diff --git a/command/push.go b/command/push.go
index 42c1bc465..f0ff1e1e4 100644
--- a/command/push.go
+++ b/command/push.go
@@ -32,12 +32,10 @@ type pushUploadFn func(
 	io.Reader, *uploadOpts) (<-chan struct{}, <-chan error, error)
 
 func (c *PushCommand) Run(args []string) int {
-	var create bool
 	var token string
 
 	f := flag.NewFlagSet("push", flag.ContinueOnError)
 	f.Usage = func() { c.Ui.Error(c.Help()) }
-	f.BoolVar(&create, "create", false, "create")
 	f.StringVar(&token, "token", "", "token")
 	if err := f.Parse(args); err != nil {
 		return 1
@@ -169,12 +167,6 @@ func (c *PushCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 				"Builds: %s\n\n", strings.Join(badBuilds, ", ")))
 	}
 
-	// Create the build config if it doesn't currently exist.
-	if err := c.create(uploadOpts.Slug, create); err != nil {
-		c.Ui.Error(err.Error())
-		return 1
-	}
-
 	// Start the archiving process
 	r, err := archive.CreateArchive(path, &opts)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -217,17 +209,19 @@ func (*PushCommand) Help() string {
 	helpText := `
 Usage: packer push [options] TEMPLATE
 
-  Push the template and the files it needs to a Packer build service.
-  This will not initiate any builds, it will only update the templates
-  used for builds.
+  Push the given template and supporting files to a Packer build service such as
+  Atlas.
 
-  The configuration about what is pushed is configured within the
-  template's "push" section.
+  If a build configuration for the given template does not exist, it will be
+  created automatically. If the build configuration already exists, a new
+  version will be created with this template and the supporting files.
+
+  Additional configuration options (such as the Atlas server URL and files to
+  include) may be specified in the "push" section of the Packer template. Please
+  see the online documentation for more information about these configurables.
 
 Options:
 
-  -create             Create the build configuration if it doesn't exist.
-
   -token=<token>      Access token to use to upload. If blank, the
                       ATLAS_TOKEN environmental variable will be used.
 `
@@ -236,40 +230,7 @@ Options:
 }
 
 func (*PushCommand) Synopsis() string {
-	return "push template files to a Packer build service"
-}
-
-func (c *PushCommand) create(name string, create bool) error {
-	if c.uploadFn != nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	// Separate the slug into the user and name components
-	user, name, err := atlas.ParseSlug(name)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Malformed push name: %s", err)
-	}
-
-	// Check if it exists. If so, we're done.
-	if _, err := c.client.BuildConfig(user, name); err == nil {
-		return nil
-	} else if err != atlas.ErrNotFound {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// Otherwise, show an error if we're not creating.
-	if !create {
-		return fmt.Errorf(
-			"Push target doesn't exist: %s. Either create this online via\n"+
-				"the website or pass the -create flag.", name)
-	}
-
-	// Create it
-	if err := c.client.CreateBuildConfig(user, name); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return "push a template and supporting files to a Packer build service"
 }
 
 func (c *PushCommand) upload(
@@ -284,10 +245,17 @@ func (c *PushCommand) upload(
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("upload: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	// Get the app
+	// Get the build configuration
 	bc, err := c.client.BuildConfig(user, name)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("upload: %s", err)
+		if err == atlas.ErrNotFound {
+			// Build configuration doesn't exist, attempt to create it
+			bc, err = c.client.CreateBuildConfig(user, name)
+		}
+
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("upload: %s", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Build the version to send up