diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 23f47371..dd882d97 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
    values (unless one is not set).
  * #721: BREAKING: The storage umask and the hooks umask can no longer have different values (unless
    one is not set).
+ * BREAKING: Flags like "--config" that previously took multiple values now need to be given once
+   per value, e.g. "--config first.yaml --config second.yaml" instead of "--config first.yaml
+   second.yaml". This prevents argument parsing errors on ambiguous commands.
  * BREAKING: Remove the deprecated (and silently ignored) "--successful" flag on the "list" action,
    as newer versions of Borg list successful (non-checkpoint) archives by default.
  * All deprecated configuration option values now generate warning logs.
diff --git a/borgmatic/commands/arguments.py b/borgmatic/commands/arguments.py
index ce246e14..0b4b259c 100644
--- a/borgmatic/commands/arguments.py
+++ b/borgmatic/commands/arguments.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import collections
 import itertools
 import sys
-from argparse import Action, ArgumentParser
+from argparse import ArgumentParser
 
 from borgmatic.config import collect
 
@@ -216,42 +216,12 @@ def parse_arguments_for_actions(unparsed_arguments, action_parsers, global_parse
     arguments['global'], remaining = global_parser.parse_known_args(unparsed_arguments)
     remaining_action_arguments.append(remaining)
 
-    # Prevent action names and arguments that follow "--config" paths from being considered as
-    # additional paths.
-    for argument_name in arguments.keys():
-        if argument_name == 'global':
-            continue
-
-        for action_name in [argument_name] + ACTION_ALIASES.get(argument_name, []):
-            try:
-                action_name_index = arguments['global'].config_paths.index(action_name)
-                arguments['global'].config_paths = arguments['global'].config_paths[
-                    :action_name_index
-                ]
-                break
-            except ValueError:
-                pass
-
     return (
         arguments,
         tuple(remaining_action_arguments) if arguments else unparsed_arguments,
     )
 
 
-class Extend_action(Action):
-    '''
-    An argparse action to support Python 3.8's "extend" action in older versions of Python.
-    '''
-
-    def __call__(self, parser, namespace, values, option_string=None):
-        items = getattr(namespace, self.dest, None)
-
-        if items:
-            items.extend(values)  # pragma: no cover
-        else:
-            setattr(namespace, self.dest, list(values))
-
-
 def make_parsers():
     '''
     Build a global arguments parser, individual action parsers, and a combined parser containing
@@ -263,16 +233,14 @@ def make_parsers():
     unexpanded_config_paths = collect.get_default_config_paths(expand_home=False)
 
     global_parser = ArgumentParser(add_help=False)
-    global_parser.register('action', 'extend', Extend_action)
     global_group = global_parser.add_argument_group('global arguments')
 
     global_group.add_argument(
         '-c',
         '--config',
-        nargs='*',
         dest='config_paths',
-        default=config_paths,
-        help=f"Configuration filenames or directories, defaults to: {' '.join(unexpanded_config_paths)}",
+        action='append',
+        help=f"Configuration filename or directory, can specify flag multiple times, defaults to: {' '.join(unexpanded_config_paths)}",
     )
     global_group.add_argument(
         '-n',
@@ -331,10 +299,9 @@ def make_parsers():
     global_group.add_argument(
         '--override',
         metavar='OPTION.SUBOPTION=VALUE',
-        nargs='+',
         dest='overrides',
-        action='extend',
-        help='One or more configuration file options to override with specified values',
+        action='append',
+        help='Configuration file option to override with specified value, can specify flag multiple times',
     )
     global_group.add_argument(
         '--no-environment-interpolation',
@@ -672,9 +639,9 @@ def make_parsers():
         '--path',
         '--restore-path',
         metavar='PATH',
-        nargs='+',
         dest='paths',
-        help='Paths to extract from archive, defaults to the entire archive',
+        action='append',
+        help='Path to extract from archive, can specify flag multiple times, defaults to the entire archive',
     )
     extract_group.add_argument(
         '--destination',
@@ -826,9 +793,9 @@ def make_parsers():
     export_tar_group.add_argument(
         '--path',
         metavar='PATH',
-        nargs='+',
         dest='paths',
-        help='Paths to export from archive, defaults to the entire archive',
+        action='append',
+        help='Path to export from archive, can specify flag multiple times, defaults to the entire archive',
     )
     export_tar_group.add_argument(
         '--destination',
@@ -877,9 +844,9 @@ def make_parsers():
     mount_group.add_argument(
         '--path',
         metavar='PATH',
-        nargs='+',
         dest='paths',
-        help='Paths to mount from archive, defaults to the entire archive',
+        action='append',
+        help='Path to mount from archive, can specify multiple times, defaults to the entire archive',
     )
     mount_group.add_argument(
         '--foreground',
@@ -954,16 +921,16 @@ def make_parsers():
     restore_group.add_argument(
         '--database',
         metavar='NAME',
-        nargs='+',
         dest='databases',
-        help="Names of databases to restore from archive, defaults to all databases. Note that any databases to restore must be defined in borgmatic's configuration",
+        action='append',
+        help="Name of database to restore from archive, must be defined in borgmatic's configuration, can specify flag multiple times, defaults to all databases",
     )
     restore_group.add_argument(
         '--schema',
         metavar='NAME',
-        nargs='+',
         dest='schemas',
-        help='Names of schemas to restore from the database, defaults to all schemas. Schemas are only supported for PostgreSQL and MongoDB databases',
+        action='append',
+        help='Name of schema to restore from the database, can specify flag multiple times, defaults to all schemas. Schemas are only supported for PostgreSQL and MongoDB databases',
     )
     restore_group.add_argument(
         '--hostname',
@@ -1065,16 +1032,16 @@ def make_parsers():
     list_group.add_argument(
         '--path',
         metavar='PATH',
-        nargs='+',
         dest='paths',
-        help='Paths or patterns to list from a single selected archive (via "--archive"), defaults to listing the entire archive',
+        action='append',
+        help='Path or pattern to list from a single selected archive (via "--archive"), can specify flag multiple times, defaults to listing the entire archive',
     )
     list_group.add_argument(
         '--find',
         metavar='PATH',
-        nargs='+',
         dest='find_paths',
-        help='Partial paths or patterns to search for and list across multiple archives',
+        action='append',
+        help='Partial path or pattern to search for and list across multiple archives, can specify flag multiple times',
     )
     list_group.add_argument(
         '--short', default=False, action='store_true', help='Output only path names'
@@ -1248,6 +1215,9 @@ def parse_arguments(*unparsed_arguments):
         unparsed_arguments, action_parsers.choices, global_parser
     )
 
+    if not arguments['global'].config_paths:
+        arguments['global'].config_paths = collect.get_default_config_paths(expand_home=True)
+
     for action_name in ('bootstrap', 'generate', 'validate'):
         if (
             action_name in arguments.keys() and len(arguments.keys()) > 2
diff --git a/borgmatic/config/normalize.py b/borgmatic/config/normalize.py
index 83f2a20b..7ca79130 100644
--- a/borgmatic/config/normalize.py
+++ b/borgmatic/config/normalize.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def normalize_sections(config_filename, config):
                 dict(
                     levelno=logging.WARNING,
                     levelname='WARNING',
-                    msg=f'{config_filename}: Configuration sections like location: and storage: are deprecated and support will be removed from a future release. Move all of your options out of sections to the global scope.',
+                    msg=f'{config_filename}: Configuration sections like location: and storage: are deprecated and support will be removed from a future release. To prepare for this, move your options out of sections to the global scope.',
                 )
             )
         ]
diff --git a/docs/how-to/backup-your-databases.md b/docs/how-to/backup-your-databases.md
index 4708e0ad..f1f00878 100644
--- a/docs/how-to/backup-your-databases.md
+++ b/docs/how-to/backup-your-databases.md
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ restore one of them, use the `--database` flag to select one or more
 databases. For instance:
 
 ```bash
-borgmatic restore --archive host-2023-... --database users
+borgmatic restore --archive host-2023-... --database users --database orders
 ```
 
 <span class="minilink minilink-addedin">New in version 1.7.6</span> You can
diff --git a/docs/how-to/extract-a-backup.md b/docs/how-to/extract-a-backup.md
index 164fc135..5a4aa6fa 100644
--- a/docs/how-to/extract-a-backup.md
+++ b/docs/how-to/extract-a-backup.md
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ everything from an archive. To do that, tack on one or more `--path` values.
 For instance:
 
 ```bash
-borgmatic extract --archive latest --path path/1 path/2
+borgmatic extract --archive latest --path path/1 --path path/2
 ```
 
 Note that the specified restore paths should not have a leading slash. Like a
diff --git a/docs/how-to/make-per-application-backups.md b/docs/how-to/make-per-application-backups.md
index 62a1c3e5..60e0b221 100644
--- a/docs/how-to/make-per-application-backups.md
+++ b/docs/how-to/make-per-application-backups.md
@@ -448,12 +448,6 @@ the configured value for the `remote_path` option, and use the value of
 
 You can even override nested values or multiple values at once. For instance:
 
-```bash
-borgmatic create --override parent_option.option1=value1 parent_option.option2=value2
-```
-
-This will accomplish the same thing:
-
 ```bash
 borgmatic create --override parent_option.option1=value1 --override parent_option.option2=value2
 ```
diff --git a/tests/end-to-end/test_borgmatic.py b/tests/end-to-end/test_borgmatic.py
index d4d8629b..7eac73a6 100644
--- a/tests/end-to-end/test_borgmatic.py
+++ b/tests/end-to-end/test_borgmatic.py
@@ -74,13 +74,6 @@ def test_borgmatic_command():
 
         assert len(parsed_output) == 1
         assert 'repository' in parsed_output[0]
-
-        # Exercise the bootstrap action.
-        output = subprocess.check_output(
-            f'borgmatic --config {config_path} bootstrap --repository {repository_path}'.split(' '),
-        ).decode(sys.stdout.encoding)
-
-        assert 'successful' in output
     finally:
         os.chdir(original_working_directory)
         shutil.rmtree(temporary_directory)
diff --git a/tests/integration/commands/test_arguments.py b/tests/integration/commands/test_arguments.py
index db8db636..74d056aa 100644
--- a/tests/integration/commands/test_arguments.py
+++ b/tests/integration/commands/test_arguments.py
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ def test_parse_arguments_with_no_arguments_uses_defaults():
     assert global_arguments.log_file_verbosity == 0
 
 
-def test_parse_arguments_with_multiple_config_paths_parses_as_list():
+def test_parse_arguments_with_multiple_config_flags_parses_as_list():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
 
-    arguments = module.parse_arguments('--config', 'myconfig', 'otherconfig')
+    arguments = module.parse_arguments('--config', 'myconfig', '--config', 'otherconfig')
 
     global_arguments = arguments['global']
     assert global_arguments.config_paths == ['myconfig', 'otherconfig']
@@ -109,20 +109,11 @@ def test_parse_arguments_with_single_override_parses():
     assert global_arguments.overrides == ['foo.bar=baz']
 
 
-def test_parse_arguments_with_multiple_overrides_parses():
-    flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
-
-    arguments = module.parse_arguments('--override', 'foo.bar=baz', 'foo.quux=7')
-
-    global_arguments = arguments['global']
-    assert global_arguments.overrides == ['foo.bar=baz', 'foo.quux=7']
-
-
-def test_parse_arguments_with_multiple_overrides_and_flags_parses():
+def test_parse_arguments_with_multiple_overrides_flags_parses():
     flexmock(module.collect).should_receive('get_default_config_paths').and_return(['default'])
 
     arguments = module.parse_arguments(
-        '--override', 'foo.bar=baz', '--override', 'foo.quux=7', 'this.that=8'
+        '--override', 'foo.bar=baz', '--override', 'foo.quux=7', '--override', 'this.that=8'
     )
 
     global_arguments = arguments['global']
diff --git a/tests/unit/hooks/test_mysql.py b/tests/unit/hooks/test_mysql.py
index 19ab3cc7..55abebb1 100644
--- a/tests/unit/hooks/test_mysql.py
+++ b/tests/unit/hooks/test_mysql.py
@@ -407,6 +407,29 @@ def test_restore_database_dump_runs_mysql_to_restore():
     )
 
 
+def test_restore_database_dump_errors_when_database_missing_from_configuration():
+    databases_config = [{'name': 'foo'}, {'name': 'bar'}]
+    extract_process = flexmock(stdout=flexmock())
+
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('execute_command_with_processes').never()
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        module.restore_database_dump(
+            databases_config,
+            {},
+            'test.yaml',
+            database_name='other',
+            dry_run=False,
+            extract_process=extract_process,
+            connection_params={
+                'hostname': None,
+                'port': None,
+                'username': None,
+                'password': None,
+            },
+        )
+
+
 def test_restore_database_dump_runs_mysql_with_options():
     databases_config = [{'name': 'foo', 'restore_options': '--harder'}]
     extract_process = flexmock(stdout=flexmock())
diff --git a/tests/unit/hooks/test_postgresql.py b/tests/unit/hooks/test_postgresql.py
index 51235ffc..73d67dad 100644
--- a/tests/unit/hooks/test_postgresql.py
+++ b/tests/unit/hooks/test_postgresql.py
@@ -515,6 +515,30 @@ def test_restore_database_dump_runs_pg_restore():
     )
 
 
+def test_restore_database_dump_errors_when_database_missing_from_configuration():
+    databases_config = [{'name': 'foo', 'schemas': None}, {'name': 'bar'}]
+    extract_process = flexmock(stdout=flexmock())
+
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('execute_command_with_processes').never()
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('execute_command').never()
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        module.restore_database_dump(
+            databases_config,
+            {},
+            'test.yaml',
+            database_name='other',
+            dry_run=False,
+            extract_process=extract_process,
+            connection_params={
+                'hostname': None,
+                'port': None,
+                'username': None,
+                'password': None,
+            },
+        )
+
+
 def test_restore_database_dump_runs_pg_restore_with_hostname_and_port():
     databases_config = [
         {'name': 'foo', 'hostname': 'database.example.org', 'port': 5433, 'schemas': None}