diff --git a/KiBOM_CLI.py b/KiBOM_CLI.py
index c30cc7c..1535307 100755
--- a/KiBOM_CLI.py
+++ b/KiBOM_CLI.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def isExtensionSupported(filename):
 
 parser.add_argument("netlist", help='xml netlist file. Use "%%I" when running from within KiCad')
 parser.add_argument("output",  default="", help='BoM output file name.\nUse "%%O" when running from within KiCad to use the default output name (csv file).\nFor e.g. HTML output, use "%%O.html"')
-parser.add_argument("-n", "--number", help="Number of boards to build (default = 1)", type=int, default=1)
+parser.add_argument("-n", "--number", help="Number of boards to build (default = 1)", type=int, default=None)
 parser.add_argument("-v", "--verbose", help="Enable verbose output", action='count')
 parser.add_argument("-r", "--variant", help="Board variant, used to determine which components are output to the BoM", type=str, default=None)
 parser.add_argument("--cfg", help="BoM config file (script will try to use 'bom.ini' if not specified here)")
@@ -96,12 +96,14 @@ def isExtensionSupported(filename):
 
 #pass various command-line options through
 pref.verbose = verbose
-pref.boards = args.number
+if args.number is not None:
+    pref.boards = args.number
 pref.separatorCSV = args.separator
 
 if args.variant is not None:
     pref.pcbConfig = args.variant
-    print("PCB variant:", args.variant)
+print("PCB variant:", pref.pcbConfig)
+
 
 #write preference file back out (first run will generate a file with default preferences)
 if not have_cfile:
diff --git a/bomlib/preferences.py b/bomlib/preferences.py
index a6fc72b..c9fec92 100644
--- a/bomlib/preferences.py
+++ b/bomlib/preferences.py
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ class BomPref:
     OPT_IGNORE_DNF = "ignore_dnf"
     OPT_BACKUP = "make_backup"
     OPT_INCLUDE_VERSION = "include_version_number"
+    OPT_DEFAULT_BOARDS = "number_boards"
+    OPT_DEFAULT_PCBCONFIG = "board_variant"
 
     OPT_CONFIG_FIELD = "fit_field"
 
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.groupConnectors = True  # Group connectors and ignore component value
         self.useRegex = True  # Test various columns with regex
 
-        self.boards = 1
+        self.boards = 1 # Quantity of boards to be made
         self.mergeBlankFields = True  # Blanks fields will be merged when possible
         self.hideHeaders = False
         self.verbose = False  # By default, is not verbose
@@ -130,6 +132,12 @@ def Read(self, file, verbose=False):
             if cf.has_option(self.SECTION_GENERAL, self.OPT_CONFIG_FIELD):
                 self.configField = cf.get(self.SECTION_GENERAL, self.OPT_CONFIG_FIELD)
 
+            if cf.has_option(self.SECTION_GENERAL, self.OPT_DEFAULT_BOARDS):
+                self.boards = self.checkInt(cf, self.OPT_DEFAULT_BOARDS, default=None)
+
+            if cf.has_option(self.SECTION_GENERAL, self.OPT_DEFAULT_PCBCONFIG):
+                self.pcbConfig = cf.get(self.SECTION_GENERAL, self.OPT_DEFAULT_PCBCONFIG)
+
             if cf.has_option(self.SECTION_GENERAL, self.OPT_BACKUP):
                 self.backup = cf.get(self.SECTION_GENERAL, self.OPT_BACKUP)
             else:
@@ -194,6 +202,12 @@ def Write(self, file):
 
         cf.set(self.SECTION_GENERAL, '; Make a backup of the bom before generating the new one, using the following template')
         cf.set(self.SECTION_GENERAL, self.OPT_BACKUP, self.backup)
+        
+        cf.set(self.SECTION_GENERAL, '; Default number of boards to produce if none given on CLI with -n')
+        cf.set(self.SECTION_GENERAL, self.OPT_DEFAULT_BOARDS, self.boards)
+
+        cf.set(self.SECTION_GENERAL, '; Default PCB variant if none given on CLI with -r')
+        cf.set(self.SECTION_GENERAL, self.OPT_DEFAULT_PCBCONFIG, self.pcbConfig)
 
         cf.add_section(self.SECTION_IGNORE)
         cf.set(self.SECTION_IGNORE, "; Any column heading that appears here will be excluded from the Generated BoM")