <value>...] [--from-stack] [-a <value>]
 
 FLAGS
   -a, --alias=<value>        Alias of a delivery token saved with csdx auth:tokens:add, used with --from-stack without a
@@ -337,7 +337,6 @@ FLAGS
       --from-stack           Import the variables of a Contentstack stack. Asks for the stack and a delivery token on a
                              terminal
       --name=<value>         Environment name (200 characters or fewer)
-      --no-vars              Create the environment with no variables, without asking for them on a terminal
       --org=<value>          Organization UID
       --output-dir=<value>   Output directory
       --project=<value>      Project name or UID
@@ -611,7 +610,7 @@ USAGE
   $ csdx launch:projects:create [-c <value>] [-d <value>] [--org <value>] [--type <value>] [--name <value>] [--description
     <value>] [--env-name <value>] [--branch <value>] [--framework <value>] [--build-cmd <value>] [--server-cmd <value>]
     [--output-dir <value>] [--res-mode <value>] [--auto-deploy <value>] [--cs-auth <value>] [--var <value>...] [--dotenv
-    <value>...] [--from-stack] [-a <value>] [--no-vars]
+    <value>...] [--from-stack] [-a <value>]
 
 FLAGS
   -a, --alias=<value>        Alias of a delivery token saved with csdx auth:tokens:add, used with --from-stack without a
@@ -630,7 +629,6 @@ FLAGS
       --from-stack           Import the variables of a Contentstack stack. Asks for the stack and a delivery token on a
                              terminal
       --name=<value>         Project name (200 characters or fewer)
-      --no-vars              Create the environment with no variables, without asking for them on a terminal
       --org=<value>          Organization UID
       --output-dir=<value>   Output directory
       --res-mode=<value>     Response mode (buffered | streaming)
diff --git a/src/commands/launch/env/create.test.ts b/src/commands/launch/env/create.test.ts
index 55ce6aa0..95fcc68b 100644
--- a/src/commands/launch/env/create.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/launch/env/create.test.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { catalog, resolution } from '../../../resources';
 import { DEPLOYMENT_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS } from '../../../deployments/deployment.watcher';
 import { EnvironmentCreator } from '../../../environments/environment.create';
 import { serverCommandFrameworkGate } from '../../../environments/environment.inputs';
-import { aliasRequiresFromStack, noVarsAlone } from '../../../variables/variable.rules';
+import { aliasRequiresFromStack } from '../../../variables/variable.rules';
 import EnvironmentsCreate from './create';
 
 function commandUnderTest(resolved: Record<string, unknown>) {
@@ -102,10 +102,9 @@ describe('launch:env:create', () => {
       dotenv: {},
       'from-stack': {},
       alias: {},
-      'no-vars': {},
     });
     expect(Object.keys(EnvironmentsCreate.flags).sort()).toEqual(Object.keys(EnvironmentsCreate.inputs).sort());
-    expect(EnvironmentsCreate.rules).toEqual([serverCommandFrameworkGate, aliasRequiresFromStack, noVarsAlone]);
+    expect(EnvironmentsCreate.rules).toEqual([serverCommandFrameworkGate, aliasRequiresFromStack]);
   });
 
   it('describes --name and --description as the environment its own, leaving the project wording alone', () => {
diff --git a/src/commands/launch/env/create.ts b/src/commands/launch/env/create.ts
index 441c0072..1c8e9bed 100644
--- a/src/commands/launch/env/create.ts
+++ b/src/commands/launch/env/create.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { flagsFor, inputs } from '../../../core/inputs';
 import { defaultWatchTiming } from '../../../deployments/deployment.watcher';
 import { EnvironmentCreator } from '../../../environments/environment.create';
 import { serverCommandFrameworkGate, withEnvironmentWording } from '../../../environments/environment.inputs';
-import { aliasRequiresFromStack, noVarsAlone } from '../../../variables/variable.rules';
+import { aliasRequiresFromStack } from '../../../variables/variable.rules';
 
 const createInputs = inputs({
   org: { required: true },
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ const createInputs = inputs({
   dotenv: {},
   'from-stack': {},
   alias: {},
-  'no-vars': {},
 });
 
 export default class EnvironmentsCreate extends LaunchCommand<typeof createInputs> {
@@ -39,7 +38,7 @@ export default class EnvironmentsCreate extends LaunchCommand<typeof createInput
 
   static flags = withEnvironmentWording(flagsFor(createInputs));
 
-  static rules = [serverCommandFrameworkGate, aliasRequiresFromStack, noVarsAlone];
+  static rules = [serverCommandFrameworkGate, aliasRequiresFromStack];
 
   async run(): Promise<void> {
     const resolved = this.resolved;
@@ -63,7 +62,6 @@ export default class EnvironmentsCreate extends LaunchCommand<typeof createInput
       envFiles: resolved['dotenv'],
       fromStack: resolved['from-stack'],
       alias: resolved.alias,
-      noVars: resolved['no-vars'],
     });
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/launch/projects/create.test.ts b/src/commands/launch/projects/create.test.ts
index eb3637b4..2947ef47 100644
--- a/src/commands/launch/projects/create.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/launch/projects/create.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { defaultWatchTiming } from '../../../deployments/deployment.watcher';
 import { DEPLOYMENT_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS } from '../../../deployments/deployment.watcher';
 import { serverCommandFrameworkGate } from '../../../environments/environment.inputs';
-import { aliasRequiresFromStack, noVarsAlone } from '../../../variables/variable.rules';
+import { aliasRequiresFromStack } from '../../../variables/variable.rules';
 import { ProjectCreator } from '../../../projects/project.create';
 
 type WatchTiming = ReturnType<typeof defaultWatchTiming>;
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ describe('launch:projects:create', () => {
   });
 
   it('declares only the framework gate as a rule, leaving GitHub-only flags on FileUpload to a confirmation', () => {
-    expect(ProjectsCreate.rules).toEqual([serverCommandFrameworkGate, aliasRequiresFromStack, noVarsAlone]);
+    expect(ProjectsCreate.rules).toEqual([serverCommandFrameworkGate, aliasRequiresFromStack]);
   });
 
   it('declares every flag it reads and requires only the organization', () => {
@@ -123,7 +123,6 @@ describe('launch:projects:create', () => {
       'dotenv',
       'from-stack',
       'alias',
-      'no-vars',
     ]);
     expect(Object.keys(ProjectsCreate.flags).sort()).toEqual(Object.keys(ProjectsCreate.inputs).sort());
     expect(
diff --git a/src/commands/launch/projects/create.ts b/src/commands/launch/projects/create.ts
index 47408413..e4d3613b 100644
--- a/src/commands/launch/projects/create.ts
+++ b/src/commands/launch/projects/create.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { flagsFor, inputs } from '../../../core/inputs';
 import { defaultWatchTiming } from '../../../deployments/deployment.watcher';
 import { serverCommandFrameworkGate } from '../../../environments/environment.inputs';
 import { ProjectCreator } from '../../../projects/project.create';
-import { aliasRequiresFromStack, noVarsAlone } from '../../../variables/variable.rules';
+import { aliasRequiresFromStack } from '../../../variables/variable.rules';
 
 const createInputs = inputs({
   org: { required: true },
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ const createInputs = inputs({
   dotenv: {},
   'from-stack': {},
   alias: {},
-  'no-vars': {},
 });
 
 export default class ProjectsCreate extends LaunchCommand<typeof createInputs> {
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ export default class ProjectsCreate extends LaunchCommand<typeof createInputs> {
 
   static flags = flagsFor(createInputs);
 
-  static rules = [serverCommandFrameworkGate, aliasRequiresFromStack, noVarsAlone];
+  static rules = [serverCommandFrameworkGate, aliasRequiresFromStack];
 
   async run(): Promise<void> {
     const resolved = this.resolved;
@@ -67,7 +66,6 @@ export default class ProjectsCreate extends LaunchCommand<typeof createInputs> {
       envFiles: resolved['dotenv'],
       fromStack: resolved['from-stack'],
       alias: resolved.alias,
-      noVars: resolved['no-vars'],
     });
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/environments/environment.builder.ts b/src/environments/environment.builder.ts
index 46f72bf2..5372fe3a 100644
--- a/src/environments/environment.builder.ts
+++ b/src/environments/environment.builder.ts
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ export class EnvironmentBuilder {
         envFiles: request.envFiles,
         fromStack: request.fromStack,
         alias: request.alias,
-        noVars: request.noVars,
         dataDir: request.dataDir ?? '.',
       },
       this.services,
diff --git a/src/environments/types.ts b/src/environments/types.ts
index 52562664..c725e78f 100644
--- a/src/environments/types.ts
+++ b/src/environments/types.ts
@@ -114,7 +114,6 @@ export interface EnvironmentRequest {
   envFiles?: string[];
   fromStack?: boolean;
   alias?: string;
-  noVars?: boolean;
   framework?: FrameworkPreset;
   buildCmd?: string;
   outputDir?: string;
diff --git a/src/variables/variable.chooser.ts b/src/variables/variable.chooser.ts
index 8702d1c7..e5be2165 100644
--- a/src/variables/variable.chooser.ts
+++ b/src/variables/variable.chooser.ts
@@ -66,19 +66,17 @@ export async function chooseSources(
     { name: TYPED_CHOICE, value: TYPED_CHOICE },
     ...(prompt.skippable ? [{ name: SKIP_CHOICE, value: SKIP_CHOICE }] : []),
   ];
-  const picked = await askChoices(services.ux, prompt.message, choices, { requireOne: prompt.skippable });
+  const picked = await askChoices(services.ux, prompt.message, choices, { requireOne: false });
 
-  if (picked.includes(SKIP_CHOICE)) {
-    if (picked.length > 1) {
-      throw new UsageError(`'${SKIP_CHOICE}' cannot be combined with the other options.`);
-    }
-
-    services.ux.print('Skipped adding environment variables.');
-
-    return undefined;
+  if (picked.includes(SKIP_CHOICE) && picked.length > 1) {
+    throw new UsageError(`'${SKIP_CHOICE}' cannot be combined with the other options.`);
   }
 
-  if (picked.length === 0) {
+  if (picked.length === 0 || picked.includes(SKIP_CHOICE)) {
+    if (prompt.skippable) {
+      services.ux.print('Skipped adding environment variables.');
+    }
+
     return undefined;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/variables/variable.create.test.ts b/src/variables/variable.create.test.ts
index 78f184e2..f903745f 100644
--- a/src/variables/variable.create.test.ts
+++ b/src/variables/variable.create.test.ts
@@ -96,15 +96,6 @@ describe('variable create', () => {
     expect(printed).toEqual([]);
   });
 
-  it('returns nothing on a terminal with --no-vars, asking nothing, reading nothing and printing nothing', async () => {
-    const { services, io, asked, reads, printed } = fakes({ files: { '/work/.env': 'X=1' } });
-
-    expect(await variablesForCreate({ ...NONE, noVars: true }, services, io)).toEqual([]);
-    expect(asked).toEqual([]);
-    expect(reads).toEqual([]);
-    expect(printed).toEqual([]);
-  });
-
   it('treats empty flag lists as no flags', async () => {
     const { services, io, asked } = fakes({ answers: { 'Add environment variables': [SKIP] } });
 
@@ -128,6 +119,15 @@ describe('variable create', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('lets a bare Enter through the checkbox with nothing selected', async () => {
+    const { services, io, asked } = fakes({ answers: { 'Add environment variables': [] } });
+
+    await variablesForCreate(NONE, services, io);
+
+    const validate = asked[0].payload.validate as (picked: unknown) => true | string;
+    expect(validate([])).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it('returns nothing and says so when Skip is chosen', async () => {
     const { services, io, printed } = fakes({ answers: { 'Add environment variables': [SKIP] } });
 
@@ -233,11 +233,11 @@ describe('variable create', () => {
     expect(output).not.toContain('never-printed-value');
   });
 
-  it.each([[undefined], [[]]])('returns nothing and prints no summary when nothing was selected (%p)', async (answer) => {
+  it.each([[undefined], [[]]])('skips and says so, as Skip does, when nothing was selected (%p)', async (answer) => {
     const { services, io, printed } = fakes({ answers: { 'Add environment variables': answer } });
 
     expect(await variablesForCreate(NONE, services, io)).toEqual([]);
-    expect(printed).toEqual([]);
+    expect(printed).toEqual(['Skipped adding environment variables.']);
   });
 
   it('propagates a cancelled path prompt, an unreadable file and a malformed typed line', async () => {
diff --git a/src/variables/variable.create.ts b/src/variables/variable.create.ts
index 73eb759e..537322d0 100644
--- a/src/variables/variable.create.ts
+++ b/src/variables/variable.create.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ export interface CreateVariablesRequest {
   org: string;
   fromStack?: boolean;
   alias?: string;
-  noVars?: boolean;
 }
 
 const CHOOSE_MESSAGE = 'Add environment variables';
@@ -46,10 +45,6 @@ export async function variablesForCreate(
   io: VariableIo = DEFAULT_VARIABLE_IO,
   savedToken: (alias: string) => SavedToken | undefined = readSavedToken,
 ): Promise<EnvironmentVariableInput[]> {
-  if (request.noVars === true) {
-    return [];
-  }
-
   const stack: StackImporter = (alias) => importFromStack({ org: request.org, alias }, { services, savedToken });
 
   if (given(request.vars) || given(request.envFiles) || request.fromStack === true) {
diff --git a/src/variables/variable.inputs.test.ts b/src/variables/variable.inputs.test.ts
index 7ecfa917..a1edce97 100644
--- a/src/variables/variable.inputs.test.ts
+++ b/src/variables/variable.inputs.test.ts
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@ import { variableFlags, variableResolution } from './variable.inputs';
 
 describe('variable inputs', () => {
   it('names each flag as the Commands Details "All flags" tables name it', () => {
-    expect(Object.keys(variableFlags)).toEqual(['var', 'dotenv', 'key', 'from-stack', 'alias', 'no-vars']);
+    expect(Object.keys(variableFlags)).toEqual(['var', 'dotenv', 'key', 'from-stack', 'alias']);
   });
 
   it.each(['var', 'dotenv', 'key'] as const)('declares %s repeatable so each occurrence and each value is kept', (name) => {
     expect(variableFlags[name].multiple).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it.each(['var', 'dotenv', 'key', 'from-stack', 'alias', 'no-vars'] as const)('never marks %s required at parse time', (name) => {
+  it.each(['var', 'dotenv', 'key', 'from-stack', 'alias'] as const)('never marks %s required at parse time', (name) => {
     expect(variableFlags[name].required).toBeFalsy();
   });
 
@@ -40,17 +40,6 @@ describe('variable inputs', () => {
     expect(parsed.flags.alias).toBe('my-prod');
   });
 
-  it('parses --no-vars as a presence-only flag', async () => {
-    const parsed = await Parser.parse(['--no-vars'], { flags: { 'no-vars': variableFlags['no-vars'] } });
-
-    expect(variableFlags['no-vars'].type).toBe('boolean');
-    expect(parsed.flags['no-vars']).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it('leaves the sources out of an oclif exclusive group, since --help would show them excluding each other', () => {
-    expect(variableFlags['no-vars'].exclusive).toBeUndefined();
-  });
-
   it('describes --var without showing a value that looks like a secret', () => {
     expect(variableFlags.var.description).toContain('KEY=VALUE');
     expect(variableFlags.var.description).not.toMatch(/sk_|ghp_|password/i);
diff --git a/src/variables/variable.inputs.ts b/src/variables/variable.inputs.ts
index 8631914d..9fdf8e3b 100644
--- a/src/variables/variable.inputs.ts
+++ b/src/variables/variable.inputs.ts
@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@ export const variableFlags = {
     char: 'a',
     description: 'Alias of a delivery token saved with csdx auth:tokens:add, used with --from-stack without a prompt',
   }),
-  'no-vars': Flags.boolean({
-    description: 'Create the environment with no variables, without asking for them on a terminal',
-  }),
 };
 
 export const variableResolution = {
@@ -32,5 +29,4 @@ export const variableResolution = {
   key: {} satisfies ResolutionSpec<string[]>,
   'from-stack': {} satisfies ResolutionSpec<boolean>,
   alias: {} satisfies ResolutionSpec<string>,
-  'no-vars': {} satisfies ResolutionSpec<boolean>,
 };
diff --git a/src/variables/variable.rules.test.ts b/src/variables/variable.rules.test.ts
index 6712f1e1..61fda24e 100644
--- a/src/variables/variable.rules.test.ts
+++ b/src/variables/variable.rules.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { UsageError } from '../core/errors';
-import { aliasRequiresFromStack, noVarsAlone } from './variable.rules';
+import { aliasRequiresFromStack } from './variable.rules';
 
 describe('variable rules', () => {
   it('refuses --alias without --from-stack, naming both', () => {
@@ -27,21 +27,4 @@ describe('variable rules', () => {
   it('accepts --from-stack on its own', () => {
     expect(() => aliasRequiresFromStack({ 'from-stack': true }, {})).not.toThrow();
   });
-
-  it.each([[{ var: ['A=1'] }], [{ dotenv: ['a.env'] }], [{ 'from-stack': true }]])(
-    'refuses --no-vars with a variable source (%p)',
-    (source) => {
-      expect(() => noVarsAlone({ 'no-vars': true, ...source }, {})).toThrow(UsageError);
-      expect(() => noVarsAlone({ 'no-vars': true, ...source }, {})).toThrow(
-        '--no-vars cannot be combined with --var, --dotenv or --from-stack.',
-      );
-    },
-  );
-
-  it.each([[{ 'no-vars': true }], [{ 'no-vars': false, var: ['A=1'] }], [{ var: [], dotenv: [], 'from-stack': false, 'no-vars': true }]])(
-    'accepts --no-vars alone and the sources without it (%p)',
-    (resolved) => {
-      expect(() => noVarsAlone(resolved, {})).not.toThrow();
-    },
-  );
 });
diff --git a/src/variables/variable.rules.ts b/src/variables/variable.rules.ts
index a8d11796..4924027c 100644
--- a/src/variables/variable.rules.ts
+++ b/src/variables/variable.rules.ts
@@ -7,13 +7,3 @@ export const aliasRequiresFromStack: Rule = (resolved) => {
     throw new UsageError('--alias is only used with --from-stack.');
   }
 };
-
-function hasValues(value: unknown): boolean {
-  return Array.isArray(value) ? value.length > 0 : value === true;
-}
-
-export const noVarsAlone: Rule = (resolved) => {
-  if (resolved['no-vars'] === true && [resolved.var, resolved.dotenv, resolved['from-stack']].some(hasValues)) {
-    throw new UsageError('--no-vars cannot be combined with --var, --dotenv or --from-stack.');
-  }
-};
diff --git a/test/integration/environments-create.test.ts b/test/integration/environments-create.test.ts
index fb662313..9c6254a1 100644
--- a/test/integration/environments-create.test.ts
+++ b/test/integration/environments-create.test.ts
@@ -281,16 +281,17 @@ describe('integration: launch:env:create on the wire', () => {
       expect(sent[0].environmentVariables).toEqual([]);
     });
 
-    it('creates with no variables and asks nothing when --no-vars is given on a terminal', async () => {
-      const prompts = answerPrompts({});
+    it('creates with no variables when Enter is pressed with nothing selected', async () => {
+      const prompts = answerPrompts({ 'Add environment variables': [] });
       const sent: { environmentVariables?: unknown }[] = [];
       stubCreate(sent);
       stubFollowUp('LIVE');
 
-      const { error } = await onTerminal(() => runCommand([...WITH_AUTH, '--no-vars'], config));
+      const { error, stdout } = await onTerminal(() => runCommand(WITH_AUTH, config));
 
       expect(error).toBeUndefined();
-      expect(prompts.messages).toEqual([]);
+      expect(prompts.messages).toEqual(['Add environment variables']);
+      expect(stdout).toContain('Skipped adding environment variables.');
       expect(sent[0].environmentVariables).toEqual([]);
     });
 
diff --git a/test/integration/projects-create.test.ts b/test/integration/projects-create.test.ts
index 93c3ef19..63675f85 100644
--- a/test/integration/projects-create.test.ts
+++ b/test/integration/projects-create.test.ts
@@ -779,9 +779,9 @@ describe('integration: launch:projects:create on the wire', () => {
     expect(onWire).toEqual([]);
   });
 
-  it('asks nothing on a terminal when every value is a flag and --no-vars says there are no variables', async () => {
+  it('asks only for variables on a terminal when every other value is a flag, and a bare Enter skips them', async () => {
     let body: { environment?: { environmentVariables?: unknown } } | undefined;
-    const prompts = answerPrompts({});
+    const prompts = answerPrompts({ 'Add environment variables': [] });
     stubGitLookups();
     const create = hub()
       .post('/manage/projects', (sent: typeof body) => {
@@ -792,17 +792,17 @@ describe('integration: launch:projects:create on the wire', () => {
       .reply(201, { project: CREATED_PROJECT });
     stubFollowUp('LIVE');
 
-    const { error } = await onTerminal(() => runCommand([...gitFlags(), '--no-vars'], config));
+    const { error } = await onTerminal(() => runCommand(gitFlags(), config));
 
     expect(error).toBeUndefined();
-    expect(prompts.messages).toEqual([]);
+    expect(prompts.messages).toEqual(['Add environment variables']);
     expect(create.isDone()).toBe(true);
     expect(body?.environment?.environmentVariables).toEqual([]);
     expect(onWire).toEqual([]);
   });
 
-  it('refuses --no-vars with --var with exit 2 before any request', async () => {
-    const { error } = await runCommand([...gitFlags(), '--no-vars', '--var', 'A=1'], config);
+  it('refuses the removed --no-vars as an unknown flag with exit 2 before any request', async () => {
+    const { error } = await runCommand([...gitFlags(), '--no-vars'], config);
 
     expect(error?.oclif?.exit).toBe(2);
     expect(error?.message).toContain('--no-vars');