diff --git a/plugins/jira/_jira b/plugins/jira/_jira
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b0ea658e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/jira/_jira
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#compdef jira
+#autoload
+
+local -a _1st_arguments
+_1st_arguments=(
+  'new:create a new issue'
+  'dashboard:open the dashboard'
+  'reported:search for issues reported by a user'
+  'assigned:search for issues assigned to a user'
+)
+
+_arguments -C \
+  ':command:->command' \
+  '*::options:->options'
+
+case $state in
+  (command)
+    _describe -t commands "jira subcommand" _1st_arguments
+    return
+   ;;
+esac
diff --git a/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh b/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh
index 9a8932702..89559767f 100644
--- a/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh
@@ -1,90 +1,118 @@
-# To use: add a .jira-url file in the base of your project
-#         You can also set JIRA_URL in your .zshrc or put .jira-url in your home directory
-#         .jira-url in the current directory takes precedence
+# CLI support for JIRA interaction
 #
-# If you use Rapid Board, set:
-#JIRA_RAPID_BOARD="true"
-# in you .zshrc
+# Setup: 
+#   Add a .jira-url file in the base of your project
+#   You can also set $JIRA_URL in your .zshrc or put .jira-url in your home directory
+#   A .jira-url in the current directory takes precedence. 
+#   The same goes with .jira-prefix and $JIRA_PREFIX.
 #
-# Setup: cd to/my/project
-#        echo "https://name.jira.com" >> .jira-url
-# Usage: jira           # opens a new issue
-#        jira ABC-123   # Opens an existing issue
-open_jira_issue () {
-  if [ -f .jira-url ]; then
+#   For example:
+#     cd to/my/project
+#     echo "https://name.jira.com" >> .jira-url
+#
+# Variables:
+#  $JIRA_RAPID_BOARD     - set to "true" if you use Rapid Board
+#  $JIRA_DEFAULT_ACTION  - action to do when `jira` is called witn no args
+#                          defaults to "new"
+#  $JIRA_NAME            - Your JIRA username. Used as default for assigned/reported
+#  $JIRA_PREFIX          - Prefix added to issue ID arguments
+#
+#
+# Usage: 
+#   jira            # Performs the default action
+#   jira new        # opens a new issue
+#   jira reported [username]
+#   jira assigned [username]
+#   jira dashboard
+#   jira ABC-123    # Opens an existing issue
+#   jira ABC-123 m  # Opens an existing issue for adding a comment
+
+: ${JIRA_DEFAULT_ACTION:=new}
+
+function jira() {
+  local action=${1:=$JIRA_DEFAULT_ACTION}
+
+  local jira_url jira_prefix
+  if [[ -f .jira-url ]]; then
     jira_url=$(cat .jira-url)
-  elif [ -f ~/.jira-url ]; then
+  elif [[ -f ~/.jira-url ]]; then
     jira_url=$(cat ~/.jira-url)
-  elif [[ "x$JIRA_URL" != "x" ]]; then
-    jira_url=$JIRA_URL
+  elif [[ -n "${JIRA_URL}" ]]; then
+    jira_url=${JIRA_URL}
   else
-    echo "JIRA url is not specified anywhere."
+    _jira_url_help
     return 1
   fi
 
-  if [ -f .jira-prefix ]; then
+  if [[ -f .jira-prefix ]]; then
     jira_prefix=$(cat .jira-prefix)
-  elif [ -f ~/.jira-prefix ]; then
+  elif [[ -f ~/.jira-prefix ]]; then
     jira_prefix=$(cat ~/.jira-prefix)
+  elif [[ -n "${JIRA_PREFIX}" ]]; then
+    jira_prefix=${JIRA_PREFIX}
   else
     jira_prefix=""
   fi
 
-  if [ -z "$1" ]; then
+
+  if [[ $action == "new" ]]; then
     echo "Opening new issue"
     open_command "${jira_url}/secure/CreateIssue!default.jspa"
-  elif [[ "$1" = "assigned" || "$1" = "reported" ]]; then
-    jira_query $@
-  else 
-    local addcomment=''
-    if [[ "$2" == "m" ]]; then
-      addcomment="#add-comment"
-      echo "Add comment to issue #$1"
-    else
-      echo "Opening issue #$1"
-    fi
-    
-    if [[ "x$JIRA_RAPID_BOARD" = "xtrue" ]]; then
-      open_command  "$jira_url/issues/$jira_prefix$1$addcomment"
-    else
-      open_command  "$jira_url/browse/$jira_prefix$1$addcomment"
-    fi
-  fi
-}
-
-jira_name () {
-  if [[ -z "$1" ]]; then
-    if [[ "x${JIRA_NAME}" != "x" ]]; then
-      jira_name=${JIRA_NAME}
-    else
-      echo "JIRA_NAME not specified"
-      return 1
-    fi
+  elif [[ "$action" == "assigned" || "$action" == "reported" ]]; then
+    _jira_query $@
+  elif [[ "$action" == "dashboard" ]]; then
+    echo "Opening dashboard"
+    open_command "${jira_url}/secure/Dashboard.jspa"
   else
-    jira_name=$@
+    # Anything that doesn't match a special action is considered an issue name
+    local issue_arg=$action
+    local issue="${jira_prefix}${issue_arg}"
+    local url_fragment=''
+    if [[ "$2" == "m" ]]; then
+      url_fragment="#add-comment"
+      echo "Add comment to issue #$issue"
+    else
+      echo "Opening issue #$issue"
+    fi
+    if [[ "$JIRA_RAPID_BOARD" == "true" ]]; then
+      open_command "${jira_url}/issues/${issue}${url_fragment}"
+    else
+      open_command "${jira_url}/browse/${issue}${url_fragment}"
+    fi
   fi
 }
 
-jira_query () {
-    verb="$1"
-    if [[ "${verb}" = "reported" ]]; then
-      lookup=reporter
-      preposition=by
-    elif [[ "${verb}" = "assigned" ]]; then
-      lookup=assignee
-      preposition=to
-    else
-      echo "not a valid lookup $verb"
-      return 1
-    fi
-    shift 1
-    jira_name $@
-    if [[ $? = 1 ]]; then
-        return 1
-    fi
-    echo "Browsing issues ${verb} ${preposition} ${jira_name}"
-    open_command "${jira_url}/secure/IssueNavigator.jspa?reset=true&jqlQuery=${lookup}+%3D+%22${jira_name}%22+AND+resolution+%3D+unresolved+ORDER+BY+priority+DESC%2C+created+ASC"
+function _jira_url_help() {
+  cat << EOF
+JIRA url is not specified anywhere.
+Valid options, in order of precedence:
+  .jira-url file
+  \$HOME/.jira-url file
+  JIRA_URL environment variable
+EOF
 }
 
-alias jira='open_jira_issue'
+function _jira_query() {
+  local verb="$1"
+  local jira_name lookup preposition query
+  if [[ "${verb}" == "reported" ]]; then
+    lookup=reporter
+    preposition=by
+  elif [[ "${verb}" == "assigned" ]]; then
+    lookup=assignee
+    preposition=to
+  else
+    echo "not a valid lookup: $verb" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+  jira_name=${2:=$JIRA_NAME}
+  if [[ -z $jira_name ]]; then
+    echo "JIRA_NAME not specified" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  echo "Browsing issues ${verb} ${preposition} ${jira_name}"
+  query="${lookup}+%3D+%22${jira_name}%22+AND+resolution+%3D+unresolved+ORDER+BY+priority+DESC%2C+created+ASC"
+  open_command "${jira_url}/secure/IssueNavigator.jspa?reset=true&jqlQuery=${query}"
+}