diff --git a/cargo-dist/src/init.rs b/cargo-dist/src/init.rs
index fca5ebeb4..16c24f41f 100644
--- a/cargo-dist/src/init.rs
+++ b/cargo-dist/src/init.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
-use std::ops::Not;
-
-use axoproject::errors::AxoprojectError;
 use axoproject::WorkspaceInfo;
+use axoproject::{errors::AxoprojectError, platforms::triple_to_display_name};
 use camino::Utf8PathBuf;
 use cargo_dist_schema::PrRunMode;
 use semver::Version;
@@ -205,7 +203,7 @@ fn get_new_dist_metadata(
             ci: None,
             installers: None,
             tap: None,
-            targets: cfg.targets.is_empty().not().then(|| cfg.targets.clone()),
+            targets: None,
             dist: None,
             include: None,
             auto_includes: None,
@@ -301,6 +299,63 @@ fn get_new_dist_metadata(
         }
     }
 
+    {
+        // Start with builtin targets
+        let default_platforms = crate::default_desktop_targets();
+        let mut known = default_platforms.clone();
+        // If the config doesn't have targets at all, generate them
+        let config_vals = meta.targets.as_deref().unwrap_or(&default_platforms);
+        let cli_vals = cfg.targets.as_slice();
+        // Add anything custom they did to the list (this will do some reordering if they hand-edited)
+        for val in config_vals.iter().chain(cli_vals) {
+            if !known.contains(val) {
+                known.push(val.clone());
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Prettify/sort things
+        let desc = move |triple: &str| -> String {
+            let pretty = triple_to_display_name(triple).unwrap_or("[unknown]");
+            format!("{pretty} - {triple}")
+        };
+        known.sort_by_cached_key(|k| desc(k).to_uppercase());
+
+        let mut defaults = vec![];
+        let mut keys = vec![];
+        for item in &known {
+            // If this target is in their config, keep it
+            // If they passed it on the CLI, flip it on
+            let config_had_it = config_vals.contains(item);
+            let cli_had_it = cli_vals.contains(item);
+
+            let default = config_had_it || cli_had_it;
+            defaults.push(default);
+
+            keys.push(desc(item));
+        }
+
+        // Prompt the user
+        let prompt = r#"what platforms do you want to build for?"#;
+        let selected = if args.yes {
+            defaults
+                .iter()
+                .enumerate()
+                .filter_map(|(idx, enabled)| enabled.then_some(idx))
+                .collect()
+        } else {
+            let res = MultiSelect::with_theme(&theme)
+                .items(&keys)
+                .defaults(&defaults)
+                .with_prompt(prompt)
+                .interact()?;
+            eprintln!();
+            res
+        };
+
+        // Apply the results
+        meta.targets = Some(selected.into_iter().map(|i| known[i].clone()).collect());
+    }
+
     // Enable CI backends
     {
         // FIXME: when there is more than one option this should be a proper
@@ -339,10 +394,7 @@ fn get_new_dist_metadata(
         }
 
         // Prompt the user
-        let prompt = r#"enable Github CI integration?
-    this creates a CI action which automates creating a Github Release,
-    builds all your binaries/archives, and then uploads them to the Release
-    it also unlocks the ability to generate installers which fetch those artifacts"#;
+        let prompt = r#"enable Github CI and Releases?"#;
         let default = defaults[github_key];
 
         let github_selected = if args.yes {
diff --git a/cargo-dist/src/lib.rs b/cargo-dist/src/lib.rs
index fa6444906..48a4c7d39 100644
--- a/cargo-dist/src/lib.rs
+++ b/cargo-dist/src/lib.rs
@@ -753,3 +753,20 @@ fn generate_installer(dist: &DistGraph, style: &InstallerImpl) -> Result<()> {
     }
     Ok(())
 }
+
+/// Get the default list of targets
+pub fn default_desktop_targets() -> Vec<String> {
+    vec![
+        // Everyone can build x64!
+        axoproject::platforms::TARGET_X64_LINUX_GNU.to_owned(),
+        axoproject::platforms::TARGET_ARM64_LINUX_GNU.to_owned(),
+        axoproject::platforms::TARGET_X64_MAC.to_owned(),
+        // Apple is really easy to cross from Apple
+        axoproject::platforms::TARGET_ARM64_MAC
+            .to_owned()
+            .to_owned(),
+        // other cross-compiles not yet supported
+        // axoproject::platforms::TARGET_X64_WINDOWS.to_owned(),
+        // axoproject::platforms::TARGET_ARM64_WINDOWS.to_owned(),
+    ]
+}
diff --git a/cargo-dist/src/main.rs b/cargo-dist/src/main.rs
index 16aba48d8..7c5f4bafd 100644
--- a/cargo-dist/src/main.rs
+++ b/cargo-dist/src/main.rs
@@ -202,18 +202,12 @@ fn cmd_plan(cli: &Cli, _args: &PlanArgs) -> Result<(), miette::Report> {
 }
 
 fn cmd_init(cli: &Cli, args: &InitArgs) -> Result<(), miette::Report> {
-    // This command is more automagic, so provide default targets if none are chosen
-    let targets = if cli.target.is_empty() {
-        default_desktop_targets()
-    } else {
-        cli.target.clone()
-    };
     let config = cargo_dist::config::Config {
         needs_coherent_announcement_tag: false,
         artifact_mode: cargo_dist::config::ArtifactMode::All,
         no_local_paths: cli.no_local_paths,
         allow_all_dirty: cli.allow_dirty,
-        targets,
+        targets: cli.target.clone(),
         ci: cli.ci.iter().map(|ci| ci.to_lib()).collect(),
         installers: cli.installer.iter().map(|ins| ins.to_lib()).collect(),
         announcement_tag: cli.tag.clone(),
@@ -254,20 +248,6 @@ fn cmd_generate_ci(cli: &Cli, args: &GenerateCiArgs) -> Result<(), miette::Repor
     )
 }
 
-fn default_desktop_targets() -> Vec<String> {
-    vec![
-        // Everyone can build x64!
-        "x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu".to_owned(),
-        "x86_64-apple-darwin".to_owned(),
-        "x86_64-pc-windows-msvc".to_owned(),
-        // Apple is really easy to cross from Apple
-        "aarch64-apple-darwin".to_owned(),
-        // other cross-compiles not yet supported
-        // "aarch64-gnu-unknown-linux".to_owned(),
-        // "aarch64-pc-windows-msvc".to_owned(),
-    ]
-}
-
 fn cmd_help_md(_args: &Cli, _sub_args: &HelpMarkdownArgs) -> Result<(), miette::Report> {
     let mut out = Term::stdout();
     print_help_markdown(&mut out).into_diagnostic()