diff --git a/deploy.sh b/deploy.sh
index 7fe85da..4562149 100755
--- a/deploy.sh
+++ b/deploy.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-set -ex
+set -e
 cd "$(dirname "$0")"
 
 LATEST_GIT_COMMIT="$(cat ./.git/refs/heads/main)"
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ REMOTE_NAME="$(lxc remote get-default)"
 STOP_SERVICES=false
 USER_SAYS_YES=false
 RESTART_FRONT_END=true
+USER_TARGET_PROJECT=
 
 # grab any modifications from the command line.
 for i in "$@"; do
@@ -91,6 +92,10 @@ for i in "$@"; do
             BACKUP_BTCPAY_ARCHIVE_PATH="${i#*=}"
             shift
         ;;
+        --project=*)
+            USER_TARGET_PROJECT="${i#*=}"
+            shift
+        ;;
         --update-btcpay)
             UPDATE_BTCPAY=true
             shift
@@ -188,7 +193,7 @@ function stub_site_definition {
 
             # stub out a site.conf with new passwords.
             cat >"$SITE_DEFINITION_PATH" <<EOL
-#!/bin/bash
+# https://www.sovereign-stack.org/ss-deploy/#siteconf
 
 export DOMAIN_NAME="${DOMAIN_NAME}"
 #export BTCPAY_ALT_NAMES="tip,store,pay,send"
@@ -226,6 +231,18 @@ for PROJECT_CHAIN in ${DEPLOYMENT_STRING//,/ }; do
 
     PROJECT_NAME="$PROJECT_PREFIX-$BITCOIN_CHAIN"
     PROJECT_PATH="$PROJECTS_DIR/$PROJECT_NAME"
+    
+    # if the user sets USER_TARGET_PROJECT, let's ensure the project exists.
+    if [ -n "$USER_TARGET_PROJECT" ]; then
+
+        if [ "$PROJECT_NAME" != "$USER_TARGET_PROJECT" ]; then
+            echo "INFO: Skipping project '$PROJECT_NAME' since the system owner has used the --project switch."
+            continue
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    export PROJECT_NAME="$PROJECT_NAME"
+    export PROJECT_PATH="$PROJECT_PATH"
 
     mkdir -p "$PROJECT_PATH" "$REMOTE_PATH/projects"
 
@@ -234,13 +251,16 @@ for PROJECT_CHAIN in ${DEPLOYMENT_STRING//,/ }; do
         ln -s "$PROJECT_PATH" "$REMOTE_PATH/projects/$PROJECT_NAME"
     fi
 
-# check to see if the enf file exists. exist if not.
-PROJECT_DEFINITION_PATH="$PROJECT_PATH/project.conf"
-if [ ! -f "$PROJECT_DEFINITION_PATH" ]; then
+    # check to see if the enf file exists. exist if not.
+    PROJECT_DEFINITION_PATH="$PROJECT_PATH/project.conf"
+    if [ ! -f "$PROJECT_DEFINITION_PATH" ]; then
 
-    # stub out a project.conf
-    cat >"$PROJECT_DEFINITION_PATH" <<EOL
-#!/bin/bash
+        # stub out a project.conf
+        cat >"$PROJECT_DEFINITION_PATH" <<EOL
+# see https://www.sovereign-stack.org/ss-deploy/#projectconf for more info.
+
+PRIMARY_DOMAIN="domain0.tld"
+# OTHER_SITES_LIST="domain1.tld,domain2.tld,domain3.tld"
 
 WWW_SERVER_MAC_ADDRESS=
 # WWW_SERVER_CPU_COUNT="6"
@@ -252,9 +272,9 @@ BTCPAYSERVER_MAC_ADDRESS=
 
 EOL
 
-    chmod 0744 "$PROJECT_DEFINITION_PATH"
-    echo "INFO: we stubbed a new project.conf for you at '$PROJECT_DEFINITION_PATH'. Go update it!"
-    echo "INFO: Learn more at https://www.sovereign-stack.org/ss-deploy/"
+        chmod 0744 "$PROJECT_DEFINITION_PATH"
+        echo "INFO: we stubbed a new project.conf for you at '$PROJECT_DEFINITION_PATH'. Go update it!"
+        echo "INFO: Learn more at https://www.sovereign-stack.org/ss-deploy/"
 
         exit 1
     fi
@@ -262,21 +282,21 @@ EOL
     # source project defition.
     source "$PROJECT_DEFINITION_PATH"
 
-if [ -z "$PRIMARY_DOMAIN" ]; then
-    echo "ERROR: The PRIMARY_DOMAIN is not specified. Check your project.conf."
-    exit 1
-fi
+    if [ -z "$PRIMARY_DOMAIN" ]; then
+        echo "ERROR: The PRIMARY_DOMAIN is not specified. Check your project.conf."
+        exit 1
+    fi
 
-if [ -z "$WWW_SERVER_MAC_ADDRESS" ]; then
-    echo "ERROR: the WWW_SERVER_MAC_ADDRESS is not specified. Check your project.conf."
-    exit 1
-fi
+    if [ -z "$WWW_SERVER_MAC_ADDRESS" ]; then
+        echo "ERROR: the WWW_SERVER_MAC_ADDRESS is not specified. Check your project.conf."
+        exit 1
+    fi
 
 
-if [ -z "$BTCPAYSERVER_MAC_ADDRESS" ]; then
-    echo "ERROR: the BTCPAYSERVER_MAC_ADDRESS is not specified. Check your project.conf."
-    exit 1
-fi
+    if [ -z "$BTCPAYSERVER_MAC_ADDRESS" ]; then
+        echo "ERROR: the BTCPAYSERVER_MAC_ADDRESS is not specified. Check your project.conf."
+        exit 1
+    fi
 
     # the DOMAIN_LIST is a complete list of all our domains. We often iterate over this list.
     DOMAIN_LIST="${PRIMARY_DOMAIN}"
@@ -315,14 +335,14 @@ fi
 
         export SITE_PATH="$SITES_PATH/$DOMAIN_NAME"
 
-    source "$SITE_PATH/site.conf"
-    source ./domain_env.sh
+        source "$SITE_PATH/site.conf"
+        source ./domain_env.sh
 
-    # VALIDATE THE INPUT from the ENVFILE
-    if [ -z "$DOMAIN_NAME" ]; then
-        echo "ERROR: DOMAIN_NAME not specified in your site.conf."
-        exit 1
-    fi
+        # VALIDATE THE INPUT from the ENVFILE
+        if [ -z "$DOMAIN_NAME" ]; then
+            echo "ERROR: DOMAIN_NAME not specified in your site.conf."
+            exit 1
+        fi
 
         # create the lxc project as specified by PROJECT_NAME
         if ! lxc project list | grep -q "$PROJECT_NAME"; then
@@ -434,4 +454,5 @@ fi
 
         ssh ubuntu@"$BTCPAY_FQDN" "echo $LATEST_GIT_COMMIT > /home/ubuntu/.ss-githead"
     fi
+
 done
\ No newline at end of file