diff --git a/cmd/config.go b/cmd/config.go
index ea151940..84b76f00 100644
--- a/cmd/config.go
+++ b/cmd/config.go
@@ -220,11 +220,7 @@ var configDeleteCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
 		if yesNo(fmt.Sprintf("You are attempting to delete config for lagoon '%s', are you sure?", lagoonConfig.Lagoon)) {
-			err := removeConfig(lagoonConfig.Lagoon)
-			if err != nil {
-				output.RenderError(err.Error(), outputOptions)
-				os.Exit(1)
-			}
+			removeConfig(lagoonConfig.Lagoon)
 		}
 	},
 }
@@ -247,19 +243,14 @@ var configFeatureSwitch = &cobra.Command{
 			lagoonCLIConfig.EnvironmentFromDirectory = false
 		}
 		strictHostKeyChecking, err := cmd.Flags().GetString("strict-host-key-checking")
-		if err != nil {
-			output.RenderError(err.Error(), outputOptions)
-			os.Exit(1)
-		}
+		handleError(err)
 		strictHostKeyCheckingProvided := cmd.Flags().Lookup("strict-host-key-checking").Changed
 		if strictHostKeyCheckingProvided {
 			lagoonCLIConfig.StrictHostKeyChecking = strictHostKeyChecking
 		}
 
-		if err := writeLagoonConfig(&lagoonCLIConfig, filepath.Join(configFilePath, configName+configExtension)); err != nil {
-			output.RenderError(err.Error(), outputOptions)
-			os.Exit(1)
-		}
+		err = writeLagoonConfig(&lagoonCLIConfig, filepath.Join(configFilePath, configName+configExtension))
+		handleError(err)
 	},
 }
 
@@ -399,11 +390,8 @@ func writeLagoonConfig(lc *config.Config, file string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func removeConfig(key string) error {
+func removeConfig(key string) {
 	delete(lagoonCLIConfig.Lagoons, key)
-	if err := writeLagoonConfig(&lagoonCLIConfig, filepath.Join(configFilePath, configName+configExtension)); err != nil {
-		output.RenderError(err.Error(), outputOptions)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
-	return nil
+	err := writeLagoonConfig(&lagoonCLIConfig, filepath.Join(configFilePath, configName+configExtension))
+	handleError(err)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 76f30b3a..759a7bae 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -96,10 +96,7 @@ var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		if docsFlag {
 			err := doc.GenMarkdownTree(cmd, "docs/commands")
-			if err != nil {
-				output.RenderError(err.Error(), outputOptions)
-				os.Exit(1)
-			}
+			handleError(err)
 			fmt.Println("Documentation updated")
 			return
 		}
@@ -114,10 +111,8 @@ var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 // Execute the root command.
 func Execute() {
-	if err := rootCmd.Execute(); err != nil {
-		output.RenderError(err.Error(), outputOptions)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
+	err := rootCmd.Execute()
+	handleError(err)
 }
 
 // IsInternetActive() checks to see if we have a viable
@@ -226,28 +221,18 @@ func initConfig() {
 	// Find home directory.
 	userPath, err = os.UserHomeDir()
 	if err != nil {
-		output.RenderError(fmt.Errorf("couldn't get $HOME: %v", err).Error(), outputOptions)
-		os.Exit(1)
+		handleError(fmt.Errorf("couldn't get $HOME: %v", err))
 	}
 	configFilePath = userPath
 
 	// check if we are being given a path to a different config file
 	err = getLagoonConfigFile(&configFilePath, &configName, &configExtension, createConfig, rootCmd)
-	if err != nil {
-		output.RenderError(err.Error(), outputOptions)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
+	handleError(err)
 
 	err = readLagoonConfig(&lagoonCLIConfig, filepath.Join(configFilePath, configName+configExtension))
-	if err != nil {
-		output.RenderError(err.Error(), outputOptions)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
+	handleError(err)
 	err = getLagoonContext(&lagoonCLIConfig, &cmdLagoon, rootCmd)
-	if err != nil {
-		output.RenderError(err.Error(), outputOptions)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
+	handleError(err)
 
 	// if the directory or repository you're in has a valid .lagoon.yml and docker-compose.yml with x-lagoon-project in it
 	// we can use that inplaces where projects already exist so you don't have to type it out
@@ -271,10 +256,7 @@ func yesNo(message string) bool {
 			Items: []string{"No", "Yes"},
 		}
 		_, result, err := prompt.Run()
-		if err != nil {
-			output.RenderError(err.Error(), outputOptions)
-			os.Exit(1)
-		}
+		handleError(err)
 		return result == "Yes"
 	}
 	return true
diff --git a/cmd/ssh.go b/cmd/ssh.go
index d8aa5e37..d41e1907 100644
--- a/cmd/ssh.go
+++ b/cmd/ssh.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	lagoonssh "github.com/uselagoon/lagoon-cli/pkg/lagoon/ssh"
-	"github.com/uselagoon/lagoon-cli/pkg/output"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
 )
 
@@ -87,10 +86,7 @@ var sshEnvCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			} else {
 				err = lagoonssh.InteractiveSSH(sshConfig, sshService, sshContainer, config)
 			}
-			if err != nil {
-				output.RenderError(err.Error(), outputOptions)
-				os.Exit(1)
-			}
+			handleError(err)
 		}
 		return nil
 	},
diff --git a/cmd/users.go b/cmd/users.go
index 54b71e3d..b83707ba 100644
--- a/cmd/users.go
+++ b/cmd/users.go
@@ -311,8 +311,7 @@ var updateUserCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			return err
 		}
 		if firstName == "" && lastName == "" && emailAddress == "" {
-			output.RenderError("Missing arguments: Nothing to update, please provide a field to update", outputOptions)
-			return nil
+			return fmt.Errorf("missing arguments: Nothing to update, please provide a field to update")
 		}
 
 		current := lagoonCLIConfig.Current
diff --git a/cmd/web.go b/cmd/web.go
index 0e61338a..d90d9022 100644
--- a/cmd/web.go
+++ b/cmd/web.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/pkg/browser"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
-	"github.com/uselagoon/lagoon-cli/pkg/output"
 )
 
 var webCmd = &cobra.Command{
@@ -26,8 +25,7 @@ var webCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		if lagoonCLIConfig.Lagoons[lagoonCLIConfig.Current].UI != "" {
 			urlBuilder.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("/projects/%s", cmdProjectName))
 		} else {
-			output.RenderError("unable to determine url for ui, is one set?", outputOptions)
-			os.Exit(1)
+			handleError(fmt.Errorf("unable to determine url for ui, is one set?"))
 		}
 
 		url := urlBuilder.String()
@@ -44,8 +42,7 @@ var kibanaCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		urlBuilder := strings.Builder{}
 		urlBuilder.WriteString(lagoonCLIConfig.Lagoons[lagoonCLIConfig.Current].Kibana)
 		if lagoonCLIConfig.Lagoons[lagoonCLIConfig.Current].Kibana == "" {
-			output.RenderError("unable to determine url for kibana, is one set?", outputOptions)
-			os.Exit(1)
+			handleError(fmt.Errorf("unable to determine url for kibana, is one set?"))
 		}
 
 		url := urlBuilder.String()
diff --git a/pkg/output/main.go b/pkg/output/main.go
index a0b20752..48213d44 100644
--- a/pkg/output/main.go
+++ b/pkg/output/main.go
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func RenderError(errorMsg string, opts Options) {
 		jsonData := Result{
 			Error: trimQuotes(errorMsg),
 		}
-		RenderJSON(jsonData, opts)
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s", RenderJSON(jsonData, opts))
 	} else {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: %s", trimQuotes(errorMsg))
 	}
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func RenderInfo(infoMsg string, opts Options) {
 		jsonData := Result{
 			Info: trimQuotes(infoMsg),
 		}
-		RenderJSON(jsonData, opts)
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s", RenderJSON(jsonData, opts))
 	} else {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Info: %s", trimQuotes(infoMsg))
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/output/main_test.go b/pkg/output/main_test.go
index dfc0ec61..6465552f 100644
--- a/pkg/output/main_test.go
+++ b/pkg/output/main_test.go
@@ -52,19 +52,17 @@ func TestRenderError(t *testing.T) {
 		Pretty: false,
 	}
 
-	rescueStdout := os.Stderr
-	r, w, _ := os.Pipe()
-	defer func() {
-		os.Stderr = rescueStdout
-	}()
-	os.Stderr = w
-	RenderError(testData, outputOptions)
-	w.Close()
-	var out bytes.Buffer
-	_, _ = io.Copy(&out, r)
-	if out.String() != testSuccess {
-		checkEqual(t, out.String(), testSuccess, " render error stdout processing failed")
-	}
+	out := captureStderr(func() {
+		RenderError(testData, outputOptions)
+	})
+	checkEqual(t, out, testSuccess, " render error stdout processing failed")
+
+	var testJson = `{"error":"Error Message"}`
+	outputOptions.JSON = true
+	out = captureStderr(func() {
+		RenderError(testData, outputOptions)
+	})
+	checkEqual(t, out, testJson, " render error stdout processing failed")
 }
 
 func TestRenderInfo(t *testing.T) {
@@ -78,19 +76,17 @@ func TestRenderInfo(t *testing.T) {
 		Pretty: false,
 	}
 
-	rescueStdout := os.Stderr
-	r, w, _ := os.Pipe()
-	defer func() {
-		os.Stderr = rescueStdout
-	}()
-	os.Stderr = w
-	RenderInfo(testData, outputOptions)
-	w.Close()
-	var out bytes.Buffer
-	_, _ = io.Copy(&out, r)
-	if out.String() != testSuccess1 {
-		checkEqual(t, out.String(), testSuccess1, " render info stdout processing failed")
-	}
+	out := captureStderr(func() {
+		RenderInfo(testData, outputOptions)
+	})
+	checkEqual(t, out, testSuccess1, " render info stdout processing failed")
+
+	var testJson = `{"info":"Info Message"}`
+	outputOptions.JSON = true
+	out = captureStderr(func() {
+		RenderInfo(testData, outputOptions)
+	})
+	checkEqual(t, out, testJson, " render error stdout processing failed")
 }
 
 func TestRenderOutput(t *testing.T) {
@@ -143,3 +139,18 @@ func TestRenderString(t *testing.T) {
 	output = RenderString(testData, outputOptions)
 	checkEqual(t, output, testSuccess2, " render string json processing failed")
 }
+
+func captureStderr(fn func()) string {
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+	rescueStderr := os.Stderr
+	r, w, _ := os.Pipe()
+	os.Stderr = w
+
+	fn()
+
+	w.Close()
+	os.Stderr = rescueStderr
+
+	_, _ = io.Copy(&out, r)
+	return out.String()
+}