diff --git a/import-export-cli/cmd/delete.go b/import-export-cli/cmd/delete.go
index 1c7144941..8f519d9a8 100644
--- a/import-export-cli/cmd/delete.go
+++ b/import-export-cli/cmd/delete.go
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ import (
 // Delete command related usage Info
 const deleteCmdLiteral = "delete"
 const deleteCmdShortDesc = "Delete an API/Application in an environment"
-const deleteCmdLongDesc = `Delete an API available in the environment specified by flag (--environment, -e) in default mode/
-Delete an Application of a specific user in the environment specified by flag (--environment, -e) in default mode/
+const deleteCmdLongDesc = `Delete an API available in the environment specified by flag (--environment, -e) in default mode
+Delete an Application of a specific user in the environment specified by flag (--environment, -e) in default mode
 Delete resources by filenames, stdin, resources and names, or by resources and label selector in kubernetes mode`
 
 const deleteCmdExamples = utils.ProjectName + ` ` + deleteCmdLiteral + ` ` + deleteAPICmdLiteral  + ` -n TwitterAPI -v 1.0.0 -r admin -e dev 
diff --git a/import-export-cli/cmd/deleteAPI.go b/import-export-cli/cmd/deleteAPI.go
index 969411eb0..e837a7f79 100644
--- a/import-export-cli/cmd/deleteAPI.go
+++ b/import-export-cli/cmd/deleteAPI.go
@@ -175,8 +175,11 @@ func init() {
 		"Provider of the API to be deleted")
 	DeleteAPICmd.Flags().StringVarP(&deleteAPIEnvironment, "environment", "e",
 		"", "Environment from which the API should be deleted")
-	configVars := utils.GetMainConfigFromFile(utils.MainConfigFilePath)
-	if !configVars.Config.KubernetesMode {
+
+	// fetches the main-config.yaml file silently; i.e. if it's not created, ignore the error and assume that
+	//	this is the default mode.
+	configVars := utils.GetMainConfigFromFileSilently(utils.MainConfigFilePath)
+	if configVars == nil || !configVars.Config.KubernetesMode {
 		// Mark required flags
 		_ = DeleteAPICmd.MarkFlagRequired("name")
 		_ = DeleteAPICmd.MarkFlagRequired("version")