diff --git a/lib/arborist-cmd.js b/lib/arborist-cmd.js
index 931ead8143dff..6518e91e0ad9d 100644
--- a/lib/arborist-cmd.js
+++ b/lib/arborist-cmd.js
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ class ArboristCmd extends BaseCommand {
     'include-workspace-root',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   async execWorkspaces (args, filters) {
     await this.setWorkspaces(filters)
     return this.exec(args)
diff --git a/lib/base-command.js b/lib/base-command.js
index f67f99f36367c..b6e3d6d231860 100644
--- a/lib/base-command.js
+++ b/lib/base-command.js
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ class BaseCommand {
     return this.constructor.description
   }
 
+  get ignoreImplicitWorkspace () {
+    return this.constructor.ignoreImplicitWorkspace
+  }
+
   get usage () {
     let usage = `npm ${this.constructor.name}\n\n`
     if (this.constructor.description) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/access.js b/lib/commands/access.js
index 206d6de9c22c4..bc8ce48bacdad 100644
--- a/lib/commands/access.js
+++ b/lib/commands/access.js
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ class Access extends BaseCommand {
     'otp',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
+
   static usage = [
     'public [<package>]',
     'restricted [<package>]',
diff --git a/lib/commands/adduser.js b/lib/commands/adduser.js
index cbeaaaf0f28be..755abea8eb9eb 100644
--- a/lib/commands/adduser.js
+++ b/lib/commands/adduser.js
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ class AddUser extends BaseCommand {
     'scope',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
+
   async exec (args) {
     const { scope } = this.npm.flatOptions
     const registry = this.getRegistry(this.npm.flatOptions)
diff --git a/lib/commands/bin.js b/lib/commands/bin.js
index bb700d45a8f1b..77028f06dd49a 100644
--- a/lib/commands/bin.js
+++ b/lib/commands/bin.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ class Bin extends BaseCommand {
   static description = 'Display npm bin folder'
   static name = 'bin'
   static params = ['global']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
 
   async exec (args) {
     const b = this.npm.bin
diff --git a/lib/commands/birthday.js b/lib/commands/birthday.js
index 27fe2c50cab02..e889b39f25377 100644
--- a/lib/commands/birthday.js
+++ b/lib/commands/birthday.js
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ const BaseCommand = require('../base-command.js')
 
 class Birthday extends BaseCommand {
   static name = 'birthday'
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
+
   async exec () {
     this.npm.config.set('yes', true)
     return this.npm.exec('exec', ['@npmcli/npm-birthday'])
diff --git a/lib/commands/bugs.js b/lib/commands/bugs.js
index 5dfd1eb918959..f6218f033f3d3 100644
--- a/lib/commands/bugs.js
+++ b/lib/commands/bugs.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ class Bugs extends BaseCommand {
   static name = 'bugs'
   static usage = ['[<pkgname>]']
   static params = ['browser', 'registry']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
 
   async exec (args) {
     if (!args || !args.length) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/cache.js b/lib/commands/cache.js
index ecb34cb8916c4..b8f84abc1d941 100644
--- a/lib/commands/cache.js
+++ b/lib/commands/cache.js
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ class Cache extends BaseCommand {
     'verify',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
+
   async completion (opts) {
     const argv = opts.conf.argv.remain
     if (argv.length === 2) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/completion.js b/lib/commands/completion.js
index 4ded2de385afb..0317753a15aaf 100644
--- a/lib/commands/completion.js
+++ b/lib/commands/completion.js
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ const BaseCommand = require('../base-command.js')
 class Completion extends BaseCommand {
   static description = 'Tab Completion for npm'
   static name = 'completion'
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   // completion for the completion command
   async completion (opts) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/config.js b/lib/commands/config.js
index 96524e00817f5..690a69a3233e4 100644
--- a/lib/commands/config.js
+++ b/lib/commands/config.js
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ class Config extends BaseCommand {
     'long',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   async completion (opts) {
     const argv = opts.conf.argv.remain
     if (argv[1] !== 'config') {
diff --git a/lib/commands/deprecate.js b/lib/commands/deprecate.js
index 839e974caf09b..88eb320c32a52 100644
--- a/lib/commands/deprecate.js
+++ b/lib/commands/deprecate.js
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ class Deprecate extends BaseCommand {
     'otp',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   async completion (opts) {
     if (opts.conf.argv.remain.length > 1) {
       return []
diff --git a/lib/commands/diff.js b/lib/commands/diff.js
index d737a58dc43d8..ff942cc44e946 100644
--- a/lib/commands/diff.js
+++ b/lib/commands/diff.js
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ class Diff extends BaseCommand {
     'include-workspace-root',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   async exec (args) {
     const specs = this.npm.config.get('diff').filter(d => d)
     if (specs.length > 2) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/dist-tag.js b/lib/commands/dist-tag.js
index bb36f3f72bfb2..3b82c5194cca8 100644
--- a/lib/commands/dist-tag.js
+++ b/lib/commands/dist-tag.js
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ class DistTag extends BaseCommand {
     'ls [<pkg>]',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   async completion (opts) {
     const argv = opts.conf.argv.remain
     if (argv.length === 2) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/docs.js b/lib/commands/docs.js
index 19cd735642262..631615acc56b3 100644
--- a/lib/commands/docs.js
+++ b/lib/commands/docs.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ class Docs extends BaseCommand {
   ]
 
   static usage = ['[<pkgname> [<pkgname> ...]]']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   async exec (args) {
     if (!args || !args.length) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/doctor.js b/lib/commands/doctor.js
index 508faa57aa5e9..9af4c4cd6ffbf 100644
--- a/lib/commands/doctor.js
+++ b/lib/commands/doctor.js
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ class Doctor extends BaseCommand {
   static description = 'Check your npm environment'
   static name = 'doctor'
   static params = ['registry']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   async exec (args) {
     log.info('Running checkup')
diff --git a/lib/commands/edit.js b/lib/commands/edit.js
index 5f069c4f132e5..ce74ff79b2b7e 100644
--- a/lib/commands/edit.js
+++ b/lib/commands/edit.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ class Edit extends BaseCommand {
   static name = 'edit'
   static usage = ['<pkg>[/<subpkg>...]']
   static params = ['editor']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   // TODO
   /* istanbul ignore next */
diff --git a/lib/commands/exec.js b/lib/commands/exec.js
index 52fb1f8eb7229..6b402c856ab1e 100644
--- a/lib/commands/exec.js
+++ b/lib/commands/exec.js
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ class Exec extends BaseCommand {
     '--package=foo -c \'<cmd> [args...]\'',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   async exec (_args, { locationMsg, path, runPath } = {}) {
     if (!path) {
       path = this.npm.localPrefix
diff --git a/lib/commands/explain.js b/lib/commands/explain.js
index fd62b87fc869d..ca6ee7540bc91 100644
--- a/lib/commands/explain.js
+++ b/lib/commands/explain.js
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ class Explain extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
     'workspace',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   // TODO
   /* istanbul ignore next */
   async completion (opts) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/explore.js b/lib/commands/explore.js
index 90e6af69fe57c..5b97673b90eaa 100644
--- a/lib/commands/explore.js
+++ b/lib/commands/explore.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ class Explore extends BaseCommand {
   static name = 'explore'
   static usage = ['<pkg> [ -- <command>]']
   static params = ['shell']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   // TODO
   /* istanbul ignore next */
diff --git a/lib/commands/get.js b/lib/commands/get.js
index 7583ade23d600..5e92e85a66382 100644
--- a/lib/commands/get.js
+++ b/lib/commands/get.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ class Get extends BaseCommand {
   static description = 'Get a value from the npm configuration'
   static name = 'get'
   static usage = ['[<key> ...] (See `npm config`)']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   // TODO
   /* istanbul ignore next */
diff --git a/lib/commands/help-search.js b/lib/commands/help-search.js
index 6025a6dabd74b..9422b83561cc8 100644
--- a/lib/commands/help-search.js
+++ b/lib/commands/help-search.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ class HelpSearch extends BaseCommand {
   static name = 'help-search'
   static usage = ['<text>']
   static params = ['long']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
 
   async exec (args) {
     if (!args.length) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/help.js b/lib/commands/help.js
index f94178dd5d1d6..40f5ad9b30092 100644
--- a/lib/commands/help.js
+++ b/lib/commands/help.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class Help extends BaseCommand {
   static name = 'help'
   static usage = ['<term> [<terms..>]']
   static params = ['viewer']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
 
   async completion (opts) {
     if (opts.conf.argv.remain.length > 2) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/hook.js b/lib/commands/hook.js
index 2ff6ac01ce527..a4619802d8429 100644
--- a/lib/commands/hook.js
+++ b/lib/commands/hook.js
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ class Hook extends BaseCommand {
     'update <id> <url> <secret>',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
+
   async exec (args) {
     return otplease({
       ...this.npm.flatOptions,
diff --git a/lib/commands/init.js b/lib/commands/init.js
index 367533f8259f5..2a6b6aaddc7e6 100644
--- a/lib/commands/init.js
+++ b/lib/commands/init.js
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ class Init extends BaseCommand {
     '[<@scope>/]<name> (same as `npx [<@scope>/]create-<name>`)',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   async exec (args) {
     // npm exec style
     if (args.length) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/logout.js b/lib/commands/logout.js
index aea5e93652b0e..7c2a7f0b2f830 100644
--- a/lib/commands/logout.js
+++ b/lib/commands/logout.js
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ class Logout extends BaseCommand {
     'scope',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
+
   async exec (args) {
     const registry = this.npm.config.get('registry')
     const scope = this.npm.config.get('scope')
diff --git a/lib/commands/org.js b/lib/commands/org.js
index f3d344ca33e3d..e2202a9e9cf3b 100644
--- a/lib/commands/org.js
+++ b/lib/commands/org.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ class Org extends BaseCommand {
   ]
 
   static params = ['registry', 'otp', 'json', 'parseable']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
 
   async completion (opts) {
     const argv = opts.conf.argv.remain
diff --git a/lib/commands/owner.js b/lib/commands/owner.js
index effaaa6a53d3a..93e0a45ad1e27 100644
--- a/lib/commands/owner.js
+++ b/lib/commands/owner.js
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ class Owner extends BaseCommand {
     'ls [<@scope>/]<pkg>',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   async completion (opts) {
     const argv = opts.conf.argv.remain
     if (argv.length > 3) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/pack.js b/lib/commands/pack.js
index 74c29699a05c9..41fef5cb45a47 100644
--- a/lib/commands/pack.js
+++ b/lib/commands/pack.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ class Pack extends BaseCommand {
   ]
 
   static usage = ['[[<@scope>/]<pkg>...]']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   async exec (args) {
     if (args.length === 0) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/ping.js b/lib/commands/ping.js
index 5a651c4a6ab09..22039214689a9 100644
--- a/lib/commands/ping.js
+++ b/lib/commands/ping.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ class Ping extends BaseCommand {
   static description = 'Ping npm registry'
   static params = ['registry']
   static name = 'ping'
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
 
   async exec (args) {
     log.notice('PING', this.npm.config.get('registry'))
diff --git a/lib/commands/pkg.js b/lib/commands/pkg.js
index 6ca892293cebe..3a8e01f65bc92 100644
--- a/lib/commands/pkg.js
+++ b/lib/commands/pkg.js
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ class Pkg extends BaseCommand {
     'workspaces',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   async exec (args, { prefix } = {}) {
     if (!prefix) {
       this.prefix = this.npm.localPrefix
diff --git a/lib/commands/prefix.js b/lib/commands/prefix.js
index 264b819fc7692..dd0e34c3d3bd9 100644
--- a/lib/commands/prefix.js
+++ b/lib/commands/prefix.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ class Prefix extends BaseCommand {
   static name = 'prefix'
   static params = ['global']
   static usage = ['[-g]']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
 
   async exec (args) {
     return this.npm.output(this.npm.prefix)
diff --git a/lib/commands/profile.js b/lib/commands/profile.js
index 6b4d1407f7919..a82d31fd443a9 100644
--- a/lib/commands/profile.js
+++ b/lib/commands/profile.js
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ class Profile extends BaseCommand {
     'otp',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
+
   async completion (opts) {
     var argv = opts.conf.argv.remain
 
diff --git a/lib/commands/publish.js b/lib/commands/publish.js
index d1f0ee743cfcc..cadc67e8b5a32 100644
--- a/lib/commands/publish.js
+++ b/lib/commands/publish.js
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ class Publish extends BaseCommand {
   ]
 
   static usage = ['[<folder>]']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   async exec (args) {
     if (args.length === 0) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/repo.js b/lib/commands/repo.js
index 8ac4178f261ee..b8dccc209ff87 100644
--- a/lib/commands/repo.js
+++ b/lib/commands/repo.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class Repo extends BaseCommand {
   static name = 'repo'
   static params = ['browser', 'workspace', 'workspaces', 'include-workspace-root']
   static usage = ['[<pkgname> [<pkgname> ...]]']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   async exec (args) {
     if (!args || !args.length) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/restart.js b/lib/commands/restart.js
index a12368644a13b..575928b2202cc 100644
--- a/lib/commands/restart.js
+++ b/lib/commands/restart.js
@@ -8,5 +8,7 @@ class Restart extends LifecycleCmd {
     'ignore-scripts',
     'script-shell',
   ]
+
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 }
 module.exports = Restart
diff --git a/lib/commands/root.js b/lib/commands/root.js
index 7749c602456b7..b814034def5ab 100644
--- a/lib/commands/root.js
+++ b/lib/commands/root.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ class Root extends BaseCommand {
   static description = 'Display npm root'
   static name = 'root'
   static params = ['global']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
 
   async exec () {
     this.npm.output(this.npm.dir)
diff --git a/lib/commands/run-script.js b/lib/commands/run-script.js
index edba95821b44c..74757e984aeed 100644
--- a/lib/commands/run-script.js
+++ b/lib/commands/run-script.js
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ class RunScript extends BaseCommand {
 
   static name = 'run-script'
   static usage = ['<command> [-- <args>]']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   async completion (opts) {
     const argv = opts.conf.argv.remain
diff --git a/lib/commands/search.js b/lib/commands/search.js
index bdeeffe816980..a06ba4031443b 100644
--- a/lib/commands/search.js
+++ b/lib/commands/search.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class Search extends BaseCommand {
   ]
 
   static usage = ['[search terms ...]']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
 
   async exec (args) {
     const opts = {
diff --git a/lib/commands/set-script.js b/lib/commands/set-script.js
index 7c73ff01b9396..a6b7c3a50cdaf 100644
--- a/lib/commands/set-script.js
+++ b/lib/commands/set-script.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ class SetScript extends BaseCommand {
   static params = ['workspace', 'workspaces', 'include-workspace-root']
   static name = 'set-script'
   static usage = ['[<script>] [<command>]']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   async completion (opts) {
     const argv = opts.conf.argv.remain
diff --git a/lib/commands/set.js b/lib/commands/set.js
index 1dc90e81f88e9..b650026a599a9 100644
--- a/lib/commands/set.js
+++ b/lib/commands/set.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ class Set extends BaseCommand {
   static description = 'Set a value in the npm configuration'
   static name = 'set'
   static usage = ['<key>=<value> [<key>=<value> ...] (See `npm config`)']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   // TODO
   /* istanbul ignore next */
diff --git a/lib/commands/shrinkwrap.js b/lib/commands/shrinkwrap.js
index 05e3f6d278618..67cde15818d68 100644
--- a/lib/commands/shrinkwrap.js
+++ b/lib/commands/shrinkwrap.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const BaseCommand = require('../base-command.js')
 class Shrinkwrap extends BaseCommand {
   static description = 'Lock down dependency versions for publication'
   static name = 'shrinkwrap'
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   async exec () {
     // if has a npm-shrinkwrap.json, nothing to do
diff --git a/lib/commands/star.js b/lib/commands/star.js
index 2d08747aa7719..fb3882bcd1c56 100644
--- a/lib/commands/star.js
+++ b/lib/commands/star.js
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ class Star extends BaseCommand {
     'unicode',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   async exec (args) {
     if (!args.length) {
       throw this.usageError()
diff --git a/lib/commands/stars.js b/lib/commands/stars.js
index f45ec846dc7fe..4214134eb5871 100644
--- a/lib/commands/stars.js
+++ b/lib/commands/stars.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ class Stars extends BaseCommand {
   static name = 'stars'
   static usage = ['[<user>]']
   static params = ['registry']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   async exec ([user]) {
     try {
diff --git a/lib/commands/start.js b/lib/commands/start.js
index 1731e48451e6f..d84ad23ebafa6 100644
--- a/lib/commands/start.js
+++ b/lib/commands/start.js
@@ -8,5 +8,7 @@ class Start extends LifecycleCmd {
     'ignore-scripts',
     'script-shell',
   ]
+
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 }
 module.exports = Start
diff --git a/lib/commands/stop.js b/lib/commands/stop.js
index 2442a9442f9f1..db497675a694b 100644
--- a/lib/commands/stop.js
+++ b/lib/commands/stop.js
@@ -8,5 +8,7 @@ class Stop extends LifecycleCmd {
     'ignore-scripts',
     'script-shell',
   ]
+
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 }
 module.exports = Stop
diff --git a/lib/commands/team.js b/lib/commands/team.js
index 1e13a83f52b09..640002456acad 100644
--- a/lib/commands/team.js
+++ b/lib/commands/team.js
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ class Team extends BaseCommand {
     'json',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   async completion (opts) {
     const { conf: { argv: { remain: argv } } } = opts
     const subcommands = ['create', 'destroy', 'add', 'rm', 'ls']
diff --git a/lib/commands/test.js b/lib/commands/test.js
index 2cea8f7d790fb..43be934894dd7 100644
--- a/lib/commands/test.js
+++ b/lib/commands/test.js
@@ -8,5 +8,7 @@ class Test extends LifecycleCmd {
     'ignore-scripts',
     'script-shell',
   ]
+
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 }
 module.exports = Test
diff --git a/lib/commands/token.js b/lib/commands/token.js
index df80f1afec44e..f57c212c49e45 100644
--- a/lib/commands/token.js
+++ b/lib/commands/token.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ class Token extends BaseCommand {
   static name = 'token'
   static usage = ['list', 'revoke <id|token>', 'create [--read-only] [--cidr=list]']
   static params = ['read-only', 'cidr', 'registry', 'otp']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = true
 
   async completion (opts) {
     const argv = opts.conf.argv.remain
diff --git a/lib/commands/uninstall.js b/lib/commands/uninstall.js
index 587968e3bbba9..5911818b6f5f5 100644
--- a/lib/commands/uninstall.js
+++ b/lib/commands/uninstall.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ class Uninstall extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
   static name = 'uninstall'
   static params = ['save', ...super.params]
   static usage = ['[<@scope>/]<pkg>...']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   // TODO
   /* istanbul ignore next */
diff --git a/lib/commands/unpublish.js b/lib/commands/unpublish.js
index c848b6389d1b8..d8de9edfa6ba7 100644
--- a/lib/commands/unpublish.js
+++ b/lib/commands/unpublish.js
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ class Unpublish extends BaseCommand {
   static name = 'unpublish'
   static params = ['dry-run', 'force', 'workspace', 'workspaces']
   static usage = ['[<@scope>/]<pkg>[@<version>]']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   async getKeysOfVersions (name, opts) {
     const json = await npmFetch.json(npa(name).escapedName, opts)
diff --git a/lib/commands/version.js b/lib/commands/version.js
index 8c676b3a767d6..f49a309a74ff6 100644
--- a/lib/commands/version.js
+++ b/lib/commands/version.js
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ class Version extends BaseCommand {
     'include-workspace-root',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   /* eslint-disable-next-line max-len */
   static usage = ['[<newversion> | major | minor | patch | premajor | preminor | prepatch | prerelease | from-git]']
 
diff --git a/lib/commands/view.js b/lib/commands/view.js
index 4f7464ddd76c1..0c3f232602f87 100644
--- a/lib/commands/view.js
+++ b/lib/commands/view.js
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ class View extends BaseCommand {
     'include-workspace-root',
   ]
 
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
+
   static usage = ['[<@scope>/]<pkg>[@<version>] [<field>[.subfield]...]']
 
   async completion (opts) {
diff --git a/lib/commands/whoami.js b/lib/commands/whoami.js
index 154cc870391ba..d2ff6fd02bcdd 100644
--- a/lib/commands/whoami.js
+++ b/lib/commands/whoami.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ class Whoami extends BaseCommand {
   static description = 'Display npm username'
   static name = 'whoami'
   static params = ['registry']
+  static ignoreImplicitWorkspace = false
 
   async exec (args) {
     const username = await getIdentity(this.npm, { ...this.npm.flatOptions })
diff --git a/lib/npm.js b/lib/npm.js
index ce8f6aee8f575..9999cf195d7b1 100644
--- a/lib/npm.js
+++ b/lib/npm.js
@@ -113,12 +113,17 @@ class Npm extends EventEmitter {
     }
 
     const workspacesEnabled = this.config.get('workspaces')
+    const implicitWorkspace = this.config.get('workspace', 'default').length > 0
     const workspacesFilters = this.config.get('workspace')
     if (workspacesEnabled === false && workspacesFilters.length > 0) {
       throw new Error('Can not use --no-workspaces and --workspace at the same time')
     }
 
-    const filterByWorkspaces = workspacesEnabled || workspacesFilters.length > 0
+    // only call execWorkspaces when we have workspaces explicitly set
+    // or when it is implicit and not in our ignore list
+    const filterByWorkspaces =
+      (workspacesEnabled || workspacesFilters.length > 0)
+      && (!implicitWorkspace || !command.ignoreImplicitWorkspace)
     // normally this would go in the constructor, but our tests don't
     // actually use a real npm object so this.npm.config isn't always
     // populated.  this is the compromise until we can make that a reality
diff --git a/test/lib/load-all-commands.js b/test/lib/load-all-commands.js
index 248c81a30ab4d..ec19575291dc1 100644
--- a/test/lib/load-all-commands.js
+++ b/test/lib/load-all-commands.js
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ t.test('load each command', async t => {
       )
       t.ok(impl.description, 'implementation has a description')
       t.ok(impl.name, 'implementation has a name')
+      t.ok(impl.ignoreImplicitWorkspace !== undefined, 'implementation has ignoreImplictWorkspace')
       t.match(impl.usage, cmd, 'usage contains the command')
       await npm.exec(cmd, [])
       t.match(outputs[0][0], impl.usage, 'usage is what is output')
diff --git a/test/lib/npm.js b/test/lib/npm.js
index 2a0c5a89d2d99..b2eedde72bc9d 100644
--- a/test/lib/npm.js
+++ b/test/lib/npm.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 const t = require('tap')
-const { resolve, dirname } = require('path')
+const { resolve, dirname, join } = require('path')
 
 const { load: loadMockNpm } = require('../fixtures/mock-npm.js')
 const mockGlobals = require('../fixtures/mock-globals')
@@ -520,3 +520,105 @@ t.test('unknown command', async t => {
     { code: 'EUNKNOWNCOMMAND' }
   )
 })
+
+t.test('explicit workspace rejection', async t => {
+  mockGlobals(t, {
+    'process.argv': [
+      process.execPath,
+      process.argv[1],
+      '--color', 'false',
+      '--workspace', './packages/a',
+    ],
+  })
+  const mock = await loadMockNpm(t, {
+    testdir: {
+      packages: {
+        a: {
+          'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+            name: 'a',
+            version: '1.0.0',
+            scripts: { test: 'echo test a' },
+          }),
+        },
+      },
+      'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+        name: 'root',
+        version: '1.0.0',
+        workspaces: ['./packages/a'],
+      }),
+    },
+  })
+  await t.rejects(
+    mock.npm.exec('ping', []),
+    /This command does not support workspaces/
+  )
+})
+
+t.test('implicit workspace rejection', async t => {
+  const mock = await loadMockNpm(t, {
+    testdir: {
+      packages: {
+        a: {
+          'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+            name: 'a',
+            version: '1.0.0',
+            scripts: { test: 'echo test a' },
+          }),
+        },
+      },
+      'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+        name: 'root',
+        version: '1.0.0',
+        workspaces: ['./packages/a'],
+      }),
+    },
+  })
+  const cwd = join(mock.npm.config.localPrefix, 'packages', 'a')
+  mock.npm.config.set('workspace', [cwd], 'default')
+  mockGlobals(t, {
+    'process.argv': [
+      process.execPath,
+      process.argv[1],
+      '--color', 'false',
+    ],
+  })
+  await t.rejects(
+    mock.npm.exec('owner', []),
+    /This command does not support workspaces/
+  )
+})
+
+t.test('implicit workspace accept', async t => {
+  const mock = await loadMockNpm(t, {
+    testdir: {
+      packages: {
+        a: {
+          'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+            name: 'a',
+            version: '1.0.0',
+            scripts: { test: 'echo test a' },
+          }),
+        },
+      },
+      'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+        name: 'root',
+        version: '1.0.0',
+        workspaces: ['./packages/a'],
+      }),
+    },
+  })
+  const cwd = join(mock.npm.config.localPrefix, 'packages', 'a')
+  mock.npm.config.set('workspace', [cwd], 'default')
+  mockGlobals(t, {
+    'process.cwd': () => mock.npm.config.cwd,
+    'process.argv': [
+      process.execPath,
+      process.argv[1],
+      '--color', 'false',
+    ],
+  })
+  await t.rejects(
+    mock.npm.exec('org', []),
+    /.*Usage/
+  )
+})