diff --git a/src/packages/cli/package.json b/src/packages/cli/package.json
index 4d0803c8dc..1a283de315 100644
--- a/src/packages/cli/package.json
+++ b/src/packages/cli/package.json
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
   },
   "scripts": {
     "tsc": "tsc --build",
-    "test": "nyc npm run mocha",
+    "test": "nyc --reporter lcov npm run mocha",
     "mocha": "cross-env TS_NODE_FILES=true mocha --exit --check-leaks --throw-deprecation --trace-warnings --require ts-node/register 'tests/**/*.test.ts'",
     "start": "cross-env node --require ts-node/register --inspect src/cli.ts"
   },
diff --git a/src/packages/cli/src/args.ts b/src/packages/cli/src/args.ts
index 5899d980c0..a36fae8690 100644
--- a/src/packages/cli/src/args.ts
+++ b/src/packages/cli/src/args.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
+// `import Yargs from "yargs"` is the Yargs singleton and namespace
+// `import yargs from "yargs/yargs"` is the non-singleton interface
+// See https://github.com/yargs/yargs/issues/1648
+import Yargs, { Options } from "yargs";
+import yargs from "yargs/yargs";
+
 import { TruffleColors } from "@ganache/colors";
-import yargs, { Options } from "yargs";
 import {
   DefaultFlavor,
   FilecoinFlavorName,
@@ -26,7 +31,7 @@ marked.setOptions({
   })
 });
 
-const wrapWidth = Math.min(120, yargs.terminalWidth());
+const wrapWidth = Math.min(120, Yargs.terminalWidth());
 const NEED_HELP = "Need more help? Reach out to the Truffle community at";
 const COMMUNITY_LINK = "https://trfl.io/support";
 
@@ -43,7 +48,7 @@ const highlight = (t: string) => unescapeEntities(marked.parseInline(t));
 const center = (str: string) =>
   " ".repeat(Math.max(0, Math.floor((wrapWidth - str.length) / 2))) + str;
 
-const addAliases = (args: yargs.Argv<{}>, aliases: string[], key: string) => {
+const addAliases = (args: Yargs.Argv<{}>, aliases: string[], key: string) => {
   const options = { hidden: true, alias: key };
   return aliases.reduce((args, a) => args.option(a, options), args);
 };
@@ -54,7 +59,7 @@ function processOption(
   group: string,
   option: string,
   optionObj: Definitions<Base.Config>[string],
-  argv: yargs.Argv,
+  argv: Yargs.Argv,
   flavor: string
 ) {
   if (optionObj.disableInCLI !== true) {
@@ -122,7 +127,7 @@ function applyDefaults(
   flavorDefaults:
     | typeof DefaultOptionsByName[keyof typeof DefaultOptionsByName]
     | typeof _DefaultServerOptions,
-  flavorArgs: yargs.Argv<{}>,
+  flavorArgs: Yargs.Argv<{}>,
   flavor: keyof typeof DefaultOptionsByName
 ) {
   for (const category in flavorDefaults) {
@@ -160,8 +165,9 @@ export default function (
 
   // disable dot-notation because yargs just can't coerce args properly...
   // ...on purpose! https://github.com/yargs/yargs/issues/1021#issuecomment-352324693
-  yargs
+  const yargsParser = yargs()
     .parserConfiguration({ "dot-notation": false })
+    .exitProcess(false)
     .strict()
     .usage(versionUsageOutputText)
     .epilogue(
@@ -188,12 +194,9 @@ export default function (
         command = ["$0", flavor];
         defaultPort = 8545;
         break;
-      default:
-        command = flavor;
-        defaultPort = 8545;
     }
 
-    yargs.command(
+    yargsParser.command(
       command,
       chalk`Use the {bold ${flavor}} flavor of Ganache`,
       flavorArgs => {
@@ -214,14 +217,19 @@ export default function (
             description: chalk`Port to listen on.${EOL}{dim deprecated aliases: --port}${EOL}`,
             alias: ["p", "port"],
             type: "number",
-            default: defaultPort
+            default: defaultPort,
+            // `string: true` to allow raw value to be used in validation below
+            // (otherwise string values becomes NaN)
+            string: true,
+            coerce: port => (isFinite(port) ? +port : port)
           })
           .check(argv => {
             const { "server.port": port, "server.host": host } = argv;
-            if (port < 1 || port > 65535) {
-              throw new Error(`Invalid port number '${port}'`);
+            if (!isFinite(port) || port < 1 || port > 65535) {
+              throw new Error(
+                `Port should be >= 0 and < 65536. Received ${port}.`
+              );
             }
-
             if (host.trim() === "") {
               throw new Error("Cannot leave host blank; please provide a host");
             }
@@ -244,7 +252,7 @@ export default function (
     );
   }
 
-  yargs
+  yargsParser
     .command(
       "instances",
       highlight(
@@ -272,6 +280,14 @@ export default function (
               stopArgs.action = "stop";
             }
           )
+          .check(instancesArgs => {
+            if (instancesArgs["_"].length <= 1) {
+              throw new Error(
+                "No sub-command given. See `ganache instances --help` for more information."
+              );
+            }
+            return true;
+          })
           .version(false);
       }
     )
@@ -280,7 +296,7 @@ export default function (
     .wrap(wrapWidth)
     .version(version);
 
-  const parsedArgs = yargs.parse(rawArgs);
+  const parsedArgs = yargsParser.parse(rawArgs);
 
   let finalArgs: GanacheArgs;
   if (parsedArgs.action === "stop") {
@@ -308,7 +324,7 @@ export default function (
       >)
     };
   } else {
-    throw new Error(`Unknown action: ${parsedArgs.action}`);
+    finalArgs = { action: "none" };
   }
 
   return finalArgs;
diff --git a/src/packages/cli/src/cli.ts b/src/packages/cli/src/cli.ts
index 8444315505..9c293607ae 100644
--- a/src/packages/cli/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/packages/cli/src/cli.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
 import { TruffleColors } from "@ganache/colors";
 import { table } from "table";
 import chalk from "chalk";
+import { GanacheArgs } from "./types";
 
 const logAndForceExit = (messages: any[], exitCode = 0) => {
   // https://nodejs.org/api/process.html#process_process_exit_code
@@ -60,7 +61,11 @@ const detailedVersion = `ganache v${version} (@ganache/cli: ${cliVersion}, @gana
 const isDocker =
   "DOCKER" in process.env && process.env.DOCKER.toLowerCase() === "true";
 
-const argv = args(detailedVersion, isDocker);
+let argv: GanacheArgs;
+try {
+  argv = args(detailedVersion, isDocker);
+} catch (err: any) {}
+
 if (argv.action === "start") {
   const flavor = argv.flavor;
   const cliSettings = argv.server;
diff --git a/src/packages/cli/src/process-name.ts b/src/packages/cli/src/process-name.ts
index 0680219a74..91b4394ad1 100644
--- a/src/packages/cli/src/process-name.ts
+++ b/src/packages/cli/src/process-name.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-function pick(source: string[]) {
-  const partIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * source.length);
+function pick(source: string[], random: () => number) {
+  const partIndex = Math.floor(random() * source.length);
   return source[partIndex];
 }
 /**
@@ -7,14 +7,17 @@ function pick(source: string[]) {
  * generated from an adjective, a flavor and a type of desert, in the form of
  * `<adjective>_<flavor>_<type>`, eg., `salted_caramel_ganache`.
  */
-export default function createInstanceName() {
-  const name = [adjectives, flavors, kinds].map(pick).join("_");
+export default function createInstanceName(random: () => number = Math.random) {
+  const name = [adjectives, flavors, kinds]
+    .map(source => pick(source, random))
+    .join("_");
   return name;
 }
 
 const adjectives = [
   "baked",
   "candied",
+  "creamy",
   "deepfried",
   "frozen",
   "hot",
@@ -48,7 +51,7 @@ const flavors = [
   "orange",
   "peanut",
   "plum",
-  "poppy-seed",
+  "poppyseed",
   "rhubarb",
   "strawberry",
   "sugar",
diff --git a/src/packages/cli/src/types.ts b/src/packages/cli/src/types.ts
index 1cb603e559..d6ad328a73 100644
--- a/src/packages/cli/src/types.ts
+++ b/src/packages/cli/src/types.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ type CliServerOptions = {
   port: number;
 };
 
-type Action = "start" | "start-detached" | "list" | "stop";
+type Action = "start" | "start-detached" | "list" | "stop" | "none";
 
 type AbstractArgs<TAction = Action> = {
   action: TAction;
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export type StartArgs<TFlavorName extends FlavorName> =
 export type GanacheArgs =
   | (AbstractArgs<"stop"> & { name: string })
   | AbstractArgs<"list">
+  | AbstractArgs<"none">
   | StartArgs<FlavorName>;
 
 export type CliSettings = CliServerOptions;
diff --git a/src/packages/cli/tests/args.test.ts b/src/packages/cli/tests/args.test.ts
index 4a8493d5d8..a76445b26a 100644
--- a/src/packages/cli/tests/args.test.ts
+++ b/src/packages/cli/tests/args.test.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ describe("args", () => {
       });
     });
 
-    it("should remove arguments who are kebab-cased", () => {
+    it("should remove arguments which are kebab-cased", () => {
       const input = {
         "namespace.name": "value",
         "namespace.kebab-case": "value",
@@ -54,10 +54,134 @@ describe("args", () => {
   });
 
   describe("parse args", () => {
-    describe("detach", () => {
-      const versionString = "Version string";
-      const isDocker = false;
+    const versionString = "Version string";
+    const isDocker = false;
+
+    describe("help", () => {
+      it("should accept a help parameter", () => {
+        const rawArgs = ["--help"];
+        const options = args(versionString, isDocker, rawArgs);
+
+        assert.deepStrictEqual(options, { action: "none" });
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe("flavor", () => {
+      it("should default to ethereum", () => {
+        const options = args(versionString, isDocker, []);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(options.action, "start");
+        // We check the value of `options.action` here in order to narrow the
+        // type of options. The negative case fails in the assert above.
+        if (options.action === "start") {
+          assert.strictEqual(options.flavor, "ethereum");
+        }
+      });
+
+      it("should accept a flavor of ethereum", () => {
+        const options = args(versionString, isDocker, ["ethereum"]);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(options.action, "start");
+        // We check the value of `options.action` here in order to narrow the
+        // type of options. The negative case fails in the assert above.
+        if (options.action === "start") {
+          assert.strictEqual(options.flavor, "ethereum");
+        }
+      });
+
+      it("should accept a flavor of filecoin", () => {
+        const options = args(versionString, isDocker, ["filecoin"]);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(options.action, "start");
+        // We check the value of `options.action` here in order to narrow the
+        // type of options. The negative case fails in the assert above.
+        if (options.action === "start") {
+          assert.strictEqual(options.flavor, "filecoin");
+        }
+      });
+
+      it("should reject a non-standard flavor", () => {
+        assert.throws(() => args(versionString, isDocker, ["not-a-flavor"]), {
+          name: "YError",
+          message: "Unknown argument: not-a-flavor"
+        });
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe("host and port", () => {
+      it("should default configuration to 127.0.0.1:8545", () => {
+        const options = args(versionString, isDocker, []);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(options.action, "start");
+        // We check the value of `options.action` here in order to narrow the
+        // type of options. The negative case fails in the assert above.
+        if (options.action === "start") {
+          assert.strictEqual(options.server.host, "127.0.0.1");
+          assert.strictEqual(options.server.port, 8545);
+        }
+      });
+
+      it("should default configuration to 0.0.0.0:8545 if running within docker", () => {
+        const options = args(versionString, true, []);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(options.action, "start");
+        // We check the value of `options.action` here in order to narrow the
+        // type of options. The negative case fails in the assert above.
+        if (options.action === "start") {
+          assert.strictEqual(options.server.host, "0.0.0.0");
+          assert.strictEqual(options.server.port, 8545);
+        }
+      });
+
+      it("should parse the provided host configuration", () => {
+        const options = args(versionString, true, ["--host", "localhost"]);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(options.action, "start");
+        // We check the value of `options.action` here in order to narrow the
+        // type of options. The negative case fails in the assert above
+        if (options.action === "start") {
+          assert.strictEqual(options.server.host, "localhost");
+          assert.strictEqual(options.server.port, 8545);
+        }
+      });
+
+      it("should parse the provided port configuration", () => {
+        const options = args(versionString, isDocker, ["--port", "1234"]);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(options.action, "start");
+        // We check the value of `options.action` here in order to narrow the
+        // type of options. The negative case fails in the assert above
+        if (options.action === "start") {
+          assert.strictEqual(options.server.host, "127.0.0.1");
+          assert.strictEqual(options.server.port, 1234);
+        }
+      });
+
+      it("should reject invalid host argument", () => {
+        const invalidHost = "";
+        const rawArgs = ["--host", invalidHost];
+
+        assert.throws(
+          () => args(versionString, isDocker, rawArgs),
+          new Error("Cannot leave host blank; please provide a host")
+        );
+      });
+
+      it("should reject invalid port argument", () => {
+        const invalidPorts = ["0", "-1", "65536", "absolutely-not-a-port"];
+        for (const port of invalidPorts) {
+          const rawArgs = ["--port", port];
+
+          assert.throws(
+            () => args(versionString, isDocker, rawArgs),
+            new Error(`Port should be >= 0 and < 65536. Received ${port}.`),
+            `Expected to throw with supplied port of '${port}'`
+          );
+        }
+      });
+    });
 
+    describe("detach", () => {
       const detachModeArgs = [
         "--detach",
         "--D",
@@ -112,5 +236,94 @@ describe("args", () => {
         });
       });
     });
+
+    describe("instances", () => {
+      it("should fail when no sub-command is specified", () => {
+        const rawArgs = ["instances"];
+        assert.throws(() => args(versionString, false, rawArgs), {
+          name: "Error",
+          message:
+            "No sub-command given. See `ganache instances --help` for more information."
+        });
+      });
+
+      it("should fail when invalid sub-command is specified", () => {
+        const rawArgs = ["instances", "invalid-command"];
+        assert.throws(() => args(versionString, false, rawArgs), {
+          name: "YError",
+          message: "Unknown argument: invalid-command"
+        });
+      });
+
+      describe("list", () => {
+        it("should parse the `list` sub command", () => {
+          const rawArgs = ["instances", "list"];
+          const options = args(versionString, isDocker, rawArgs);
+          assert.strictEqual(
+            options.action,
+            "list",
+            "Expected action to be 'list' when 'list' sub-command is specified"
+          );
+        });
+
+        it("should not accept options", () => {
+          const invalidOptions = ["detach", "port", "host", "chain.blockTime"];
+
+          for (let option of invalidOptions) {
+            const rawArgs = ["instances", "list", `--${option}`];
+
+            assert.throws(
+              () => args(versionString, isDocker, rawArgs),
+              {
+                name: "YError",
+                message: `Unknown argument: ${option}`
+              },
+              `Expected to throw with arguments of '${JSON.stringify(rawArgs)}'`
+            );
+          }
+        });
+
+        it("should not accept an additional command", () => {
+          const rawArgs = ["instances", "list", `additional-command`];
+
+          assert.throws(
+            () => args(versionString, isDocker, rawArgs),
+            {
+              name: "YError",
+              message: "Unknown argument: additional-command"
+            },
+            `Expected to throw with arguments of '${JSON.stringify(rawArgs)}'`
+          );
+        });
+      });
+
+      describe("stop", () => {
+        it("should fail if no instance name is supplied", () => {
+          const rawArgs = ["instances", "stop"];
+          assert.throws(() => args(versionString, isDocker, rawArgs));
+        });
+
+        it("should parse the `stop` sub command", () => {
+          const rawArgs = ["instances", "stop", "instance-name"];
+          const options = args(versionString, isDocker, rawArgs);
+
+          assert.strictEqual(
+            options.action,
+            "stop",
+            "Expected action to be 'list' when 'list' sub-command is specified"
+          );
+
+          // We check the value of `options.action` here in order to narrow the
+          // type of options. The negative case fails in the assert above
+          if (options.action === "stop") {
+            assert.strictEqual(
+              options.name,
+              "instance-name",
+              "Instance name should have been the specified argument"
+            );
+          }
+        });
+      });
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/packages/cli/tests/process-name.test.ts b/src/packages/cli/tests/process-name.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..af6048a666
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/packages/cli/tests/process-name.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+import assert from "assert";
+import createProcessName from "../src/process-name";
+
+// generates a "random" number generator function that, when called, returns (in
+// order) each value from the provided array, followed by -1 when there are none
+// left.
+function createRandom(...values: number[]): () => number {
+  return () => (values.length > 0 ? (values.shift() as number) : -1);
+}
+
+const MAX_RANDOM = 0.9999999999999999;
+
+// the values passed to createRandom specify the "random" number required to
+// pick the specified part. This is calculated by:
+// `source.indexOf("term") / source.length`
+const wellKnownNames = [
+  {
+    random: createRandom(0, 0, 0),
+    name: "baked_almond_bar"
+  },
+  {
+    random: createRandom(MAX_RANDOM, MAX_RANDOM, MAX_RANDOM),
+    name: "sticky_tiramisu_waffle"
+  },
+  {
+    random: createRandom(
+      0.2727272727272727,
+      0.21428571428571427,
+      0.4444444444444444
+    ),
+    name: "deepfried_chocolate_ganache"
+  },
+  {
+    random: createRandom(
+      0.18181818181818182,
+      0.07142857142857142,
+      0.9259259259259259
+    ),
+    name: "creamy_banana_truffle"
+  }
+];
+
+// it's not necessarily important that this generates the correct names, but
+// it's good to test that it's doing what we expect.
+describe("createProcessName", () => {
+  for (const wellKnownName of wellKnownNames) {
+    it(`should create the correct instance name: ${wellKnownName.name}`, () => {
+      const generatedName = createProcessName(wellKnownName.random);
+
+      assert.strictEqual(generatedName, wellKnownName.name);
+    });
+  }
+
+  it("should create a process name, without a mocked RNG", () => {
+    const generatedName = createProcessName();
+    // each part must be at least 3 chars long, and at most 20 chars
+    const nameRegex = /^([a-z]{3,20}_){2}[a-z]{3,20}$/;
+    assert.match(
+      generatedName,
+      nameRegex,
+      `Exepected to have generated a reasonable name, got "${generatedName}"`
+    );
+  });
+});