diff --git a/cmd/copy.go b/cmd/copy.go
index 12bcef1..a7c202d 100644
--- a/cmd/copy.go
+++ b/cmd/copy.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"log"
 	"os/exec"
 	"runtime"
 
@@ -14,28 +13,19 @@ var copyCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "copy",
 	Short: "Copy the specified log to the clipboard",
 	Long:  "Copy the specified log to the clipboard",
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		projectPath, err := daylog.EnsureProjectPath(config.Project)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
-		dl, err := daylog.New(args, projectPath)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
+	Run: runCommand(func(cmd *cobra.Command, dl *daylog.DayLog) error {
 		logContents, err := dl.Show("text")
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
+			return err
 		}
 
 		if err := copy([]byte(logContents)); err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
+			return err
 		}
 
 		fmt.Println("Copied to clipboard.")
-	},
+		return nil
+	}),
 }
 
 func init() {
diff --git a/cmd/list.go b/cmd/list.go
index 75d4c18..60ced9f 100644
--- a/cmd/list.go
+++ b/cmd/list.go
@@ -2,50 +2,30 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"log"
 
 	"github.com/notnmeyer/daylog-cli/internal/daylog"
 	"github.com/notnmeyer/daylog-cli/internal/file"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
-// listCmd represents the list command
 var listCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "list",
 	Short: "list all log files",
 	Long:  "list all log files relative to the project directory",
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		projectPath, err := daylog.EnsureProjectPath(config.Project)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
-		dl, err := daylog.New(args, projectPath)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
+	Run: runCommand(func(cmd *cobra.Command, dl *daylog.DayLog) error {
 		logs, err := file.LogProvider{}.GetLogs(dl.ProjectPath)
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
+			return err
 		}
 
 		for _, log := range logs {
 			fmt.Println(log)
 		}
-	},
+
+		return nil
+	}),
 }
 
 func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(listCmd)
-
-	// Here you will define your flags and configuration settings.
-
-	// Cobra supports Persistent Flags which will work for this command
-	// and all subcommands, e.g.:
-	// listCmd.PersistentFlags().String("foo", "", "A help for foo")
-
-	// Cobra supports local flags which will only run when this command
-	// is called directly, e.g.:
-	// listCmd.Flags().BoolP("toggle", "t", false, "Help message for toggle")
 }
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 9fa45cb..c5b34f7 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -27,42 +27,22 @@ var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short: "A tool for keeping track of what you did today",
 	Long:  "DayLog: Fighter of the Night Log! A tool for keeping track of what you did today, yesterday, and tomorrow",
 
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		projectPath, err := daylog.EnsureProjectPath(config.Project)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
-		dl, err := daylog.New(args, projectPath)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
-		if err := applyPrevFlag(cmd, dl); err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
+	Run: runCommand(func(cmd *cobra.Command, dl *daylog.DayLog) error {
 		piped, err := stdinIsPiped()
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
+			return err
 		}
 
 		if piped {
 			content, err := io.ReadAll(os.Stdin)
 			if err != nil {
-				log.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			formatted := formatStdinContent(string(content))
-			if err := dl.Append(formatted); err != nil {
-				log.Fatal(err)
+				return err
 			}
-			return
+			return dl.Append(formatStdinContent(string(content)))
 		}
 
-		if err := dl.Edit(); err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-	},
+		return dl.Edit()
+	}),
 }
 
 // entrypoint
@@ -86,15 +66,33 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Bool("prev", false, "Operate on the most recent log that isn't today's")
 }
 
-func applyPrevFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, dl *daylog.DayLog) error {
-	showPrevious, err := cmd.PersistentFlags().GetBool("prev")
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if showPrevious {
-		return dl.UsePrevious(time.Now())
+func runCommand(fn func(cmd *cobra.Command, dl *daylog.DayLog) error) func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	return func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		projectPath, err := daylog.EnsureProjectPath(config.Project)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
+		dl, err := daylog.New(args, projectPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
+		showPrevious, err := cmd.Root().PersistentFlags().GetBool("prev")
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
+		if showPrevious {
+			if err := dl.UsePrevious(time.Now()); err != nil {
+				log.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}
+
+		if err := fn(cmd, dl); err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
 	}
-	return nil
 }
 
 func formatStdinContent(content string) string {
diff --git a/cmd/show.go b/cmd/show.go
index 54a86f3..94cb9f7 100644
--- a/cmd/show.go
+++ b/cmd/show.go
@@ -2,55 +2,29 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"log"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/notnmeyer/daylog-cli/internal/daylog"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
-type ShowConfig struct {
-	Output string
-}
-
 var showCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "show",
 	Short: "Display today's log",
 	Long:  "Display today's log",
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		projectPath, err := daylog.EnsureProjectPath(config.Project)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
-		dl, err := daylog.New(args, projectPath)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
+	Run: runCommand(func(cmd *cobra.Command, dl *daylog.DayLog) error {
 		format, err := cmd.PersistentFlags().GetString("output")
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
-		showPrevious, err := cmd.Root().PersistentFlags().GetBool("prev")
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
-		if showPrevious {
-			if err := dl.UsePrevious(time.Now()); err != nil {
-				log.Fatal(err)
-			}
+			return err
 		}
 
 		logContents, err := dl.Show(format)
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
+			return err
 		}
 
 		fmt.Println(string(logContents))
-	},
+		return nil
+	}),
 }
 
 func init() {