diff --git a/toot/api.py b/toot/api.py
index b9fd63d..b27fd49 100644
--- a/toot/api.py
+++ b/toot/api.py
@@ -192,10 +192,10 @@ def public_timeline_generator(instance, local=False, limit=20):
     return _anon_timeline_generator(instance, path, params)
 
 
-def tag_timeline_generator(app, user, hashtag, local=False, limit=20):
+def tag_timeline_generator(instance, hashtag, local=False, limit=20):
     path = '/api/v1/timelines/tag/{}'.format(hashtag)
     params = {'local': str_bool(local), 'limit': limit}
-    return _timeline_generator(app, user, path, params)
+    return _anon_timeline_generator(instance, path, params)
 
 
 def timeline_list_generator(app, user, list_id, limit=20):
diff --git a/toot/commands.py b/toot/commands.py
index d71a686..8fb9745 100644
--- a/toot/commands.py
+++ b/toot/commands.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from toot.output import print_out, print_instance, print_account, print_search_r
 from toot.utils import assert_domain_exists, multiline_input, EOF_KEY
 
 
-def timeline(app, user, args):
+def get_timeline_generator(app, user, args):
     # Make sure tag, list and public are not used simultaneously
     if len([arg for arg in [args.tag, args.list, args.public] if arg]) > 1:
         raise ConsoleError("Only one of --public, --tag, or --list can be used at one time.")
@@ -15,17 +15,30 @@ def timeline(app, user, args):
     if args.local and not (args.public or args.tag):
         raise ConsoleError("The --local option is only valid alongside --public or --tag.")
 
+    if args.instance and not (args.public or args.tag):
+        raise ConsoleError("The --instance option is only valid alongside --public or --tag.")
+
     if args.public:
-        gen = api.public_timeline_generator(app.instance, local=args.local, limit=args.count)
+        instance = args.instance or app.instance
+        return api.public_timeline_generator(instance, local=args.local, limit=args.count)
     elif args.tag:
-        gen = api.tag_timeline_generator(app, user, args.tag, local=args.local, limit=args.count)
+        instance = args.instance or app.instance
+        return api.tag_timeline_generator(instance, args.tag, local=args.local, limit=args.count)
     elif args.list:
-        gen = api.timeline_list_generator(app, user, args.list)
+        return api.timeline_list_generator(app, user, args.list, limit=args.count)
     else:
-        gen = api.home_timeline_generator(app, user, limit=args.count)
+        return api.home_timeline_generator(app, user, limit=args.count)
+
+
+def timeline(app, user, args):
+    generator = get_timeline_generator(app, user, args)
 
     while(True):
-        items = next(gen)
+        try:
+            items = next(generator)
+        except StopIteration:
+            print_out("That's all folks.")
+            return
 
         if args.reverse:
             items = reversed(items)
@@ -56,26 +69,8 @@ def thread(app, user, args):
 
 
 def curses(app, user, args):
+    generator = get_timeline_generator(app, user, args)
     from toot.ui.app import TimelineApp
-
-    # Make sure tag, list and public are not used simultaneously
-    if len([arg for arg in [args.tag, args.public] if arg]) > 1:
-        raise ConsoleError("Only one of --public or --tag can be used at one time.")
-
-    if args.local and not (args.public or args.tag):
-        raise ConsoleError("The --local option is only valid alongside --public or --tag.")
-
-    if not args.public and (not app or not user):
-        raise ConsoleError("You must be logged in to view the home timeline.")
-
-    if args.public:
-        instance = args.instance or app.instance
-        generator = api.public_timeline_generator(instance, local=args.local)
-    elif args.tag:
-        generator = api.tag_timeline_generator(app, user, args.tag, local=args.local)
-    else:
-        generator = api.home_timeline_generator(app, user)
-
     TimelineApp(app, user, generator).run()
 
 
diff --git a/toot/console.py b/toot/console.py
index f61573c..e3c9a46 100644
--- a/toot/console.py
+++ b/toot/console.py
@@ -84,6 +84,38 @@ status_id_arg = (["status_id"], {
     "type": int,
 })
 
+# Arguments for selecting a timeline (see `toot.commands.get_timeline_generator`)
+timeline_args = [
+    (["-p", "--public"], {
+        "action": "store_true",
+        "default": False,
+        "help": "show public timeline (does not require auth)",
+    }),
+    (["-t", "--tag"], {
+        "type": str,
+        "help": "show hashtag timeline (does not require auth)",
+    }),
+    (["-l", "--local"], {
+        "action": "store_true",
+        "default": False,
+        "help": "show only statuses from local instance (public and tag timelines only)",
+    }),
+    (["-i", "--instance"], {
+        "type": str,
+        "help": "mastodon instance from which to read (public and tag timelines only)",
+    }),
+    (["--list"], {
+        "type": int,
+        "help": "show timeline for given list.",
+    }),
+    (["-c", "--count"], {
+        "type": timeline_count,
+        "help": "number of toots to show per page (1-20, default 10).",
+        "default": 10,
+    }),
+]
+
+
 AUTH_COMMANDS = [
     Command(
         name="login",
@@ -117,6 +149,7 @@ AUTH_COMMANDS = [
     ),
 ]
 
+
 READ_COMMANDS = [
     Command(
         name="whoami",
@@ -174,35 +207,12 @@ READ_COMMANDS = [
     Command(
         name="timeline",
         description="Show recent items in a timeline (home by default)",
-        arguments=[
-            (["-p", "--public"], {
-                "action": "store_true",
-                "default": False,
-                "help": "Show public timeline.",
-            }),
-            (["-t", "--tag"], {
-                "type": str,
-                "help": "Show timeline for given hashtag.",
-            }),
-            (["-i", "--list"], {
-                "type": int,
-                "help": "Show timeline for given list ID.",
-            }),
-            (["-l", "--local"], {
-                "action": "store_true",
-                "default": False,
-                "help": "Show only statuses from local instance (public and tag timelines only).",
-            }),
+        arguments=timeline_args + [
             (["-r", "--reverse"], {
                 "action": "store_true",
                 "default": False,
                 "help": "Reverse the order of the shown timeline (to new posts at the bottom)",
             }),
-            (["-c", "--count"], {
-                "type": timeline_count,
-                "help": "Number of toots to show per page (1-20, default 10).",
-                "default": 10,
-            }),
             (["-1", "--once"], {
                 "action": "store_true",
                 "default": False,
@@ -214,26 +224,7 @@ READ_COMMANDS = [
     Command(
         name="curses",
         description="An experimental timeline app (doesn't work on Windows)",
-        arguments=[
-            (["-p", "--public"], {
-                "action": 'store_true',
-                "default": False,
-                "help": "Resolve non-local accounts",
-            }),
-            (["-t", "--tag"], {
-                "type": str,
-                "help": "Show timeline for given hashtag.",
-            }),
-            (["-l", "--local"], {
-                "action": "store_true",
-                "default": False,
-                "help": "Show only statuses from local instance (public and tag timelines only).",
-            }),
-            (["-i", "--instance"], {
-                "type": str,
-                "help": 'instance from which to read (for public timeline only)',
-            }),
-        ],
+        arguments=timeline_args,
         require_auth=False,
     ),
 ]