diff --git a/lib/cli.js b/lib/cli.js
index a246312..ea4ff94 100644
--- a/lib/cli.js
+++ b/lib/cli.js
@@ -197,11 +197,10 @@ function CLI() {
             'instance',
             'instances',
             'create',
-            'start-instance',
-            'stop-instance',
-            'reboot-instance',
-            'delete-instance',
-            'wait-instance',
+            'delete',
+            'start',
+            'stop',
+            'reboot',
             'ssh',
             { group: 'Images, Packages, Networks' },
             'image',
@@ -349,12 +348,10 @@ CLI.prototype.do_image = require('./do_image');
 CLI.prototype.do_instance = require('./do_instance');
 CLI.prototype.do_instances = require('./do_instances');
 CLI.prototype.do_create = require('./do_create');
-CLI.prototype.do_stop_instance = require('./do_startstop_instance')('stop');
-CLI.prototype.do_start_instance = require('./do_startstop_instance')('start');
-CLI.prototype.do_reboot_instance = require('./do_startstop_instance')('reboot');
-CLI.prototype.do_delete_instance =
-    require('./do_startstop_instance')({action: 'delete', aliases: ['rm']});
-CLI.prototype.do_wait_instance = require('./do_wait_instance');
+CLI.prototype.do_delete = require('./do_delete');
+CLI.prototype.do_start = require('./do_start');
+CLI.prototype.do_stop = require('./do_stop');
+CLI.prototype.do_reboot = require('./do_reboot');
 CLI.prototype.do_ssh = require('./do_ssh');
 
 // Packages
diff --git a/lib/do_delete.js b/lib/do_delete.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c030159
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/do_delete.js
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/*
+ * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Copyright 2015 Joyent, Inc.
+ *
+ * `triton delete ...` bwcompat shortcut for `triton instance delete ...`.
+ */
+
+function do_delete(subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
+    var subcmdArgv = ['node', 'triton', 'instance', 'delete'].concat(args);
+    this.dispatch('instance', subcmdArgv, callback);
+}
+
+do_delete.help = [
+    'A shortcut for "triton instance delete".',
+    '',
+    'Usage:',
+    '    {{name}} delete ...'
+].join('\n');
+
+do_delete.aliases = ['rm'];
+
+module.exports = do_delete;
diff --git a/lib/do_instance/do_audit.js b/lib/do_instance/do_audit.js
index ce0854c..86223f0 100644
--- a/lib/do_instance/do_audit.js
+++ b/lib/do_instance/do_audit.js
@@ -91,8 +91,6 @@ function do_audit(subcmd, opts, args, cb) {
     }
 }
 
-do_audit.aliases = ['audit'];
-
 do_audit.options = [
     {
         names: ['help', 'h'],
diff --git a/lib/do_instance/do_create.js b/lib/do_instance/do_create.js
index b567bc6..89c348c 100644
--- a/lib/do_instance/do_create.js
+++ b/lib/do_instance/do_create.js
@@ -602,9 +602,6 @@ do_create.helpOpts = {
     maxHelpCol: 18
 };
 
-do_create.aliases = ['create'];
-
-
 
 module.exports = do_create;
 do_create.metadataFromOpts = metadataFromOpts; // export for testing
diff --git a/lib/do_instance/do_ssh.js b/lib/do_instance/do_ssh.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5330963
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/do_instance/do_ssh.js
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+/*
+ * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016 Joyent, Inc.
+ *
+ * `triton instance ssh ...`
+ */
+
+var spawn = require('child_process').spawn;
+
+var common = require('../common');
+
+
+function do_ssh(subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
+    var self = this;
+
+    if (opts.help) {
+        this.do_help('help', {}, [subcmd], callback);
+        return;
+    } else if (args.length === 0) {
+        callback(new Error('invalid args: ' + args));
+        return;
+    }
+
+    var id = args.shift();
+
+    var user = 'root';
+    var i = id.indexOf('@');
+    if (i >= 0) {
+        user = id.substr(0, i);
+        id = id.substr(i + 1);
+    }
+
+    this.top.tritonapi.getInstance(id, function (err, inst) {
+        if (err) {
+            callback(err);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        var ip = inst.primaryIp;
+        if (!ip) {
+            callback(new Error('primaryIp not found for instance'));
+            return;
+        }
+
+        args = ['-l', user].concat(ip).concat(args);
+
+        self.top.log.info({args: args}, 'forking ssh');
+        var child = spawn('ssh', args, {stdio: 'inherit'});
+        child.on('close', function (code) {
+            process.exit(code);
+        });
+    });
+}
+
+do_ssh.options = [
+    {
+        names: ['help', 'h'],
+        type: 'bool',
+        help: 'Show this help.'
+    }
+];
+do_ssh.help = (
+    'SSH to the primary IP of an instance\n'
+    + '\n'
+    + 'Usage:\n'
+    + '     {{name}} ssh <alias|id> [arguments]\n'
+    + '\n'
+    + '{{options}}'
+);
+
+do_ssh.interspersedOptions = false;
+
+module.exports = do_ssh;
diff --git a/lib/do_wait_instance.js b/lib/do_instance/do_wait.js
similarity index 88%
rename from lib/do_wait_instance.js
rename to lib/do_instance/do_wait.js
index d4e53a6..898ce65 100644
--- a/lib/do_wait_instance.js
+++ b/lib/do_instance/do_wait.js
@@ -5,18 +5,18 @@
  */
 
 /*
- * Copyright 2015 Joyent, Inc.
+ * Copyright 2016 Joyent, Inc.
  *
- * `triton wait-instance ...`
+ * `triton instance wait ...`
  */
 
 var vasync = require('vasync');
 
-var distractions = require('./distractions');
-var errors = require('./errors');
+var distractions = require('../distractions');
+var errors = require('../errors');
 
 
-function do_wait_instance(subcmd, opts, args, cb) {
+function do_wait(subcmd, opts, args, cb) {
     var self = this;
     if (opts.help) {
         return this.do_help('help', {}, [subcmd], cb);
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ function do_wait_instance(subcmd, opts, args, cb) {
             vasync.forEachParallel({
                 inputs: ids,
                 func: function getInst(id, nextInst) {
-                    self.tritonapi.getInstance(id, function (err, inst) {
+                    self.top.tritonapi.getInstance(id, function (err, inst) {
                         if (err) {
                             return nextInst(err);
                         }
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ function do_wait_instance(subcmd, opts, args, cb) {
             vasync.forEachParallel({
                 inputs: idsToWaitFor,
                 func: function waitForInst(id, nextInst) {
-                    self.tritonapi.cloudapi.waitForMachineStates({
+                    self.top.tritonapi.cloudapi.waitForMachineStates({
                         id: id,
                         states: states
                     }, function (err, inst, res) {
@@ -110,8 +110,7 @@ function do_wait_instance(subcmd, opts, args, cb) {
     });
 }
 
-do_wait_instance.aliases = ['wait'];
-do_wait_instance.help = [
+do_wait.help = [
     'Wait on instances changing state.',
     '',
     'Usage:',
@@ -119,10 +118,10 @@ do_wait_instance.help = [
     '',
     '{{options}}',
     'Where "states" is a comma-separated list of target instance states,',
-    'by default "running,failed". In other words, "triton wait foo0" will',
+    'by default "running,failed". In other words, "triton inst wait foo0" will',
     'wait for instance "foo0" to complete provisioning.'
 ].join('\n');
-do_wait_instance.options = [
+do_wait.options = [
     {
         names: ['help', 'h'],
         type: 'bool',
@@ -138,4 +137,4 @@ do_wait_instance.options = [
     }
 ];
 
-module.exports = do_wait_instance;
+module.exports = do_wait;
diff --git a/lib/do_startstop_instance.js b/lib/do_instance/gen_do_ACTION.js
similarity index 82%
rename from lib/do_startstop_instance.js
rename to lib/do_instance/gen_do_ACTION.js
index 7ec4002..8a13fab 100644
--- a/lib/do_startstop_instance.js
+++ b/lib/do_instance/gen_do_ACTION.js
@@ -7,24 +7,27 @@
 /*
  * Copyright 2015 Joyent, Inc.
  *
- * `triton stop-instance ...`
- * `triton start-instance ...`
- * `triton reboot-instance ...`
+ * `triton instance start ...`
+ * `triton instance stop ...`
+ * `triton instance reboot ...`
+ * `triton instance delete ...`
  */
 
-var f = require('util').format;
 var assert = require('assert-plus');
-var common = require('./common');
-
 var vasync = require('vasync');
 
+var common = require('../common');
+
+
+var f = require('util').format;
+
+
 function perror(err) {
     console.error('error: %s', err.message);
 }
 
-function do_startstop_instance(opts) {
-    if (typeof (opts) === 'string')
-        opts = {action: opts};
+
+function gen_do_ACTION(opts) {
     assert.object(opts, 'opts');
     assert.string(opts.action, 'opts.action');
     assert.optionalArrayOfString(opts.aliases, 'opts.aliases');
@@ -33,16 +36,15 @@ function do_startstop_instance(opts) {
     assert.ok(['start', 'stop', 'reboot', 'delete'].indexOf(action) >= 0,
         'invalid action');
 
-    function _do_startstop_instance(subcmd, _opts, args, callback) {
-        return _do_instance.call(this, action, subcmd, _opts, args, callback);
+    function do_ACTION(subcmd, _opts, args, callback) {
+        return _doTheAction.call(this, action, subcmd, _opts, args, callback);
     }
 
-    var aliases = [action];
-    if (opts.aliases)
-        aliases = aliases.concat(opts.aliases);
-    _do_startstop_instance.aliases = aliases;
+    if (opts.aliases) {
+        do_ACTION.aliases = opts.aliases;
+    }
 
-    _do_startstop_instance.help = [
+    do_ACTION.help = [
         f('%s one or more instances.', common.capitalize(action)),
         f(''),
         f('Usage:'),
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ function do_startstop_instance(opts) {
         f(''),
         f('{{options}}')
     ].join('\n');
-    _do_startstop_instance.options = [
+    do_ACTION.options = [
         {
             names: ['help', 'h'],
             type: 'bool',
@@ -59,14 +61,14 @@ function do_startstop_instance(opts) {
         {
             names: ['wait', 'w'],
             type: 'bool',
-            help: 'Block until desired state is reached.'
+            help: 'Block until instance state indicates the action is complete.'
         }
     ];
 
-    return _do_startstop_instance;
+    return do_ACTION;
 }
 
-function _do_instance(action, subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
+function _doTheAction(action, subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
     var self = this;
 
     var now = Date.now();
@@ -109,7 +111,7 @@ function _do_instance(action, subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
                 uuid = arg;
                 done();
             } else {
-                self.tritonapi.getInstance(arg, function (err, inst) {
+                self.top.tritonapi.getInstance(arg, function (err, inst) {
                     if (err) {
                         perror(err);
                         cb(err);
@@ -123,7 +125,7 @@ function _do_instance(action, subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
 
             // called when "uuid" is set
             function done() {
-                self.tritonapi.cloudapi[command](uuid,
+                self.top.tritonapi.cloudapi[command](uuid,
                     function (err, body, res) {
 
                     if (err) {
@@ -143,7 +145,7 @@ function _do_instance(action, subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
                         return;
                     }
 
-                    self.tritonapi.cloudapi.waitForMachineStates({
+                    self.top.tritonapi.cloudapi.waitForMachineStates({
                         id: uuid,
                         states: [state]
                     }, function (err2, inst2, res2) {
@@ -177,4 +179,4 @@ function _do_instance(action, subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
     });
 }
 
-module.exports = do_startstop_instance;
+module.exports = gen_do_ACTION;
diff --git a/lib/do_instance/index.js b/lib/do_instance/index.js
index f164974..1279a9e 100644
--- a/lib/do_instance/index.js
+++ b/lib/do_instance/index.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 var Cmdln = require('cmdln').Cmdln;
 var util = require('util');
 
+var gen_do_ACTION = require('./gen_do_ACTION');
 
 
 // ---- CLI class
@@ -34,6 +35,14 @@ function InstanceCLI(top) {
             'list',
             'get',
             'create',
+            'delete',
+            { group: '' },
+            'start',
+            'stop',
+            'reboot',
+            { group: '' },
+            'ssh',
+            'wait',
             'audit'
         ]
     });
@@ -48,8 +57,16 @@ InstanceCLI.prototype.init = function init(opts, args, cb) {
 InstanceCLI.prototype.do_list = require('./do_list');
 InstanceCLI.prototype.do_get = require('./do_get');
 InstanceCLI.prototype.do_create = require('./do_create');
-InstanceCLI.prototype.do_audit = require('./do_audit');
+InstanceCLI.prototype.do_delete = gen_do_ACTION(
+    {action: 'delete', aliases: ['rm']});
 
+InstanceCLI.prototype.do_start = gen_do_ACTION({action: 'start'});
+InstanceCLI.prototype.do_stop = gen_do_ACTION({action: 'stop'});
+InstanceCLI.prototype.do_reboot = gen_do_ACTION({action: 'reboot'});
+
+InstanceCLI.prototype.do_ssh = require('./do_ssh');
+InstanceCLI.prototype.do_wait = require('./do_wait');
+InstanceCLI.prototype.do_audit = require('./do_audit');
 
 InstanceCLI.aliases = ['inst'];
 
diff --git a/lib/do_reboot.js b/lib/do_reboot.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9474239
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/do_reboot.js
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/*
+ * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Copyright 2015 Joyent, Inc.
+ *
+ * `triton reboot ...` bwcompat shortcut for `triton instance reboot ...`.
+ */
+
+function do_reboot(subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
+    var subcmdArgv = ['node', 'triton', 'instance', 'reboot'].concat(args);
+    this.dispatch('instance', subcmdArgv, callback);
+}
+
+do_reboot.help = [
+    'A shortcut for "triton instance reboot".',
+    '',
+    'Usage:',
+    '    {{name}} reboot ...'
+].join('\n');
+
+module.exports = do_reboot;
diff --git a/lib/do_ssh.js b/lib/do_ssh.js
index d8b7b40..60d967c 100644
--- a/lib/do_ssh.js
+++ b/lib/do_ssh.js
@@ -5,72 +5,21 @@
  */
 
 /*
- * Copyright 2015 Joyent, Inc.
+ * Copyright 2016 Joyent, Inc.
  *
- * `triton ssh ...`
+ * `triton ssh ...` bwcompat shortcut for `triton instance ssh ...`.
  */
 
-var common = require('./common');
-var spawn = require('child_process').spawn;
-
 function do_ssh(subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
-    var self = this;
-
-    if (opts.help) {
-        this.do_help('help', {}, [subcmd], callback);
-        return;
-    } else if (args.length === 0) {
-        callback(new Error('invalid args: ' + args));
-        return;
-    }
-
-    var id = args.shift();
-
-    var user = 'root';
-    var i = id.indexOf('@');
-    if (i >= 0) {
-        user = id.substr(0, i);
-        id = id.substr(i + 1);
-    }
-
-    this.tritonapi.getInstance(id, function (err, inst) {
-        if (err) {
-            callback(err);
-            return;
-        }
-
-        var ip = inst.primaryIp;
-        if (!ip) {
-            callback(new Error('primaryIp not found for instance'));
-            return;
-        }
-
-        args = ['-l', user].concat(ip).concat(args);
-
-        self.tritonapi.log.info({args: args}, 'forking ssh');
-        var child = spawn('ssh', args, {stdio: 'inherit'});
-        child.on('close', function (code) {
-            process.exit(code);
-        });
-    });
+    var subcmdArgv = ['node', 'triton', 'instance', 'ssh'].concat(args);
+    this.dispatch('instance', subcmdArgv, callback);
 }
 
-do_ssh.options = [
-    {
-        names: ['help', 'h'],
-        type: 'bool',
-        help: 'Show this help.'
-    }
-];
-do_ssh.help = (
-    'SSH to the primary IP of an instance\n'
-    + '\n'
-    + 'Usage:\n'
-    + '     {{name}} ssh <alias|id> [arguments]\n'
-    + '\n'
-    + '{{options}}'
-);
-
-do_ssh.interspersedOptions = false;
+do_ssh.help = [
+    'A shortcut for "triton instance ssh".',
+    '',
+    'Usage:',
+    '    {{name}} ssh ...'
+].join('\n');
 
 module.exports = do_ssh;
diff --git a/lib/do_start.js b/lib/do_start.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9478a7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/do_start.js
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/*
+ * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Copyright 2015 Joyent, Inc.
+ *
+ * `triton start ...` bwcompat shortcut for `triton instance start ...`.
+ */
+
+function do_start(subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
+    var subcmdArgv = ['node', 'triton', 'instance', 'start'].concat(args);
+    this.dispatch('instance', subcmdArgv, callback);
+}
+
+do_start.help = [
+    'A shortcut for "triton instance start".',
+    '',
+    'Usage:',
+    '    {{name}} start ...'
+].join('\n');
+
+module.exports = do_start;
diff --git a/lib/do_stop.js b/lib/do_stop.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..008b0d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/do_stop.js
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/*
+ * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Copyright 2015 Joyent, Inc.
+ *
+ * `triton stop ...` bwcompat shortcut for `triton instance stop ...`.
+ */
+
+function do_stop(subcmd, opts, args, callback) {
+    var subcmdArgv = ['node', 'triton', 'instance', 'stop'].concat(args);
+    this.dispatch('instance', subcmdArgv, callback);
+}
+
+do_stop.help = [
+    'A shortcut for "triton instance stop".',
+    '',
+    'Usage:',
+    '    {{name}} stop ...'
+].join('\n');
+
+module.exports = do_stop;
diff --git a/test/integration/cli-manage-workflow.test.js b/test/integration/cli-manage-workflow.test.js
index fa054c6..81f49dd 100644
--- a/test/integration/cli-manage-workflow.test.js
+++ b/test/integration/cli-manage-workflow.test.js
@@ -259,8 +259,8 @@ test('triton manage workflow', opts, function (tt) {
     });
 
     // wait for the machine to start
-    tt.test('  triton wait', function (t) {
-        h.safeTriton(t, ['wait', instance.id],
+    tt.test('  triton inst wait', function (t) {
+        h.safeTriton(t, ['inst', 'wait', instance.id],
             function (stdout) {
 
             // parse JSON response
diff --git a/test/integration/cli-subcommands.test.js b/test/integration/cli-subcommands.test.js
index c60e1fa..b2e79d3 100644
--- a/test/integration/cli-subcommands.test.js
+++ b/test/integration/cli-subcommands.test.js
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ var subs = [
     ['instance list', 'instance ls', 'instances', 'insts', 'ls'],
     ['instance get'],
     ['instance create', 'create'],
+    ['instance start', 'start'],
+    ['instance stop', 'stop'],
+    ['instance reboot', 'reboot'],
+    ['instance delete', 'instance rm', 'delete', 'rm'],
+    ['instance wait'],
     ['instance audit'],
-    ['start-instance', 'start'],
-    ['stop-instance', 'stop'],
-    ['reboot-instance', 'reboot'],
-    ['delete-instance', 'delete'],
-    ['wait-instance', 'wait'],
     ['ssh'],
     ['networks'],
     ['network'],