diff --git a/compose/cli/main.py b/compose/cli/main.py
index 6391bd3ea..e11554ac0 100644
--- a/compose/cli/main.py
+++ b/compose/cli/main.py
@@ -247,6 +247,11 @@ class TopLevelCommand(object):
     def project_dir(self):
         return self.toplevel_options.get('--project-directory') or '.'
 
+    @property
+    def environment(self):
+        environment_file = self.toplevel_options.get('--env-file')
+        return Environment.from_env_file(self.project_dir, environment_file)
+
     def build(self, options):
         """
         Build or rebuild services.
@@ -276,9 +281,7 @@ class TopLevelCommand(object):
                     '--build-arg is only supported when services are specified for API version < 1.25.'
                     ' Please use a Compose file version > 2.2 or specify which services to build.'
                 )
-            environment_file = options.get('--env-file')
-            environment = Environment.from_env_file(self.project_dir, environment_file)
-            build_args = resolve_build_args(build_args, environment)
+            build_args = resolve_build_args(build_args, self.environment)
 
         self.project.build(
             service_names=options['SERVICE'],
@@ -429,11 +432,8 @@ class TopLevelCommand(object):
                                     Compose file
             -t, --timeout TIMEOUT   Specify a shutdown timeout in seconds.
                                     (default: 10)
-            --env-file PATH         Specify an alternate environment file
         """
-        environment_file = options.get('--env-file')
-        environment = Environment.from_env_file(self.project_dir, environment_file)
-        ignore_orphans = environment.get_boolean('COMPOSE_IGNORE_ORPHANS')
+        ignore_orphans = self.environment.get_boolean('COMPOSE_IGNORE_ORPHANS')
 
         if ignore_orphans and options['--remove-orphans']:
             raise UserError("COMPOSE_IGNORE_ORPHANS and --remove-orphans cannot be combined.")
@@ -489,11 +489,8 @@ class TopLevelCommand(object):
             -e, --env KEY=VAL Set environment variables (can be used multiple times,
                               not supported in API < 1.25)
             -w, --workdir DIR Path to workdir directory for this command.
-            --env-file PATH   Specify an alternate environment file
         """
-        environment_file = options.get('--env-file')
-        environment = Environment.from_env_file(self.project_dir, environment_file)
-        use_cli = not environment.get_boolean('COMPOSE_INTERACTIVE_NO_CLI')
+        use_cli = not self.environment.get_boolean('COMPOSE_INTERACTIVE_NO_CLI')
         index = int(options.get('--index'))
         service = self.project.get_service(options['SERVICE'])
         detach = options.get('--detach')
@@ -1051,7 +1048,6 @@ class TopLevelCommand(object):
                                        container. Implies --abort-on-container-exit.
             --scale SERVICE=NUM        Scale SERVICE to NUM instances. Overrides the
                                        `scale` setting in the Compose file if present.
-            --env-file PATH            Specify an alternate environment file
         """
         start_deps = not options['--no-deps']
         always_recreate_deps = options['--always-recreate-deps']
@@ -1066,9 +1062,7 @@ class TopLevelCommand(object):
         if detached and (cascade_stop or exit_value_from):
             raise UserError("--abort-on-container-exit and -d cannot be combined.")
 
-        environment_file = options.get('--env-file')
-        environment = Environment.from_env_file(self.project_dir, environment_file)
-        ignore_orphans = environment.get_boolean('COMPOSE_IGNORE_ORPHANS')
+        ignore_orphans = self.environment.get_boolean('COMPOSE_IGNORE_ORPHANS')
 
         if ignore_orphans and remove_orphans:
             raise UserError("COMPOSE_IGNORE_ORPHANS and --remove-orphans cannot be combined.")
@@ -1360,7 +1354,7 @@ def run_one_off_container(container_options, project, service, options, toplevel
         if options['--rm']:
             project.client.remove_container(container.id, force=True, v=True)
 
-    environment_file = options.get('--env-file')
+    environment_file = toplevel_options.get('--env-file')
     environment = Environment.from_env_file(project_dir, environment_file)
     use_cli = not environment.get_boolean('COMPOSE_INTERACTIVE_NO_CLI')
     signals.set_signal_handler_to_shutdown()