diff --git a/api/client/deployment_target.go b/api/client/deployment_target.go
index f0c8f1684d..a518ce6ca4 100644
--- a/api/client/deployment_target.go
+++ b/api/client/deployment_target.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"github.com/porter-dev/porter/api/types"
 )
 
@@ -49,10 +50,10 @@ func (c *Client) ListDeploymentTargets(
 func (c *Client) DeleteDeploymentTarget(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	projectId uint,
-	deploymentTargetName string,
+	deploymentTargetID uuid.UUID,
 ) error {
 	return c.deleteRequest(
-		fmt.Sprintf("/projects/%d/targets/%s", projectId, deploymentTargetName),
+		fmt.Sprintf("/projects/%d/targets/%s", projectId, deploymentTargetID.String()),
 		nil,
 		nil,
 	)
diff --git a/cli/cmd/commands/target.go b/cli/cmd/commands/target.go
index a5fc957a81..c1b1cc1a8e 100644
--- a/cli/cmd/commands/target.go
+++ b/cli/cmd/commands/target.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"text/tabwriter"
 
 	"github.com/fatih/color"
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	api "github.com/porter-dev/porter/api/client"
 	"github.com/porter-dev/porter/api/types"
 	"github.com/porter-dev/porter/cli/cmd/config"
@@ -171,7 +172,24 @@ func deleteTarget(ctx context.Context, _ *types.GetAuthenticatedUserResponse, cl
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	err = client.DeleteDeploymentTarget(ctx, cliConf.Project, name)
+	// assume deletion will be for preview environments only for now
+	dts, err := client.ListDeploymentTargets(ctx, cliConf.Project, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("error listing targets: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var targetID uuid.UUID
+	for _, dt := range dts.DeploymentTargets {
+		if dt.Name == name {
+			targetID = dt.ID
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if targetID == uuid.Nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("target '%s' not found", name)
+	}
+
+	err = client.DeleteDeploymentTarget(ctx, cliConf.Project, targetID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error deleting target: %w", err)
 	}