diff --git a/cmd/cmount/mount.go b/cmd/cmount/mount.go
index ecac974c5..bb481e8fd 100644
--- a/cmd/cmount/mount.go
+++ b/cmd/cmount/mount.go
@@ -78,10 +78,10 @@ func mountOptions(device string, mountpoint string) (options []string) {
 	if mountlib.WritebackCache {
 		// FIXME? options = append(options, "-o", WritebackCache())
 	}
-	for _, option := range *mountlib.ExtraOptions {
+	for _, option := range mountlib.ExtraOptions {
 		options = append(options, "-o", option)
 	}
-	for _, option := range *mountlib.ExtraFlags {
+	for _, option := range mountlib.ExtraFlags {
 		options = append(options, option)
 	}
 	return options
diff --git a/cmd/mount/mount.go b/cmd/mount/mount.go
index 9a3aac144..3896fa3a7 100644
--- a/cmd/mount/mount.go
+++ b/cmd/mount/mount.go
@@ -57,10 +57,10 @@ func mountOptions(device string) (options []fuse.MountOption) {
 	if mountlib.WritebackCache {
 		options = append(options, fuse.WritebackCache())
 	}
-	if len(*mountlib.ExtraOptions) > 0 {
+	if len(mountlib.ExtraOptions) > 0 {
 		fs.Errorf(nil, "-o/--option not supported with this FUSE backend")
 	}
-	if len(*mountlib.ExtraOptions) > 0 {
+	if len(mountlib.ExtraOptions) > 0 {
 		fs.Errorf(nil, "--fuse-flag not supported with this FUSE backend")
 	}
 	return options
diff --git a/cmd/mountlib/mount.go b/cmd/mountlib/mount.go
index eb97eb094..65064af02 100644
--- a/cmd/mountlib/mount.go
+++ b/cmd/mountlib/mount.go
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ var (
 	DefaultPermissions               = false
 	WritebackCache                   = false
 	MaxReadAhead       fs.SizeSuffix = 128 * 1024
-	ExtraOptions       *[]string
-	ExtraFlags         *[]string
+	ExtraOptions       []string
+	ExtraFlags         []string
 )
 
 // Check is folder is empty
@@ -182,17 +182,17 @@ will see all files and folders immediately in this mode.
 
 	// Add flags
 	flags := commandDefintion.Flags()
-	flags.BoolVarP(&DebugFUSE, "debug-fuse", "", DebugFUSE, "Debug the FUSE internals - needs -v.")
+	fs.BoolVarP(flags, &DebugFUSE, "debug-fuse", "", DebugFUSE, "Debug the FUSE internals - needs -v.")
 	// mount options
-	flags.BoolVarP(&AllowNonEmpty, "allow-non-empty", "", AllowNonEmpty, "Allow mounting over a non-empty directory.")
-	flags.BoolVarP(&AllowRoot, "allow-root", "", AllowRoot, "Allow access to root user.")
-	flags.BoolVarP(&AllowOther, "allow-other", "", AllowOther, "Allow access to other users.")
-	flags.BoolVarP(&DefaultPermissions, "default-permissions", "", DefaultPermissions, "Makes kernel enforce access control based on the file mode.")
-	flags.BoolVarP(&WritebackCache, "write-back-cache", "", WritebackCache, "Makes kernel buffer writes before sending them to rclone. Without this, writethrough caching is used.")
-	flags.VarP(&MaxReadAhead, "max-read-ahead", "", "The number of bytes that can be prefetched for sequential reads.")
-	ExtraOptions = flags.StringArrayP("option", "o", []string{}, "Option for libfuse/WinFsp. Repeat if required.")
-	ExtraFlags = flags.StringArrayP("fuse-flag", "", []string{}, "Flags or arguments to be passed direct to libfuse/WinFsp. Repeat if required.")
-	//flags.BoolVarP(&foreground, "foreground", "", foreground, "Do not detach.")
+	fs.BoolVarP(flags, &AllowNonEmpty, "allow-non-empty", "", AllowNonEmpty, "Allow mounting over a non-empty directory.")
+	fs.BoolVarP(flags, &AllowRoot, "allow-root", "", AllowRoot, "Allow access to root user.")
+	fs.BoolVarP(flags, &AllowOther, "allow-other", "", AllowOther, "Allow access to other users.")
+	fs.BoolVarP(flags, &DefaultPermissions, "default-permissions", "", DefaultPermissions, "Makes kernel enforce access control based on the file mode.")
+	fs.BoolVarP(flags, &WritebackCache, "write-back-cache", "", WritebackCache, "Makes kernel buffer writes before sending them to rclone. Without this, writethrough caching is used.")
+	fs.FlagsVarP(flags, &MaxReadAhead, "max-read-ahead", "", "The number of bytes that can be prefetched for sequential reads.")
+	fs.StringArrayVarP(flags, &ExtraOptions, "option", "o", []string{}, "Option for libfuse/WinFsp. Repeat if required.")
+	fs.StringArrayVarP(flags, &ExtraFlags, "fuse-flag", "", []string{}, "Flags or arguments to be passed direct to libfuse/WinFsp. Repeat if required.")
+	//fs.BoolVarP(flags, &foreground, "foreground", "", foreground, "Do not detach.")
 
 	// Add in the generic flags
 	vfsflags.AddFlags(flags)
diff --git a/fs/flags.go b/fs/flags.go
index d8ab3d7b4..fac105950 100644
--- a/fs/flags.go
+++ b/fs/flags.go
@@ -268,6 +268,14 @@ func StringP(name, shorthand string, value string, usage string) (out *string) {
 	return out
 }
 
+// StringVarP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
+//
+// It is a thin wrapper around pflag.StringVarP
+func StringVarP(flags *pflag.FlagSet, p *string, name, shorthand string, value string, usage string) {
+	flags.StringVarP(p, name, shorthand, value, usage)
+	setDefaultFromEnv(name)
+}
+
 // BoolP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
 //
 // It is a thin wrapper around pflag.BoolP
@@ -277,6 +285,14 @@ func BoolP(name, shorthand string, value bool, usage string) (out *bool) {
 	return out
 }
 
+// BoolVarP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
+//
+// It is a thin wrapper around pflag.BoolVarP
+func BoolVarP(flags *pflag.FlagSet, p *bool, name, shorthand string, value bool, usage string) {
+	flags.BoolVarP(p, name, shorthand, value, usage)
+	setDefaultFromEnv(name)
+}
+
 // IntP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
 //
 // It is a thin wrapper around pflag.IntP
@@ -286,6 +302,22 @@ func IntP(name, shorthand string, value int, usage string) (out *int) {
 	return out
 }
 
+// IntVarP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
+//
+// It is a thin wrapper around pflag.IntVarP
+func IntVarP(flags *pflag.FlagSet, p *int, name, shorthand string, value int, usage string) {
+	flags.IntVarP(p, name, shorthand, value, usage)
+	setDefaultFromEnv(name)
+}
+
+// Uint32VarP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
+//
+// It is a thin wrapper around pflag.Uint32VarP
+func Uint32VarP(flags *pflag.FlagSet, p *uint32, name, shorthand string, value uint32, usage string) {
+	flags.Uint32VarP(p, name, shorthand, value, usage)
+	setDefaultFromEnv(name)
+}
+
 // Float64P defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
 //
 // It is a thin wrapper around pflag.Float64P
@@ -295,6 +327,14 @@ func Float64P(name, shorthand string, value float64, usage string) (out *float64
 	return out
 }
 
+// Float64VarP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
+//
+// It is a thin wrapper around pflag.Float64VarP
+func Float64VarP(flags *pflag.FlagSet, p *float64, name, shorthand string, value float64, usage string) {
+	flags.Float64VarP(p, name, shorthand, value, usage)
+	setDefaultFromEnv(name)
+}
+
 // DurationP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
 //
 // It is a thin wrapper around pflag.DurationP
@@ -304,6 +344,14 @@ func DurationP(name, shorthand string, value time.Duration, usage string) (out *
 	return out
 }
 
+// DurationVarP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
+//
+// It is a thin wrapper around pflag.DurationVarP
+func DurationVarP(flags *pflag.FlagSet, p *time.Duration, name, shorthand string, value time.Duration, usage string) {
+	flags.DurationVarP(p, name, shorthand, value, usage)
+	setDefaultFromEnv(name)
+}
+
 // VarP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
 //
 // It is a thin wrapper around pflag.VarP
@@ -312,6 +360,14 @@ func VarP(value pflag.Value, name, shorthand, usage string) {
 	setDefaultFromEnv(name)
 }
 
+// FlagsVarP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
+//
+// It is a thin wrapper around pflag.VarP
+func FlagsVarP(flags *pflag.FlagSet, value pflag.Value, name, shorthand, usage string) {
+	flags.VarP(value, name, shorthand, usage)
+	setDefaultFromEnv(name)
+}
+
 // StringArrayP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
 //
 // It sets one value only - command line flags can be used to set more.
@@ -323,6 +379,16 @@ func StringArrayP(name, shorthand string, value []string, usage string) (out *[]
 	return out
 }
 
+// StringArrayVarP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
+//
+// It sets one value only - command line flags can be used to set more.
+//
+// It is a thin wrapper around pflag.StringArrayVarP
+func StringArrayVarP(flags *pflag.FlagSet, p *[]string, name, shorthand string, value []string, usage string) {
+	flags.StringArrayVarP(p, name, shorthand, value, usage)
+	setDefaultFromEnv(name)
+}
+
 // CountP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
 //
 // It is a thin wrapper around pflag.CountP
@@ -331,3 +397,11 @@ func CountP(name, shorthand string, usage string) (out *int) {
 	setDefaultFromEnv(name)
 	return out
 }
+
+// CountVarP defines a flag which can be overridden by an environment variable
+//
+// It is a thin wrapper around pflag.CountVarP
+func CountVarP(flags *pflag.FlagSet, p *int, name, shorthand string, usage string) {
+	flags.CountVarP(p, name, shorthand, usage)
+	setDefaultFromEnv(name)
+}
diff --git a/vfs/vfsflags/vfsflags.go b/vfs/vfsflags/vfsflags.go
index 5d1468128..21079602e 100644
--- a/vfs/vfsflags/vfsflags.go
+++ b/vfs/vfsflags/vfsflags.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 package vfsflags
 
 import (
+	"github.com/ncw/rclone/fs"
 	"github.com/ncw/rclone/vfs"
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 )
@@ -13,14 +14,14 @@ var (
 
 // AddFlags adds the non filing system specific flags to the command
 func AddFlags(flags *pflag.FlagSet) {
-	flags.BoolVarP(&Opt.NoModTime, "no-modtime", "", Opt.NoModTime, "Don't read/write the modification time (can speed things up).")
-	flags.BoolVarP(&Opt.NoChecksum, "no-checksum", "", Opt.NoChecksum, "Don't compare checksums on up/download.")
-	flags.BoolVarP(&Opt.NoSeek, "no-seek", "", Opt.NoSeek, "Don't allow seeking in files.")
-	flags.DurationVarP(&Opt.DirCacheTime, "dir-cache-time", "", Opt.DirCacheTime, "Time to cache directory entries for.")
-	flags.DurationVarP(&Opt.PollInterval, "poll-interval", "", Opt.PollInterval, "Time to wait between polling for changes. Must be smaller than dir-cache-time. Only on supported remotes. Set to 0 to disable.")
-	flags.BoolVarP(&Opt.ReadOnly, "read-only", "", Opt.ReadOnly, "Mount read-only.")
-	flags.VarP(&Opt.CacheMode, "cache-mode", "", "Cache mode off|minimal|writes|full")
-	flags.DurationVarP(&Opt.CachePollInterval, "cache-poll-interval", "", Opt.CachePollInterval, "Interval to poll the cache for stale objects.")
-	flags.DurationVarP(&Opt.CacheMaxAge, "cache-max-age", "", Opt.CacheMaxAge, "Max age of objects in the cache.")
+	fs.BoolVarP(flags, &Opt.NoModTime, "no-modtime", "", Opt.NoModTime, "Don't read/write the modification time (can speed things up).")
+	fs.BoolVarP(flags, &Opt.NoChecksum, "no-checksum", "", Opt.NoChecksum, "Don't compare checksums on up/download.")
+	fs.BoolVarP(flags, &Opt.NoSeek, "no-seek", "", Opt.NoSeek, "Don't allow seeking in files.")
+	fs.DurationVarP(flags, &Opt.DirCacheTime, "dir-cache-time", "", Opt.DirCacheTime, "Time to cache directory entries for.")
+	fs.DurationVarP(flags, &Opt.PollInterval, "poll-interval", "", Opt.PollInterval, "Time to wait between polling for changes. Must be smaller than dir-cache-time. Only on supported remotes. Set to 0 to disable.")
+	fs.BoolVarP(flags, &Opt.ReadOnly, "read-only", "", Opt.ReadOnly, "Mount read-only.")
+	fs.FlagsVarP(flags, &Opt.CacheMode, "cache-mode", "", "Cache mode off|minimal|writes|full")
+	fs.DurationVarP(flags, &Opt.CachePollInterval, "cache-poll-interval", "", Opt.CachePollInterval, "Interval to poll the cache for stale objects.")
+	fs.DurationVarP(flags, &Opt.CacheMaxAge, "cache-max-age", "", Opt.CacheMaxAge, "Max age of objects in the cache.")
 	platformFlags(flags)
 }
diff --git a/vfs/vfsflags/vfsflags_unix.go b/vfs/vfsflags/vfsflags_unix.go
index 5b9b5f1ed..044a55ed0 100644
--- a/vfs/vfsflags/vfsflags_unix.go
+++ b/vfs/vfsflags/vfsflags_unix.go
@@ -3,17 +3,18 @@
 package vfsflags
 
 import (
+	"github.com/ncw/rclone/fs"
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
 )
 
 // add any extra platform specific flags
 func platformFlags(flags *pflag.FlagSet) {
-	flags.IntVarP(&Opt.Umask, "umask", "", Opt.Umask, "Override the permission bits set by the filesystem.")
+	fs.IntVarP(flags, &Opt.Umask, "umask", "", Opt.Umask, "Override the permission bits set by the filesystem.")
 	Opt.Umask = unix.Umask(0) // read the umask
 	unix.Umask(Opt.Umask)     // set it back to what it was
 	Opt.UID = uint32(unix.Geteuid())
 	Opt.GID = uint32(unix.Getegid())
-	flags.Uint32VarP(&Opt.UID, "uid", "", Opt.UID, "Override the uid field set by the filesystem.")
-	flags.Uint32VarP(&Opt.GID, "gid", "", Opt.GID, "Override the gid field set by the filesystem.")
+	fs.Uint32VarP(flags, &Opt.UID, "uid", "", Opt.UID, "Override the uid field set by the filesystem.")
+	fs.Uint32VarP(flags, &Opt.GID, "gid", "", Opt.GID, "Override the gid field set by the filesystem.")
 }