diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-audit.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-audit.md
index 27c4d972597a8..0771d897df90d 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-audit.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-audit.md
@@ -271,6 +271,38 @@ it will be included.
 If the resulting omit list includes `'dev'`, then the `NODE_ENV` environment
 variable will be set to `'production'` for all lifecycle scripts.
 
+#### `workspace`
+
+* Default:
+* Type: String (can be set multiple times)
+
+Enable running a command in the context of the configured workspaces of the
+current project while filtering by running only the workspaces defined by
+this configuration option.
+
+Valid values for the `workspace` config are either:
+
+* Workspace names
+* Path to a workspace directory
+* Path to a parent workspace directory (will result to selecting all of the
+  nested workspaces)
+
+When set for the `npm init` command, this may be set to the folder of a
+workspace which does not yet exist, to create the folder and set it up as a
+brand new workspace within the project.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
+#### `workspaces`
+
+* Default: false
+* Type: Boolean
+
+Enable running a command in the context of **all** the configured
+workspaces.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
 <!-- AUTOGENERATED CONFIG DESCRIPTIONS END -->
 
 ### See Also
diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-dedupe.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-dedupe.md
index e870ad269815d..fbccc41053292 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-dedupe.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-dedupe.md
@@ -202,6 +202,38 @@ commands that modify your local installation, eg, `install`, `update`,
 Note: This is NOT honored by other network related commands, eg `dist-tags`,
 `owner`, etc.
 
+#### `workspace`
+
+* Default:
+* Type: String (can be set multiple times)
+
+Enable running a command in the context of the configured workspaces of the
+current project while filtering by running only the workspaces defined by
+this configuration option.
+
+Valid values for the `workspace` config are either:
+
+* Workspace names
+* Path to a workspace directory
+* Path to a parent workspace directory (will result to selecting all of the
+  nested workspaces)
+
+When set for the `npm init` command, this may be set to the folder of a
+workspace which does not yet exist, to create the folder and set it up as a
+brand new workspace within the project.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
+#### `workspaces`
+
+* Default: false
+* Type: Boolean
+
+Enable running a command in the context of **all** the configured
+workspaces.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
 <!-- AUTOGENERATED CONFIG DESCRIPTIONS END -->
 
 ### See Also
diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-find-dupes.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-find-dupes.md
index 933c76e2fe231..28281d5678ab7 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-find-dupes.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-find-dupes.md
@@ -132,6 +132,38 @@ When "true" displays the message at the end of each `npm install`
 acknowledging the number of dependencies looking for funding. See [`npm
 fund`](/commands/npm-fund) for details.
 
+#### `workspace`
+
+* Default:
+* Type: String (can be set multiple times)
+
+Enable running a command in the context of the configured workspaces of the
+current project while filtering by running only the workspaces defined by
+this configuration option.
+
+Valid values for the `workspace` config are either:
+
+* Workspace names
+* Path to a workspace directory
+* Path to a parent workspace directory (will result to selecting all of the
+  nested workspaces)
+
+When set for the `npm init` command, this may be set to the folder of a
+workspace which does not yet exist, to create the folder and set it up as a
+brand new workspace within the project.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
+#### `workspaces`
+
+* Default: false
+* Type: Boolean
+
+Enable running a command in the context of **all** the configured
+workspaces.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
 <!-- AUTOGENERATED CONFIG DESCRIPTIONS END -->
 
 ### See Also
diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-install-test.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-install-test.md
index 1adf6490f9327..deefbd96b52fd 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-install-test.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-install-test.md
@@ -187,6 +187,38 @@ commands that modify your local installation, eg, `install`, `update`,
 Note: This is NOT honored by other network related commands, eg `dist-tags`,
 `owner`, etc.
 
+#### `workspace`
+
+* Default:
+* Type: String (can be set multiple times)
+
+Enable running a command in the context of the configured workspaces of the
+current project while filtering by running only the workspaces defined by
+this configuration option.
+
+Valid values for the `workspace` config are either:
+
+* Workspace names
+* Path to a workspace directory
+* Path to a parent workspace directory (will result to selecting all of the
+  nested workspaces)
+
+When set for the `npm init` command, this may be set to the folder of a
+workspace which does not yet exist, to create the folder and set it up as a
+brand new workspace within the project.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
+#### `workspaces`
+
+* Default: false
+* Type: Boolean
+
+Enable running a command in the context of **all** the configured
+workspaces.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
 <!-- AUTOGENERATED CONFIG DESCRIPTIONS END -->
 
 ### See Also
diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-install.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-install.md
index 9e61cf7268bd6..e5091e6604c91 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-install.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-install.md
@@ -571,6 +571,38 @@ commands that modify your local installation, eg, `install`, `update`,
 Note: This is NOT honored by other network related commands, eg `dist-tags`,
 `owner`, etc.
 
+#### `workspace`
+
+* Default:
+* Type: String (can be set multiple times)
+
+Enable running a command in the context of the configured workspaces of the
+current project while filtering by running only the workspaces defined by
+this configuration option.
+
+Valid values for the `workspace` config are either:
+
+* Workspace names
+* Path to a workspace directory
+* Path to a parent workspace directory (will result to selecting all of the
+  nested workspaces)
+
+When set for the `npm init` command, this may be set to the folder of a
+workspace which does not yet exist, to create the folder and set it up as a
+brand new workspace within the project.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
+#### `workspaces`
+
+* Default: false
+* Type: Boolean
+
+Enable running a command in the context of **all** the configured
+workspaces.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
 <!-- AUTOGENERATED CONFIG DESCRIPTIONS END -->
 
 ### Algorithm
diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-prune.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-prune.md
index 28890193295f2..ecb6bdcd6cb14 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-prune.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-prune.md
@@ -77,6 +77,38 @@ Whether or not to output JSON data, rather than the normal output.
 
 Not supported by all npm commands.
 
+#### `workspace`
+
+* Default:
+* Type: String (can be set multiple times)
+
+Enable running a command in the context of the configured workspaces of the
+current project while filtering by running only the workspaces defined by
+this configuration option.
+
+Valid values for the `workspace` config are either:
+
+* Workspace names
+* Path to a workspace directory
+* Path to a parent workspace directory (will result to selecting all of the
+  nested workspaces)
+
+When set for the `npm init` command, this may be set to the folder of a
+workspace which does not yet exist, to create the folder and set it up as a
+brand new workspace within the project.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
+#### `workspaces`
+
+* Default: false
+* Type: Boolean
+
+Enable running a command in the context of **all** the configured
+workspaces.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
 <!-- AUTOGENERATED CONFIG DESCRIPTIONS END -->
 
 ### See Also
diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-rebuild.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-rebuild.md
index 144dd7b09cd3a..49c822d730526 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-rebuild.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-rebuild.md
@@ -66,6 +66,38 @@ Note that commands explicitly intended to run a particular script, such as
 will still run their intended script if `ignore-scripts` is set, but they
 will *not* run any pre- or post-scripts.
 
+#### `workspace`
+
+* Default:
+* Type: String (can be set multiple times)
+
+Enable running a command in the context of the configured workspaces of the
+current project while filtering by running only the workspaces defined by
+this configuration option.
+
+Valid values for the `workspace` config are either:
+
+* Workspace names
+* Path to a workspace directory
+* Path to a parent workspace directory (will result to selecting all of the
+  nested workspaces)
+
+When set for the `npm init` command, this may be set to the folder of a
+workspace which does not yet exist, to create the folder and set it up as a
+brand new workspace within the project.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
+#### `workspaces`
+
+* Default: false
+* Type: Boolean
+
+Enable running a command in the context of **all** the configured
+workspaces.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
 <!-- AUTOGENERATED CONFIG DESCRIPTIONS END -->
 
 ### See Also
diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-uninstall.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-uninstall.md
index cffb9bdb55ffa..b6ba31393834d 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-uninstall.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-uninstall.md
@@ -68,6 +68,38 @@ Save installed packages to a package.json file as dependencies.
 When used with the `npm rm` command, removes the dependency from
 package.json.
 
+#### `workspace`
+
+* Default:
+* Type: String (can be set multiple times)
+
+Enable running a command in the context of the configured workspaces of the
+current project while filtering by running only the workspaces defined by
+this configuration option.
+
+Valid values for the `workspace` config are either:
+
+* Workspace names
+* Path to a workspace directory
+* Path to a parent workspace directory (will result to selecting all of the
+  nested workspaces)
+
+When set for the `npm init` command, this may be set to the folder of a
+workspace which does not yet exist, to create the folder and set it up as a
+brand new workspace within the project.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
+#### `workspaces`
+
+* Default: false
+* Type: Boolean
+
+Enable running a command in the context of **all** the configured
+workspaces.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
 <!-- AUTOGENERATED CONFIG DESCRIPTIONS END -->
 
 ### See Also
diff --git a/docs/content/commands/npm-update.md b/docs/content/commands/npm-update.md
index 044b1a82dc492..4c9271c6633c3 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands/npm-update.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands/npm-update.md
@@ -258,6 +258,38 @@ commands that modify your local installation, eg, `install`, `update`,
 Note: This is NOT honored by other network related commands, eg `dist-tags`,
 `owner`, etc.
 
+#### `workspace`
+
+* Default:
+* Type: String (can be set multiple times)
+
+Enable running a command in the context of the configured workspaces of the
+current project while filtering by running only the workspaces defined by
+this configuration option.
+
+Valid values for the `workspace` config are either:
+
+* Workspace names
+* Path to a workspace directory
+* Path to a parent workspace directory (will result to selecting all of the
+  nested workspaces)
+
+When set for the `npm init` command, this may be set to the folder of a
+workspace which does not yet exist, to create the folder and set it up as a
+brand new workspace within the project.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
+#### `workspaces`
+
+* Default: false
+* Type: Boolean
+
+Enable running a command in the context of **all** the configured
+workspaces.
+
+This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.
+
 <!-- AUTOGENERATED CONFIG DESCRIPTIONS END -->
 
 ### See Also
diff --git a/lib/audit.js b/lib/audit.js
index ea27b02001f76..a97fd9b30abd4 100644
--- a/lib/audit.js
+++ b/lib/audit.js
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const auditReport = require('npm-audit-report')
 const reifyFinish = require('./utils/reify-finish.js')
 const auditError = require('./utils/audit-error.js')
-const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
+const ArboristWorkspaceCmd = require('./workspaces/arborist-cmd.js')
 
-class Audit extends BaseCommand {
+class Audit extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get description () {
     return 'Run a security audit'
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class Audit extends BaseCommand {
       'json',
       'package-lock-only',
       'omit',
+      ...super.params,
     ]
   }
 
@@ -57,7 +58,9 @@ class Audit extends BaseCommand {
       audit: true,
       path: this.npm.prefix,
       reporter,
+      workspaces: this.workspaces,
     }
+
     const arb = new Arborist(opts)
     const fix = args[0] === 'fix'
     await arb.audit({ fix })
diff --git a/lib/base-command.js b/lib/base-command.js
index 322fd8963a203..e1efcff5832b3 100644
--- a/lib/base-command.js
+++ b/lib/base-command.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ class BaseCommand {
   constructor (npm) {
     this.wrapWidth = 80
     this.npm = npm
+    this.workspaces = null
   }
 
   get name () {
diff --git a/lib/ci.js b/lib/ci.js
index d2a27059c4094..3a2a2b316a150 100644
--- a/lib/ci.js
+++ b/lib/ci.js
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ const removeNodeModules = async where => {
   await Promise.all(entries.map(f => rimraf(`${path}/${f}`, rimrafOpts)))
   process.emit('timeEnd', 'npm-ci:rm')
 }
-const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
+const ArboristWorkspaceCmd = require('./workspaces/arborist-cmd.js')
 
-class CI extends BaseCommand {
+class CI extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get description () {
     return 'Install a project with a clean slate'
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ class CI extends BaseCommand {
       path: where,
       log: this.npm.log,
       save: false, // npm ci should never modify the lockfile or package.json
+      workspaces: this.workspaces,
     }
 
     const arb = new Arborist(opts)
diff --git a/lib/dedupe.js b/lib/dedupe.js
index e58b6c55fd370..9a58316b80109 100644
--- a/lib/dedupe.js
+++ b/lib/dedupe.js
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const reifyFinish = require('./utils/reify-finish.js')
 
-const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
+const ArboristWorkspaceCmd = require('./workspaces/arborist-cmd.js')
 
-class Dedupe extends BaseCommand {
+class Dedupe extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get description () {
     return 'Reduce duplication in the package tree'
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ class Dedupe extends BaseCommand {
       'bin-links',
       'fund',
       'dry-run',
+      ...super.params,
     ]
   }
 
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ class Dedupe extends BaseCommand {
       log: this.npm.log,
       path: where,
       dryRun,
+      workspaces: this.workspaces,
     }
     const arb = new Arborist(opts)
     await arb.dedupe(opts)
diff --git a/lib/find-dupes.js b/lib/find-dupes.js
index ff2700f5beeb1..69b30e8aa3dbb 100644
--- a/lib/find-dupes.js
+++ b/lib/find-dupes.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // dedupe duplicated packages, or find them in the tree
-const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
+const ArboristWorkspaceCmd = require('./workspaces/arborist-cmd.js')
 
-class FindDupes extends BaseCommand {
+class FindDupes extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get description () {
     return 'Find duplication in the package tree'
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class FindDupes extends BaseCommand {
       'audit',
       'bin-links',
       'fund',
+      ...super.params,
     ]
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/install.js b/lib/install.js
index 490792a41a7bf..7c5f55bb9de8a 100644
--- a/lib/install.js
+++ b/lib/install.js
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ const { resolve, join } = require('path')
 const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const runScript = require('@npmcli/run-script')
 
-const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
-class Install extends BaseCommand {
+const ArboristWorkspaceCmd = require('./workspaces/arborist-cmd.js')
+class Install extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get description () {
     return 'Install a package'
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ class Install extends BaseCommand {
       'bin-links',
       'fund',
       'dry-run',
+      ...super.params,
     ]
   }
 
@@ -143,6 +144,7 @@ class Install extends BaseCommand {
       auditLevel: null,
       path: where,
       add: args,
+      workspaces: this.workspaces,
     }
     const arb = new Arborist(opts)
     await arb.reify(opts)
diff --git a/lib/prune.js b/lib/prune.js
index 4f04c3cddd2e9..a90e7595421ec 100644
--- a/lib/prune.js
+++ b/lib/prune.js
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const reifyFinish = require('./utils/reify-finish.js')
 
-const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
-class Prune extends BaseCommand {
+const ArboristWorkspaceCmd = require('./workspaces/arborist-cmd.js')
+class Prune extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get description () {
     return 'Remove extraneous packages'
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class Prune extends BaseCommand {
 
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get params () {
-    return ['omit', 'dry-run', 'json']
+    return ['omit', 'dry-run', 'json', ...super.params]
   }
 
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ class Prune extends BaseCommand {
       ...this.npm.flatOptions,
       path: where,
       log: this.npm.log,
+      workspaces: this.workspaces,
     }
     const arb = new Arborist(opts)
     await arb.prune(opts)
diff --git a/lib/rebuild.js b/lib/rebuild.js
index 9c2d729e73f4e..ef88dc5168d0c 100644
--- a/lib/rebuild.js
+++ b/lib/rebuild.js
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ const npa = require('npm-package-arg')
 const semver = require('semver')
 const completion = require('./utils/completion/installed-deep.js')
 
-const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
-class Rebuild extends BaseCommand {
+const ArboristWorkspaceCmd = require('./workspaces/arborist-cmd.js')
+class Rebuild extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get description () {
     return 'Rebuild a package'
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ class Rebuild extends BaseCommand {
       'global',
       'bin-links',
       'ignore-scripts',
+      ...super.params,
     ]
   }
 
@@ -45,6 +46,8 @@ class Rebuild extends BaseCommand {
     const arb = new Arborist({
       ...this.npm.flatOptions,
       path: where,
+      // TODO when extending ReifyCmd
+      // workspaces: this.workspaces,
     })
 
     if (args.length) {
diff --git a/lib/uninstall.js b/lib/uninstall.js
index 79a4420d89f39..cbbc62c2a4a75 100644
--- a/lib/uninstall.js
+++ b/lib/uninstall.js
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ const rpj = require('read-package-json-fast')
 const reifyFinish = require('./utils/reify-finish.js')
 const completion = require('./utils/completion/installed-shallow.js')
 
-const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
-class Uninstall extends BaseCommand {
+const ArboristWorkspaceCmd = require('./workspaces/arborist-cmd.js')
+class Uninstall extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
   static get description () {
     return 'Remove a package'
   }
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class Uninstall extends BaseCommand {
 
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get params () {
-    return ['save']
+    return ['save', ...super.params]
   }
 
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class Uninstall extends BaseCommand {
       path,
       log: this.npm.log,
       rm: args,
-
+      workspaces: this.workspaces,
     }
     const arb = new Arborist(opts)
     await arb.reify(opts)
diff --git a/lib/update.js b/lib/update.js
index ff9ef9d5e8100..3cdeb8ea7dd31 100644
--- a/lib/update.js
+++ b/lib/update.js
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ const log = require('npmlog')
 const reifyFinish = require('./utils/reify-finish.js')
 const completion = require('./utils/completion/installed-deep.js')
 
-const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
-class Update extends BaseCommand {
+const ArboristWorkspaceCmd = require('./workspaces/arborist-cmd.js')
+class Update extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get description () {
     return 'Update packages'
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class Update extends BaseCommand {
       'bin-links',
       'fund',
       'dry-run',
+      ...super.params,
     ]
   }
 
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ class Update extends BaseCommand {
       ...this.npm.flatOptions,
       log: this.npm.log,
       path: where,
+      workspaces: this.workspaces,
     })
 
     await arb.reify({ update })
diff --git a/lib/workspaces/arborist-cmd.js b/lib/workspaces/arborist-cmd.js
index f08843bd9ea5a..b12c0ee47b19f 100644
--- a/lib/workspaces/arborist-cmd.js
+++ b/lib/workspaces/arborist-cmd.js
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@
 // be able to run a filtered Arborist.reify() at some point.
 
 const BaseCommand = require('../base-command.js')
-const getWorkspaces = require('../workspaces/get-workspaces.js')
+const getWorkspaces = require('./get-workspaces.js')
 class ArboristCmd extends BaseCommand {
   /* istanbul ignore next - see test/lib/load-all-commands.js */
   static get params () {
     return [
       'workspace',
+      'workspaces',
     ]
   }
 
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ class ArboristCmd extends BaseCommand {
         this.workspaces = [...workspaces.keys()]
         this.exec(args, cb)
       })
+      .catch(er => cb(er))
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/npm-usage.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/npm-usage.js.test.cjs
index 585fc7e8b7ef4..b6fe79fda012d 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/npm-usage.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/npm-usage.js.test.cjs
@@ -210,6 +210,8 @@ All commands:
                     [--audit-level <info|low|moderate|high|critical|none>] [--dry-run] [-f|--force]
                     [--json] [--package-lock-only]
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]]
+                    [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces]
                     
                     Run "npm help audit" for more info
 
@@ -309,6 +311,8 @@ All commands:
                     [--global-style] [--legacy-bundling] [--strict-peer-deps] [--package-lock]
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
                     [--audit] [--bin-links] [--fund] [--dry-run]
+                    [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces]
                     
                     alias: ddp
                     
@@ -459,6 +463,8 @@ All commands:
                     [--global-style] [--legacy-bundling] [--strict-peer-deps] [--package-lock]
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
                     [--audit] [--bin-links] [--fund]
+                    [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces]
                     
                     Run "npm help find-dupes" for more info
 
@@ -554,6 +560,8 @@ All commands:
                     [--strict-peer-deps] [--package-lock]
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
                     [--audit] [--bin-links] [--fund] [--dry-run]
+                    [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces]
                     
                     aliases: i, in, ins, inst, insta, instal, isnt, isnta, isntal, add
                     
@@ -595,6 +603,8 @@ All commands:
                     [--strict-peer-deps] [--package-lock]
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
                     [--audit] [--bin-links] [--fund] [--dry-run]
+                    [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces]
                     
                     alias: it
                     
@@ -783,7 +793,8 @@ All commands:
                     
                     Options:
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--dry-run]
-                    [--json]
+                    [--json] [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces]
                     
                     Run "npm help prune" for more info
 
@@ -810,6 +821,8 @@ All commands:
                     
                     Options:
                     [-g|--global] [--bin-links] [--ignore-scripts]
+                    [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces]
                     
                     alias: rb
                     
@@ -1018,6 +1031,8 @@ All commands:
                     
                     Options:
                     [-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer]
+                    [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces]
                     
                     aliases: un, unlink, remove, rm, r
                     
@@ -1058,6 +1073,8 @@ All commands:
                     [-g|--global] [--global-style] [--legacy-bundling] [--strict-peer-deps]
                     [--package-lock] [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]]
                     [--ignore-scripts] [--audit] [--bin-links] [--fund] [--dry-run]
+                    [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces]
                     
                     aliases: up, upgrade, udpate
                     
diff --git a/test/lib/update.js b/test/lib/update.js
index 5396397d520cf..411d07592a155 100644
--- a/test/lib/update.js
+++ b/test/lib/update.js
@@ -37,7 +37,12 @@ t.test('no args', t => {
     constructor (args) {
       t.same(
         args,
-        { ...npm.flatOptions, path: npm.prefix, log: noop },
+        {
+          ...npm.flatOptions,
+          path: npm.prefix,
+          log: noop,
+          workspaces: null,
+        },
         'should call arborist contructor with expected args'
       )
     }
@@ -71,7 +76,12 @@ t.test('with args', t => {
     constructor (args) {
       t.same(
         args,
-        { ...npm.flatOptions, path: npm.prefix, log: noop },
+        {
+          ...npm.flatOptions,
+          path: npm.prefix,
+          log: noop,
+          workspaces: null,
+        },
         'should call arborist contructor with expected args'
       )
     }
@@ -139,7 +149,7 @@ t.test('update --global', t => {
       const { path, ...opts } = args
       t.same(
         opts,
-        { ...npm.flatOptions, log: noop },
+        { ...npm.flatOptions, log: noop, workspaces: undefined },
         'should call arborist contructor with expected options'
       )
 
diff --git a/test/lib/workspaces/arborist-cmd.js b/test/lib/workspaces/arborist-cmd.js
index cceeb68dbd42a..740ddb1ff0dc5 100644
--- a/test/lib/workspaces/arborist-cmd.js
+++ b/test/lib/workspaces/arborist-cmd.js
@@ -107,3 +107,19 @@ t.test('arborist-cmd', async t => {
     cmd.execWorkspaces([], ['./group'], res)
   })
 })
+
+t.test('handle getWorkspaces raising an error', t => {
+  const ArboristCmd = t.mock('../../../lib/workspaces/arborist-cmd.js', {
+    '../../../lib/workspaces/get-workspaces.js': async () => {
+      throw new Error('oopsie')
+    },
+  })
+  class TestCmd extends ArboristCmd {}
+  const cmd = new TestCmd()
+  cmd.npm = {}
+
+  cmd.execWorkspaces(['foo'], ['a'], er => {
+    t.match(er, { message: 'oopsie' })
+    t.end()
+  })
+})