diff --git a/cmd/kaniko-docker/main.go b/cmd/kaniko-docker/main.go
index 4d69ad3..c43ae59 100644
--- a/cmd/kaniko-docker/main.go
+++ b/cmd/kaniko-docker/main.go
@@ -176,13 +176,14 @@ func run(c *cli.Context) error {
 // Create the docker config file for authentication
 func createDockerCfgFile(username, password, registry string) error {
 	if username == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Username must be specified")
+		fmt.Println("no username provided, using empty string")
 	}
 	if password == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Password must be specified")
+		fmt.Println("no password provided, using empty string")
 	}
 	if registry == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Registry must be specified")
+		fmt.Println("no registry string provided, using the default value")
+		registry = v1Registry
 	}
 
 	if registry == v2Registry {
diff --git a/kaniko.go b/kaniko.go
index 2f55d18..ed9424f 100644
--- a/kaniko.go
+++ b/kaniko.go
@@ -46,10 +46,6 @@ type (
 
 // Exec executes the plugin step
 func (p Plugin) Exec() error {
-	if p.Build.Repo == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("repository name to publish image must be specified")
-	}
-
 	if _, err := os.Stat(p.Build.Dockerfile); os.IsNotExist(err) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("dockerfile does not exist at path: %s", p.Build.Dockerfile)
 	}
@@ -59,10 +55,16 @@ func (p Plugin) Exec() error {
 		fmt.Sprintf("--context=dir://%s", p.Build.Context),
 	}
 
-	// Set the destination repository
-	for _, tag := range p.Build.Tags {
-		cmdArgs = append(cmdArgs, fmt.Sprintf("--destination=%s:%s", p.Build.Repo, tag))
+	if p.Build.Repo == "" {
+		fmt.Println("repository name to publish image not specified, adding '--no-push' flag")
+		cmdArgs = append(cmdArgs, fmt.Sprintf("--no-push"))
+	} else {
+		// Set the destination repository
+		for _, tag := range p.Build.Tags {
+			cmdArgs = append(cmdArgs, fmt.Sprintf("--destination=%s:%s", p.Build.Repo, tag))
+		}
 	}
+
 	// Set the build arguments
 	for _, arg := range p.Build.Args {
 		cmdArgs = append(cmdArgs, fmt.Sprintf("--build-arg=%s", arg))