diff --git a/novaclient/shell.py b/novaclient/shell.py
index 869b8c842..1e91d2647 100644
--- a/novaclient/shell.py
+++ b/novaclient/shell.py
@@ -158,6 +158,16 @@ class OpenStackComputeShell(object):
             raise exc.CommandError("You must provide an API key, either"
                                    "via --apikey or via"
                                    "env[NOVA_API_KEY]")
+        if options.version and options.version != '1.0':
+            if not projectid:
+                raise exc.CommandError("You must provide an projectid, either"
+                                       "via --projectid or via"
+                                       "env[NOVA_PROJECT_ID")
+
+            if not url:
+                raise exc.CommandError("You must provide a auth url, either"
+                                       "via --url or via"
+                                       "env[NOVA_URL")
 
         self.cs = self.get_api_class(options.version)(user, apikey, projectid,
                                                       url)