diff --git a/examples/flaskr/flaskr.py b/examples/flaskr/flaskr.py
index 2cd2fd19..a38a04eb 100644
--- a/examples/flaskr/flaskr.py
+++ b/examples/flaskr/flaskr.py
@@ -37,13 +37,18 @@ def connect_db():
     return rv
 
 
-@app.cli.command()
-def initdb():
-    """Creates the database tables."""
+def init_db():
+    """Initializes the database."""
     db = get_db()
     with app.open_resource('schema.sql', mode='r') as f:
         db.cursor().executescript(f.read())
     db.commit()
+
+
+@app.cli.command('initdb')
+def initdb_command():
+    """Creates the database tables."""
+    init_db()
     print('Initialized the database.')
 
 
diff --git a/examples/flaskr/flaskr_tests.py b/examples/flaskr/flaskr_tests.py
index ab08a60a..b90a7be7 100644
--- a/examples/flaskr/flaskr_tests.py
+++ b/examples/flaskr/flaskr_tests.py
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ class FlaskrTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.db_fd, flaskr.app.config['DATABASE'] = tempfile.mkstemp()
         flaskr.app.config['TESTING'] = True
         self.app = flaskr.app.test_client()
-        flaskr.init_db()
+        with flaskr.app.app_context():
+            flaskr.init_db()
 
     def tearDown(self):
         """Get rid of the database again after each test."""
diff --git a/examples/minitwit/minitwit.py b/examples/minitwit/minitwit.py
index 0a85247b..f772b682 100644
--- a/examples/minitwit/minitwit.py
+++ b/examples/minitwit/minitwit.py
@@ -49,15 +49,21 @@ def close_database(exception):
         top.sqlite_db.close()
 
 
-@app.cli.command()
-def initdb():
-    """Creates the database tables."""
+def init_db():
+    """Initializes the database."""
     db = get_db()
     with app.open_resource('schema.sql', mode='r') as f:
         db.cursor().executescript(f.read())
     db.commit()
 
 
+@app.cli.command('initdb')
+def initdb_command():
+    """Creates the database tables."""
+    init_db()
+    print('Initialized the database.')
+
+
 def query_db(query, args=(), one=False):
     """Queries the database and returns a list of dictionaries."""
     cur = get_db().execute(query, args)
diff --git a/examples/minitwit/minitwit_tests.py b/examples/minitwit/minitwit_tests.py
index 9b027629..0a1a3f67 100644
--- a/examples/minitwit/minitwit_tests.py
+++ b/examples/minitwit/minitwit_tests.py
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ class MiniTwitTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         """Before each test, set up a blank database"""
         self.db_fd, minitwit.app.config['DATABASE'] = tempfile.mkstemp()
         self.app = minitwit.app.test_client()
-        minitwit.init_db()
+        with minitwit.app.app_context():
+            minitwit.init_db()
 
     def tearDown(self):
         """Get rid of the database again after each test."""
diff --git a/flask/cli.py b/flask/cli.py
index 45e68ec5..0b37e3f9 100644
--- a/flask/cli.py
+++ b/flask/cli.py
@@ -199,9 +199,9 @@ class FlaskGroup(click.Group):
                     value = prepare_exec_for_file(value)
                 elif '.' not in sys.path:
                     sys.path.insert(0, '.')
-            ctx.obj.app_import_path = value
+            ctx.ensure_object(ScriptInfo).app_import_path = value
         def set_debug(ctx, value):
-            ctx.obj.debug = value
+            ctx.ensure_object(ScriptInfo).debug = value
 
         click.Group.__init__(self, help=help, params=[
             click.Option(['-a', '--app'],