diff --git a/lib/diff.js b/lib/diff.js
index 1eaceb4f2f61f..58834ca9c2674 100644
--- a/lib/diff.js
+++ b/lib/diff.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ const npmlog = require('npmlog')
 const pacote = require('pacote')
 const pickManifest = require('npm-pick-manifest')
 
-const readLocalPkg = require('./utils/read-local-package.js')
+const readPackageName = require('./utils/read-package-name.js')
 const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
 
 class Diff extends BaseCommand {
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ class Diff extends BaseCommand {
     let noPackageJson
     let pkgName
     try {
-      pkgName = await readLocalPkg(this.npm)
+      pkgName = await readPackageName(this.npm.prefix)
     } catch (e) {
       npmlog.verbose('diff', 'could not read project dir package.json')
       noPackageJson = true
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class Diff extends BaseCommand {
     let noPackageJson
     let pkgName
     try {
-      pkgName = await readLocalPkg(this.npm)
+      pkgName = await readPackageName(this.npm.prefix)
     } catch (e) {
       npmlog.verbose('diff', 'could not read project dir package.json')
       noPackageJson = true
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ class Diff extends BaseCommand {
     if (semverA && semverB) {
       let pkgName
       try {
-        pkgName = await readLocalPkg(this.npm)
+        pkgName = await readPackageName(this.npm.prefix)
       } catch (e) {
         npmlog.verbose('diff', 'could not read project dir package.json')
       }
diff --git a/lib/dist-tag.js b/lib/dist-tag.js
index 64e8abc013745..11b1ad931e18b 100644
--- a/lib/dist-tag.js
+++ b/lib/dist-tag.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const regFetch = require('npm-registry-fetch')
 const semver = require('semver')
 
 const otplease = require('./utils/otplease.js')
-const readLocalPkgName = require('./utils/read-local-package.js')
+const readPackageName = require('./utils/read-package-name.js')
 const getWorkspaces = require('./workspaces/get-workspaces.js')
 const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class DistTag extends BaseCommand {
       // should be listing the existing tags
       return this.list(cmdName, opts)
     } else
-      throw this.usage
+      throw this.usageError()
   }
 
   execWorkspaces (args, filters, cb) {
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class DistTag extends BaseCommand {
     log.verbose('dist-tag add', defaultTag, 'to', spec.name + '@' + version)
 
     if (!spec.name || !version || !defaultTag)
-      throw this.usage
+      throw this.usageError()
 
     const t = defaultTag.trim()
 
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ class DistTag extends BaseCommand {
     log.verbose('dist-tag del', tag, 'from', spec.name)
 
     if (!spec.name)
-      throw this.usage
+      throw this.usageError()
 
     const tags = await this.fetchTags(spec, opts)
     if (!tags[tag]) {
@@ -157,9 +157,11 @@ class DistTag extends BaseCommand {
 
   async list (spec, opts) {
     if (!spec) {
-      const pkg = await readLocalPkgName(this.npm)
+      if (this.npm.config.get('global'))
+        throw this.usageError()
+      const pkg = await readPackageName(this.npm.prefix)
       if (!pkg)
-        throw this.usage
+        throw this.usageError()
 
       return this.list(pkg, opts)
     }
diff --git a/lib/owner.js b/lib/owner.js
index e57d2268d2619..311b25064e638 100644
--- a/lib/owner.js
+++ b/lib/owner.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const npmFetch = require('npm-registry-fetch')
 const pacote = require('pacote')
 
 const otplease = require('./utils/otplease.js')
-const readLocalPkg = require('./utils/read-local-package.js')
+const readLocalPkgName = require('./utils/read-package-name.js')
 const BaseCommand = require('./base-command.js')
 
 class Owner extends BaseCommand {
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@ class Owner extends BaseCommand {
 
     // reaches registry in order to autocomplete rm
     if (argv[2] === 'rm') {
-      const pkgName = await readLocalPkg(this.npm)
+      if (this.npm.config.get('global'))
+        return []
+      const pkgName = await readLocalPkgName(this.npm.prefix)
       if (!pkgName)
         return []
 
@@ -84,7 +86,10 @@ class Owner extends BaseCommand {
 
   async ls (pkg, opts) {
     if (!pkg) {
-      const pkgName = await readLocalPkg(this.npm)
+      if (this.npm.config.get('global'))
+        throw this.usageError()
+
+      const pkgName = await readLocalPkgName(this.npm.prefix)
       if (!pkgName)
         throw this.usageError()
 
@@ -113,7 +118,9 @@ class Owner extends BaseCommand {
       throw this.usageError()
 
     if (!pkg) {
-      const pkgName = await readLocalPkg(this.npm)
+      if (this.npm.config.get('global'))
+        throw this.usageError()
+      const pkgName = await readLocalPkgName(this.npm.prefix)
       if (!pkgName)
         throw this.usageError()
 
@@ -131,7 +138,9 @@ class Owner extends BaseCommand {
       throw this.usageError()
 
     if (!pkg) {
-      const pkgName = await readLocalPkg(this.npm)
+      if (this.npm.config.get('global'))
+        throw this.usageError()
+      const pkgName = await readLocalPkgName(this.npm.prefix)
       if (!pkgName)
         throw this.usageError()
 
diff --git a/lib/utils/read-local-package.js b/lib/utils/read-package-name.js
similarity index 56%
rename from lib/utils/read-local-package.js
rename to lib/utils/read-package-name.js
index 21506ca180a0f..7ed15987767bb 100644
--- a/lib/utils/read-local-package.js
+++ b/lib/utils/read-package-name.js
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
 const { resolve } = require('path')
 const readJson = require('read-package-json-fast')
-async function readLocalPackageName (npm) {
-  if (npm.config.get('global'))
-    return
-
-  const filepath = resolve(npm.prefix, 'package.json')
+async function readLocalPackageName (prefix) {
+  const filepath = resolve(prefix, 'package.json')
   const json = await readJson(filepath)
   return json.name
 }
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/dist-tag.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/dist-tag.js.test.cjs
index 86a9c84eb1eb6..21d9331db1299 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/dist-tag.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/dist-tag.js.test.cjs
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
  */
 'use strict'
 exports[`test/lib/dist-tag.js TAP add missing args > should exit usage error message 1`] = `
-npm dist-tag
+Error: 
+Usage: npm dist-tag
 
 Modify package distribution tags
 
@@ -21,11 +22,14 @@ Options:
 
 alias: dist-tags
 
-Run "npm help dist-tag" for more info
+Run "npm help dist-tag" for more info {
+  "code": "EUSAGE",
+}
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/dist-tag.js TAP add missing pkg name > should exit usage error message 1`] = `
-npm dist-tag
+Error: 
+Usage: npm dist-tag
 
 Modify package distribution tags
 
@@ -40,7 +44,9 @@ Options:
 
 alias: dist-tags
 
-Run "npm help dist-tag" for more info
+Run "npm help dist-tag" for more info {
+  "code": "EUSAGE",
+}
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/dist-tag.js TAP add new tag > should return success msg 1`] = `
@@ -53,7 +59,8 @@ dist-tag add 1.0.0 to @scoped/another@7.7.7
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/dist-tag.js TAP borked cmd usage > should show usage error 1`] = `
-npm dist-tag
+Error: 
+Usage: npm dist-tag
 
 Modify package distribution tags
 
@@ -68,7 +75,31 @@ Options:
 
 alias: dist-tags
 
-Run "npm help dist-tag" for more info
+Run "npm help dist-tag" for more info {
+  "code": "EUSAGE",
+}
+`
+
+exports[`test/lib/dist-tag.js TAP ls global > should throw basic usage 1`] = `
+Error: 
+Usage: npm dist-tag
+
+Modify package distribution tags
+
+Usage:
+npm dist-tag add <pkg>@<version> [<tag>]
+npm dist-tag rm <pkg> <tag>
+npm dist-tag ls [<pkg>]
+
+Options:
+[-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
+[-ws|--workspaces]
+
+alias: dist-tags
+
+Run "npm help dist-tag" for more info {
+  "code": "EUSAGE",
+}
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/dist-tag.js TAP ls in current package > should list available tags for current package 1`] = `
@@ -78,7 +109,8 @@ latest: 1.0.0
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/dist-tag.js TAP ls on missing name in current package > should throw usage error message 1`] = `
-npm dist-tag
+Error: 
+Usage: npm dist-tag
 
 Modify package distribution tags
 
@@ -93,7 +125,9 @@ Options:
 
 alias: dist-tags
 
-Run "npm help dist-tag" for more info
+Run "npm help dist-tag" for more info {
+  "code": "EUSAGE",
+}
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/dist-tag.js TAP ls on missing package > should log no dist-tag found msg 1`] = `
@@ -133,7 +167,8 @@ exports[`test/lib/dist-tag.js TAP remove existing tag > should return success ms
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/dist-tag.js TAP remove missing pkg name > should exit usage error message 1`] = `
-npm dist-tag
+Error: 
+Usage: npm dist-tag
 
 Modify package distribution tags
 
@@ -148,7 +183,9 @@ Options:
 
 alias: dist-tags
 
-Run "npm help dist-tag" for more info
+Run "npm help dist-tag" for more info {
+  "code": "EUSAGE",
+}
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/dist-tag.js TAP remove non-existing tag > should log error msg 1`] = `
diff --git a/test/lib/diff.js b/test/lib/diff.js
index 355095c95786e..7a52ea5ee0ae1 100644
--- a/test/lib/diff.js
+++ b/test/lib/diff.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const mockNpm = require('../fixtures/mock-npm')
 
 const noop = () => null
 let libnpmdiff = noop
-let rlp = () => 'foo'
+let rpn = () => 'foo'
 
 const config = {
   global: false,
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ const mocks = {
   npmlog: { info: noop, verbose: noop },
   libnpmdiff: (...args) => libnpmdiff(...args),
   'npm-registry-fetch': async () => ({}),
-  '../../lib/utils/read-local-package.js': async () => rlp(),
+  '../../lib/utils/read-package-name.js': async (prefix) => rpn(prefix),
   '../../lib/utils/usage.js': () => 'usage instructions',
 }
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ t.afterEach(() => {
   npm.globalDir = __dirname
   npm.prefix = '..'
   libnpmdiff = noop
-  rlp = () => 'foo'
+  rpn = () => 'foo'
 })
 
 const Diff = t.mock('../../lib/diff.js', mocks)
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ t.test('no args', t => {
   })
 
   t.test('no args, missing package.json name in cwd', t => {
-    rlp = () => undefined
+    rpn = () => undefined
 
     diff.exec([], err => {
       t.match(
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ t.test('no args', t => {
   })
 
   t.test('no args, missing package.json in cwd', t => {
-    rlp = () => {
+    rpn = () => {
       throw new Error('ERR')
     }
 
@@ -109,14 +109,17 @@ t.test('no args', t => {
 
 t.test('single arg', t => {
   t.test('spec using cwd package name', t => {
-    t.plan(3)
+    t.plan(4)
 
+    rpn = (prefix) => {
+      t.equal(prefix, path, 'read-package-name gets proper prefix')
+      return 'foo'
+    }
     const path = t.testdir({})
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, 'foo@1.0.0', 'should forward single spec')
       t.equal(b, `file:${path}`, 'should compare to cwd')
       t.match(opts, npm.flatOptions, 'should forward flat options')
-      t.end()
     }
 
     config.diff = ['foo@1.0.0']
@@ -124,12 +127,13 @@ t.test('single arg', t => {
     diff.exec([], err => {
       if (err)
         throw err
+      t.end()
     })
   })
 
   t.test('unknown spec, no package.json', t => {
     const path = t.testdir({})
-    rlp = () => {
+    rpn = () => {
       throw new Error('ERR')
     }
 
@@ -182,7 +186,7 @@ t.test('single arg', t => {
   })
 
   t.test('version, no package.json', t => {
-    rlp = () => {
+    rpn = () => {
       throw new Error('ERR')
     }
 
@@ -273,7 +277,7 @@ t.test('single arg', t => {
 
   t.test('unknown package name, no package.json', t => {
     const path = t.testdir({})
-    rlp = () => {
+    rpn = () => {
       throw new Error('ERR')
     }
 
@@ -465,7 +469,7 @@ t.test('single arg', t => {
 
     const Diff = t.mock('../../lib/diff.js', {
       ...mocks,
-      '../../lib/utils/read-local-package.js': async () => 'my-project',
+      '../../lib/utils/read-package-name.js': async () => 'my-project',
       pacote: {
         packument: (spec) => {
           t.equal(spec.name, 'lorem', 'should have expected spec name')
@@ -502,7 +506,7 @@ t.test('single arg', t => {
 
     const Diff = t.mock('../../lib/diff.js', {
       ...mocks,
-      '../../lib/utils/read-local-package.js': async () => 'my-project',
+      '../../lib/utils/read-package-name.js': async () => 'my-project',
       '@npmcli/arborist': class {
         constructor () {
           throw new Error('ERR')
@@ -528,7 +532,7 @@ t.test('single arg', t => {
     t.plan(2)
 
     const path = t.testdir({})
-    rlp = async () => undefined
+    rpn = async () => undefined
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, 'bar@latest', 'should target latest tag of name')
       t.equal(b, `file:${path}`, 'should compare to cwd')
@@ -547,7 +551,7 @@ t.test('single arg', t => {
     t.plan(2)
 
     const path = t.testdir({})
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, 'my-project@latest', 'should target latest tag of name')
       t.equal(b, `file:${path}`, 'should compare to cwd')
@@ -565,7 +569,7 @@ t.test('single arg', t => {
     t.plan(2)
 
     const path = t.testdir({})
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, 'file:/path/to/other-dir', 'should target dir')
       t.equal(b, `file:${path}`, 'should compare to cwd')
@@ -580,7 +584,7 @@ t.test('single arg', t => {
   })
 
   t.test('unsupported spec type', t => {
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
 
     config.diff = ['git+https://github.com/user/foo']
 
@@ -634,7 +638,7 @@ t.test('first arg is a qualified spec', t => {
       }),
     })
 
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, 'bar@2.0.0', 'should set expected first spec')
       t.equal(b, `bar@file:${resolve(path, 'node_modules/bar')}`, 'should target local node_modules pkg')
@@ -703,7 +707,7 @@ t.test('first arg is a known dependency name', t => {
       }),
     })
 
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, `bar@file:${resolve(path, 'node_modules/bar')}`, 'should target local node_modules pkg')
       t.equal(b, 'bar@2.0.0', 'should set expected second spec')
@@ -743,7 +747,7 @@ t.test('first arg is a known dependency name', t => {
       }),
     })
 
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, `bar@file:${resolve(path, 'node_modules/bar')}`, 'should target local node_modules pkg')
       t.equal(b, `bar-fork@file:${resolve(path, 'node_modules/bar-fork')}`, 'should target fork local node_modules pkg')
@@ -777,7 +781,7 @@ t.test('first arg is a known dependency name', t => {
       }),
     })
 
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, `bar@file:${resolve(path, 'node_modules/bar')}`, 'should target local node_modules pkg')
       t.equal(b, 'bar@2.0.0', 'should use package name from first arg')
@@ -811,7 +815,7 @@ t.test('first arg is a known dependency name', t => {
       }),
     })
 
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, `bar@file:${resolve(path, 'node_modules/bar')}`, 'should target local node_modules pkg')
       t.equal(b, 'bar-fork@latest', 'should set expected second spec')
@@ -865,7 +869,7 @@ t.test('first arg is a valid semver range', t => {
       }),
     })
 
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, 'bar@1.0.0', 'should use name from second arg')
       t.equal(b, `bar@file:${resolve(path, 'node_modules/bar')}`, 'should set expected second spec from nm')
@@ -882,7 +886,7 @@ t.test('first arg is a valid semver range', t => {
   t.test('second arg is ALSO a semver version', t => {
     t.plan(2)
 
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, 'my-project@1.0.0', 'should use name from project dir')
       t.equal(b, 'my-project@2.0.0', 'should use name from project dir')
@@ -897,7 +901,7 @@ t.test('first arg is a valid semver range', t => {
 
   t.test('second arg is ALSO a semver version BUT cwd not a project dir', t => {
     const path = t.testdir({})
-    rlp = () => {
+    rpn = () => {
       throw new Error('ERR')
     }
 
@@ -916,7 +920,7 @@ t.test('first arg is a valid semver range', t => {
   t.test('second arg is an unknown dependency name', t => {
     t.plan(2)
 
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, 'bar@1.0.0', 'should use name from second arg')
       t.equal(b, 'bar@latest', 'should compare against latest tag')
@@ -940,7 +944,7 @@ t.test('first arg is a valid semver range', t => {
 
     const Diff = t.mock('../../lib/diff.js', {
       ...mocks,
-      '../../lib/utils/read-local-package.js': async () => 'my-project',
+      '../../lib/utils/read-package-name.js': async () => 'my-project',
       '@npmcli/arborist': class {
         constructor () {
           throw new Error('ERR')
@@ -1003,7 +1007,7 @@ t.test('first arg is an unknown dependency name', t => {
       }),
     })
 
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, 'bar-fork@latest', 'should use latest tag')
       t.equal(b, `bar@file:${resolve(path, 'node_modules/bar')}`, 'should target local node_modules pkg')
@@ -1051,7 +1055,7 @@ t.test('first arg is an unknown dependency name', t => {
     t.plan(2)
 
     const path = t.testdir({})
-    rlp = () => {
+    rpn = () => {
       throw new Error('ERR')
     }
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
@@ -1117,7 +1121,7 @@ t.test('various options', t => {
     t.plan(3)
 
     const path = t.testdir({})
-    rlp = async () => 'my-project'
+    rpn = async () => 'my-project'
     libnpmdiff = async ([a, b], opts) => {
       t.equal(a, 'my-project@latest', 'should have default spec')
       t.equal(b, `file:${path}`, 'should compare to cwd')
diff --git a/test/lib/dist-tag.js b/test/lib/dist-tag.js
index 6bc17168cdce0..9af90c309c77c 100644
--- a/test/lib/dist-tag.js
+++ b/test/lib/dist-tag.js
@@ -93,6 +93,20 @@ t.test('ls in current package', (t) => {
   })
 })
 
+t.test('ls global', (t) => {
+  t.teardown(() => {
+    config.global = false
+  })
+  config.global = true
+  distTag.exec(['ls'], (err) => {
+    t.matchSnapshot(
+      err,
+      'should throw basic usage'
+    )
+    t.end()
+  })
+})
+
 t.test('no args in current package', (t) => {
   npm.prefix = t.testdir({
     'package.json': JSON.stringify({
diff --git a/test/lib/owner.js b/test/lib/owner.js
index 4af8d1ebbb8fa..10ceb03030a5a 100644
--- a/test/lib/owner.js
+++ b/test/lib/owner.js
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 const t = require('tap')
+const mockNpm = require('../fixtures/mock-npm.js')
 
 let result = ''
-let readLocalPkgResponse = null
+let readPackageNamePrefix = null
+let readPackageNameResponse = null
 
 const noop = () => null
 
-const npm = {
-  flatOptions: {},
+const npm = mockNpm({
   output: (msg) => {
     result = result ? `${result}\n${msg}` : msg
   },
-}
+})
+
 const npmFetch = { json: noop }
 const npmlog = { error: noop, info: noop, verbose: noop }
 const pacote = { packument: noop }
@@ -20,7 +22,10 @@ const mocks = {
   'npm-registry-fetch': npmFetch,
   pacote,
   '../../lib/utils/otplease.js': async (opts, fn) => fn({ otp: '123456', opts }),
-  '../../lib/utils/read-local-package.js': async () => readLocalPkgResponse,
+  '../../lib/utils/read-package-name.js': async (prefix) => {
+    readPackageNamePrefix = prefix
+    return readPackageNameResponse
+  },
   '../../lib/utils/usage.js': () => 'usage instructions',
 }
 
@@ -47,11 +52,11 @@ t.test('owner no args', t => {
 })
 
 t.test('owner ls no args', t => {
-  t.plan(4)
+  t.plan(5)
 
   result = ''
 
-  readLocalPkgResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
+  readPackageNameResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
   pacote.packument = async (spec, opts) => {
     t.equal(spec.name, '@npmcli/map-workspaces', 'should use expect pkg name')
     t.match(
@@ -65,14 +70,29 @@ t.test('owner ls no args', t => {
     return { maintainers: npmcliMaintainers }
   }
   t.teardown(() => {
+    npm.prefix = null
     result = ''
     pacote.packument = noop
-    readLocalPkgResponse = null
+    readPackageNameResponse = null
   })
+  npm.prefix = 'test-npm-prefix'
 
   owner.exec(['ls'], err => {
     t.error(err, 'npm owner ls no args')
     t.matchSnapshot(result, 'should output owners of cwd package')
+    t.equal(readPackageNamePrefix, 'test-npm-prefix', 'read-package-name gets npm.prefix')
+  })
+})
+
+t.test('owner ls global', t => {
+  t.teardown(() => {
+    npm.config.set('global', false)
+  })
+  npm.config.set('global', true)
+
+  owner.exec(['ls'], err => {
+    t.match(err, /usage instructions/, 'should throw usage instructions if no cwd package available')
+    t.end()
   })
 })
 
@@ -93,7 +113,7 @@ t.test('owner ls fails to retrieve packument', t => {
   t.plan(4)
 
   result = ''
-  readLocalPkgResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
+  readPackageNameResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
   pacote.packument = () => {
     throw new Error('ERR')
   }
@@ -233,7 +253,7 @@ t.test('owner add <user> <pkg>', t => {
 
 t.test('owner add <user> cwd package', t => {
   result = ''
-  readLocalPkgResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
+  readPackageNameResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
   npmFetch.json = async (uri, opts) => {
     // retrieve user info from couchdb request
     if (uri === '/-/user/org.couchdb.user:foo') {
@@ -253,7 +273,7 @@ t.test('owner add <user> cwd package', t => {
   })
   t.teardown(() => {
     result = ''
-    readLocalPkgResponse = null
+    readPackageNameResponse = null
     npmFetch.json = noop
     pacote.packument = noop
   })
@@ -308,7 +328,7 @@ t.test('owner add <user> <pkg> already an owner', t => {
 
 t.test('owner add <user> <pkg> fails to retrieve user', t => {
   result = ''
-  readLocalPkgResponse =
+  readPackageNameResponse =
   npmFetch.json = async (uri, opts) => {
     // retrieve borked user info from couchdb request
     if (uri === '/-/user/org.couchdb.user:foo')
@@ -324,7 +344,7 @@ t.test('owner add <user> <pkg> fails to retrieve user', t => {
   })
   t.teardown(() => {
     result = ''
-    readLocalPkgResponse = null
+    readPackageNameResponse = null
     npmFetch.json = noop
     pacote.packument = noop
   })
@@ -465,6 +485,18 @@ t.test('owner add no user', t => {
   })
 })
 
+t.test('owner add no pkg global', t => {
+  t.teardown(() => {
+    npm.config.set('global', false)
+  })
+  npm.config.set('global', true)
+
+  owner.exec(['add', 'gar'], err => {
+    t.match(err, /usage instructions/, 'should throw usage instructions if user provided')
+    t.end()
+  })
+})
+
 t.test('owner add <user> no cwd package', t => {
   result = ''
   t.teardown(() => {
@@ -581,7 +613,7 @@ t.test('owner rm <user> <pkg> not a current owner', t => {
 
 t.test('owner rm <user> cwd package', t => {
   result = ''
-  readLocalPkgResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
+  readPackageNameResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
   npmFetch.json = async (uri, opts) => {
     // retrieve user info from couchdb request
     if (uri === '/-/user/org.couchdb.user:ruyadorno') {
@@ -601,7 +633,7 @@ t.test('owner rm <user> cwd package', t => {
   })
   t.teardown(() => {
     result = ''
-    readLocalPkgResponse = null
+    readPackageNameResponse = null
     npmFetch.json = noop
     pacote.packument = noop
   })
@@ -615,7 +647,7 @@ t.test('owner rm <user> cwd package', t => {
 
 t.test('owner rm <user> only user', t => {
   result = ''
-  readLocalPkgResponse = 'ipt'
+  readPackageNameResponse = 'ipt'
   npmFetch.json = async (uri, opts) => {
     // retrieve user info from couchdb request
     if (uri === '/-/user/org.couchdb.user:ruyadorno') {
@@ -636,7 +668,7 @@ t.test('owner rm <user> only user', t => {
   })
   t.teardown(() => {
     result = ''
-    readLocalPkgResponse = null
+    readPackageNameResponse = null
     npmFetch.json = noop
     pacote.packument = noop
   })
@@ -664,6 +696,18 @@ t.test('owner rm no user', t => {
   })
 })
 
+t.test('owner rm no pkg global', t => {
+  t.teardown(() => {
+    npm.config.set('global', false)
+  })
+  npm.config.set('global', true)
+
+  owner.exec(['rm', 'gar'], err => {
+    t.match(err, /usage instructions/, 'should throw usage instructions if user provided')
+    t.end()
+  })
+})
+
 t.test('owner rm <user> no cwd package', t => {
   result = ''
   t.teardown(() => {
@@ -693,15 +737,15 @@ t.test('completion', async t => {
   // npm owner rm completion is async
   t.test('completion npm owner rm', async t => {
     t.plan(2)
-    readLocalPkgResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
+    readPackageNameResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
     pacote.packument = async spec => {
-      t.equal(spec.name, readLocalPkgResponse, 'should use package spec')
+      t.equal(spec.name, readPackageNameResponse, 'should use package spec')
       return {
         maintainers: npmcliMaintainers,
       }
     }
     t.teardown(() => {
-      readLocalPkgResponse = null
+      readPackageNameResponse = null
       pacote.packument = noop
     })
 
@@ -718,17 +762,27 @@ t.test('completion', async t => {
     t.end()
   })
 
+  t.test('completion npm owner rm global', async t => {
+    t.teardown(() => {
+      npm.config.set('global', false)
+    })
+    npm.config.set('global', true)
+    const res = await owner.completion({ conf: { argv: { remain: ['npm', 'owner', 'rm'] } } })
+    t.strictSame(res, [], 'should have no owners to autocomplete if global')
+    t.end()
+  })
+
   t.test('completion npm owner rm no owners found', async t => {
     t.plan(2)
-    readLocalPkgResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
+    readPackageNameResponse = '@npmcli/map-workspaces'
     pacote.packument = async spec => {
-      t.equal(spec.name, readLocalPkgResponse, 'should use package spec')
+      t.equal(spec.name, readPackageNameResponse, 'should use package spec')
       return {
         maintainers: [],
       }
     }
     t.teardown(() => {
-      readLocalPkgResponse = null
+      readPackageNameResponse = null
       pacote.packument = noop
     })
 
diff --git a/test/lib/utils/read-local-package.js b/test/lib/utils/read-package-name.js
similarity index 55%
rename from test/lib/utils/read-local-package.js
rename to test/lib/utils/read-package-name.js
index 966e74a7ab7f4..c8f88bacd4b84 100644
--- a/test/lib/utils/read-local-package.js
+++ b/test/lib/utils/read-package-name.js
@@ -1,13 +1,8 @@
 const t = require('tap')
 const mockNpm = require('../../fixtures/mock-npm')
+const npm = mockNpm()
 
-const config = {
-  json: false,
-  global: false,
-}
-const npm = mockNpm({ config })
-
-const readLocalPackageName = require('../../../lib/utils/read-local-package.js')
+const readPackageName = require('../../../lib/utils/read-package-name.js')
 
 t.test('read local package.json', async (t) => {
   npm.prefix = t.testdir({
@@ -16,7 +11,7 @@ t.test('read local package.json', async (t) => {
       version: '1.0.0',
     }),
   })
-  const packageName = await readLocalPackageName(npm)
+  const packageName = await readPackageName(npm.prefix)
   t.equal(
     packageName,
     'my-local-package',
@@ -31,22 +26,10 @@ t.test('read local scoped-package.json', async (t) => {
       version: '1.0.0',
     }),
   })
-  const packageName = await readLocalPackageName(npm)
+  const packageName = await readPackageName(npm.prefix)
   t.equal(
     packageName,
     '@my-scope/my-local-package',
     'should retrieve scoped package name'
   )
 })
-
-t.test('read using --global', async (t) => {
-  npm.prefix = t.testdir({})
-  config.global = true
-  const packageName = await readLocalPackageName(npm)
-  t.equal(
-    packageName,
-    undefined,
-    'should not retrieve a package name'
-  )
-  config.global = false
-})