diff --git a/service/zulip/zulip.go b/service/zulip/zulip.go
index 87a20ef..9bbe09f 100644
--- a/service/zulip/zulip.go
+++ b/service/zulip/zulip.go
@@ -85,33 +85,30 @@ You can specify multiple userIds by separating the value with ','.`,
 				Destination: &zulipOpts.Type,
 				Name:        "type",
 				Aliases:     []string{},
-				Required:    true,
 				Usage:       "The type of message to be sent. private for a private message and stream for a stream message.",
-				EnvVars:     []string{},
+				EnvVars:     []string{"ZULIP_MSG_TYPE"},
 			},
 			&cli.StringFlag{
 				Destination: &zulipOpts.To,
 				Name:        "to",
 				Aliases:     []string{},
-				Required:    true,
 				Usage:       "For stream messages, the name of the stream. For private messages, csv of email addresses",
-				EnvVars:     []string{},
+				EnvVars:     []string{"ZULIP_STREAM_NAME"},
 			},
 			&cli.StringFlag{
 				Destination: &zulipOpts.Topic,
 				Name:        "topic",
 				Aliases:     []string{},
-				Required:    true,
-				Usage:       "The topic of the message. Only required for stream messages (type=\"stream\"), ignored otherwise.",
-				EnvVars:     []string{},
+				Usage:       "The topic of the message. Only required for stream messages 'type=stream', ignored otherwise.",
+				EnvVars:     []string{"ZULIP_TOPIC"},
 			},
 			&cli.StringFlag{
 				Destination: &zulipOpts.Content,
-				Name:        "content",
+				Name:        "msg",
 				Aliases:     []string{},
 				Required:    true,
 				Usage:       "The content of the message.",
-				EnvVars:     []string{},
+				EnvVars:     []string{"ZULIP_MESSAGE"},
 			},
 		},
 		Action: func(ctx *cli.Context) error {