diff --git a/cli/app/new.go b/cli/app/new.go
index ac8e194c..9034b3bc 100644
--- a/cli/app/new.go
+++ b/cli/app/new.go
@@ -93,14 +93,14 @@ var appNewCommand = cli.Command{
 			logrus.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
-		cl, err := client.New(internal.NewAppServer)
-		if err != nil {
-			logrus.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
 		var secrets AppSecrets
 		var secretTable *jsontable.JSONTable
 		if internal.Secrets {
+			cl, err := client.New(internal.NewAppServer)
+			if err != nil {
+				logrus.Fatal(err)
+			}
+
 			secrets, err := createSecrets(cl, sanitisedAppName)
 			if err != nil {
 				logrus.Fatal(err)