diff --git a/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/build.go b/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/build.go
index 7295dc31359..22c6aecf101 100644
--- a/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/build.go
+++ b/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/build.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/cmd/skaffold/app/flags"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/build"
+	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/constants"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
@@ -35,11 +36,11 @@ var (
 // NewCmdBuild describes the CLI command to build artifacts.
 func NewCmdBuild(out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "build",
+		Use:   constants.CommandBuild,
 		Short: "Builds the artifacts",
 		Args:  cobra.NoArgs,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			opts.Command = "build"
+			opts.Command = constants.CommandBuild
 			return runBuild(out)
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/delete.go b/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/delete.go
index 25e75475f7b..0fce6468891 100644
--- a/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/delete.go
+++ b/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/delete.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"io"
 
+	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/constants"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
@@ -27,11 +28,11 @@ import (
 // NewCmdDelete describes the CLI command to delete deployed resources.
 func NewCmdDelete(out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "delete",
+		Use:   constants.CommandDelete,
 		Short: "Delete the deployed resources",
 		Args:  cobra.NoArgs,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			opts.Command = "delete"
+			opts.Command = constants.CommandDelete
 			return delete(out)
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/deploy.go b/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/deploy.go
index b34f41af14a..0fd17e6c98a 100644
--- a/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/deploy.go
+++ b/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/deploy.go
@@ -19,18 +19,19 @@ package cmd
 import (
 	"io"
 
+	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/constants"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
 // NewCmdDeploy describes the CLI command to deploy artifacts.
 func NewCmdDeploy(out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "deploy",
+		Use:   constants.CommandDeploy,
 		Short: "Deploys the artifacts",
 		Args:  cobra.NoArgs,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			// Same actions as `skaffold run`, but with pre-built images.
-			opts.Command = "deploy"
+			opts.Command = constants.CommandDeploy
 			return run(out)
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/dev.go b/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/dev.go
index ecdea1af560..3c5c67b7046 100644
--- a/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/dev.go
+++ b/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/dev.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"io"
 
+	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/constants"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/runner"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
@@ -29,11 +30,11 @@ import (
 // NewCmdDev describes the CLI command to run a pipeline in development mode.
 func NewCmdDev(out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "dev",
+		Use:   constants.CommandDev,
 		Short: "Runs a pipeline file in development mode",
 		Args:  cobra.NoArgs,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			opts.Command = "dev"
+			opts.Command = constants.CommandDev
 			return dev(out)
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/run.go b/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/run.go
index bb3b4caac3d..22a4cff3da6 100644
--- a/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/run.go
+++ b/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/run.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/cmd/skaffold/app/tips"
+	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/constants"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
@@ -28,11 +29,11 @@ import (
 // NewCmdRun describes the CLI command to run a pipeline.
 func NewCmdRun(out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "run",
+		Use:   constants.CommandRun,
 		Short: "Runs a pipeline file",
 		Args:  cobra.NoArgs,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			opts.Command = "run"
+			opts.Command = constants.CommandRun
 			err := run(out)
 			if err == nil {
 				tips.PrintForRun(out, opts)
diff --git a/integration/run_test.go b/integration/run_test.go
index d083cc1837b..dd184173adc 100644
--- a/integration/run_test.go
+++ b/integration/run_test.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/cmd/skaffold/app/cmd/config"
+	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/constants"
 	kubernetesutil "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/util"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil"
@@ -146,7 +147,7 @@ func TestRun(t *testing.T) {
 			ns, deleteNs := setupNamespace(t)
 			defer deleteNs()
 
-			runSkaffold(t, "run", test.dir, ns.Name, test.filename, test.env)
+			runSkaffold(t, constants.CommandRun, test.dir, ns.Name, test.filename, test.env)
 
 			for _, p := range test.pods {
 				if err := kubernetesutil.WaitForPodReady(context.Background(), client.CoreV1().Pods(ns.Name), p); err != nil {
@@ -160,7 +161,7 @@ func TestRun(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 			}
 
-			runSkaffold(t, "delete", test.dir, ns.Name, test.filename, test.env)
+			runSkaffold(t, constants.CommandDelete, test.dir, ns.Name, test.filename, test.env)
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ func TestDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 	ns, deleteNs := setupNamespace(t)
 	defer deleteNs()
 
-	runSkaffold(t, "deploy", "examples/kustomize", ns.Name, "", nil, "--images", "index.docker.io/library/busybox:1")
+	runSkaffold(t, constants.CommandDeploy, "examples/kustomize", ns.Name, "", nil, "--images", "index.docker.io/library/busybox:1")
 
 	depName := "kustomize-test"
 	if err := kubernetesutil.WaitForDeploymentToStabilize(context.Background(), client, ns.Name, depName, 10*time.Minute); err != nil {
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ func TestDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Wrong image name in kustomized deployment: %s", dep.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].Image)
 	}
 
-	runSkaffold(t, "delete", "examples/kustomize", ns.Name, "", nil)
+	runSkaffold(t, constants.CommandDelete, "examples/kustomize", ns.Name, "", nil)
 }
 
 func TestDev(t *testing.T) {
@@ -195,7 +196,7 @@ func TestDev(t *testing.T) {
 	run(t, "examples/test-dev-job", "touch", "foo")
 	defer run(t, "examples/test-dev-job", "rm", "foo")
 
-	go runSkaffoldNoFail("dev", "examples/test-dev-job", ns.Name, "", nil)
+	go runSkaffoldNoFail(constants.CommandDev, "examples/test-dev-job", ns.Name, "", nil)
 
 	jobName := "test-dev-job"
 	if err := kubernetesutil.WaitForJobToStabilize(context.Background(), client, ns.Name, jobName, 10*time.Minute); err != nil {
@@ -227,7 +228,7 @@ func TestDevSync(t *testing.T) {
 	ns, deleteNs := setupNamespace(t)
 	defer deleteNs()
 
-	go runSkaffoldNoFail("dev", "examples/test-file-sync", ns.Name, "", nil)
+	go runSkaffoldNoFail(constants.CommandDev, "examples/test-file-sync", ns.Name, "", nil)
 
 	if err := kubernetesutil.WaitForPodReady(context.Background(), client.CoreV1().Pods(ns.Name), "test-file-sync"); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Timed out waiting for pod ready")
@@ -300,7 +301,7 @@ func TestFix(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("testing error: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	runCmd := exec.Command("skaffold", "run", "--namespace", ns.Name, "-f", "-")
+	runCmd := exec.Command("skaffold", constants.CommandRun, "--namespace", ns.Name, "-f", "-")
 	runCmd.Dir = "testdata"
 	runCmd.Stdin = bytes.NewReader(out)
 	err = util.RunCmd(runCmd)
@@ -429,7 +430,7 @@ func TestInit(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Fatalf("running init: %v, output: %s", err, out)
 			}
 
-			runCmd := exec.Command("skaffold", "run", "-f", generatedYaml)
+			runCmd := exec.Command("skaffold", constants.CommandRun, "-f", generatedYaml)
 			runCmd.Dir = test.dir
 			out, err = util.RunCmdOut(runCmd)
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/constants/constants.go b/pkg/skaffold/constants/constants.go
index 3f15650bc49..396494f5bf8 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/constants/constants.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/constants/constants.go
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ const (
 
 	// A regex matching valid repository names (https://github.com/docker/distribution/blob/master/reference/reference.go)
 	RepositoryComponentRegex string = `^[a-z\d]+(?:(?:[_.]|__|-+)[a-z\d]+)*$`
+
+	CommandBuild  = "build"
+	CommandDelete = "delete"
+	CommandDeploy = "deploy"
+	CommandDev    = "dev"
+	CommandRun    = "run"
 )
 
 var DefaultKubectlManifests = []string{"k8s/*.yaml"}
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/runner/runner.go b/pkg/skaffold/runner/runner.go
index 4e21ca85f9d..a8ea2e1f810 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/runner/runner.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/runner/runner.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/build/local"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/build/tag"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/config"
+	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/constants"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/deploy"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes"
 	kubectx "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/context"
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ func NewForConfig(opts *config.SkaffoldOptions, cfg *latest.SkaffoldPipeline) (*
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "parsing test config")
 	}
 
-	forceDeploy := opts.Command == "dev" || opts.ForceDeploy
+	forceDeploy := opts.Command == constants.CommandDev || opts.ForceDeploy
 	deployer, err := getDeployer(&cfg.Deploy, kubeContext, opts.Namespace, forceDeploy, defaultRepo)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "parsing deploy config")
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/schema/profiles_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/schema/profiles_test.go
index 4afcb0809bb..5ceeed2b44f 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/schema/profiles_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/schema/profiles_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	cfg "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/config"
+	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/constants"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil"
 	yamlpatch "github.com/krishicks/yaml-patch"
@@ -228,7 +229,7 @@ func TestActivatedProfiles(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			description: "Selected on the command line",
 			opts: &cfg.SkaffoldOptions{
-				Command:  "dev",
+				Command:  constants.CommandDev,
 				Profiles: []string{"activated", "also-activated"},
 			},
 			profiles: []latest.Profile{
@@ -240,12 +241,12 @@ func TestActivatedProfiles(t *testing.T) {
 		}, {
 			description: "Auto-activated by command",
 			opts: &cfg.SkaffoldOptions{
-				Command: "dev",
+				Command: constants.CommandDev,
 			},
 			profiles: []latest.Profile{
-				{Name: "run-profile", Activation: []latest.Activation{{Command: "run"}}},
-				{Name: "dev-profile", Activation: []latest.Activation{{Command: "dev"}}},
-				{Name: "non-run-profile", Activation: []latest.Activation{{Command: "!run"}}},
+				{Name: "run-profile", Activation: []latest.Activation{{Command: constants.CommandRun}}},
+				{Name: "dev-profile", Activation: []latest.Activation{{Command: constants.CommandDev}}},
+				{Name: "non-run-profile", Activation: []latest.Activation{{Command: "!" + constants.CommandRun}}},
 			},
 			expected: []string{"dev-profile", "non-run-profile"},
 		}, {
@@ -276,21 +277,21 @@ func TestActivatedProfiles(t *testing.T) {
 		}, {
 			description: "AND between activation criteria",
 			opts: &cfg.SkaffoldOptions{
-				Command: "dev",
+				Command: constants.CommandDev,
 			},
 			profiles: []latest.Profile{
 				{
 					Name: "activated", Activation: []latest.Activation{{
 						Env:         "KEY=VALUE",
 						KubeContext: "prod-context",
-						Command:     "dev",
+						Command:     constants.CommandDev,
 					}},
 				},
 				{
 					Name: "not-activated", Activation: []latest.Activation{{
 						Env:         "KEY=VALUE",
 						KubeContext: "prod-context",
-						Command:     "build",
+						Command:     constants.CommandBuild,
 					}},
 				},
 			},
@@ -298,14 +299,14 @@ func TestActivatedProfiles(t *testing.T) {
 		}, {
 			description: "OR between activations",
 			opts: &cfg.SkaffoldOptions{
-				Command: "dev",
+				Command: constants.CommandDev,
 			},
 			profiles: []latest.Profile{
 				{
 					Name: "activated", Activation: []latest.Activation{{
-						Command: "run",
+						Command: constants.CommandRun,
 					}, {
-						Command: "dev",
+						Command: constants.CommandDev,
 					}},
 				},
 			},