diff --git a/core/bot.py b/core/bot.py
index b389b587d..ef03ddb0f 100644
--- a/core/bot.py
+++ b/core/bot.py
@@ -10,13 +10,13 @@ class Red(commands.Bot):
     def __init__(self, cli_flags, **kwargs):
         self._shutdown_mode = ExitCodes.CRITICAL
         self.db = Config.get_core_conf(force_registration=True)
+        self._co_owners = cli_flags.co_owner
 
         self.db.register_global(
             token=None,
             prefix=[],
             packages=[],
             owner=None,
-            coowners=[],
             whitelist=[],
             blacklist=[],
             enable_sentry=None
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ class Red(commands.Bot):
         if "command_prefix" not in kwargs:
             kwargs["command_prefix"] = prefix_manager
 
+        if cli_flags.owner and "owner_id" not in kwargs:
+            kwargs["owner_id"] = cli_flags.owner
+
         if "owner_id" not in kwargs:
             kwargs["owner_id"] = self.db.get("owner")
 
@@ -51,7 +54,7 @@ class Red(commands.Bot):
         super().__init__(**kwargs)
 
     async def is_owner(self, user):
-        if user.id in self.db.coowners():
+        if user.id in self._co_owners:
             return True
         return await super().is_owner(user)
 
diff --git a/core/cli.py b/core/cli.py
index 3dcbd1bb7..36861e913 100644
--- a/core/cli.py
+++ b/core/cli.py
@@ -63,9 +63,17 @@ def ask_sentry(red: Red):
 
 def parse_cli_flags():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Red - Discord Bot")
-    parser.add_argument("--owner", help="ID of the owner. Only who hosts "
-                                        "Red should be owner, this has "
-                                        "security implications")
+    parser.add_argument("--owner", type=int,
+                        help="ID of the owner. Only who hosts "
+                             "Red should be owner, this has "
+                             "serious security implications.")
+    parser.add_argument("--co-owner", type=int, action="append", default=[],
+                        help="ID of a co-owner. Only people who have access "
+                             "to the system that is hosting Red should be  "
+                             "co-owners, as this gives them complete access "
+                             "to the system's data. This has serious "
+                             "security implications if misused. Can be "
+                             "multiple.")
     parser.add_argument("--prefix", "-p", action="append",
                         help="Global prefix. Can be multiple")
     parser.add_argument("--no-prompt",
diff --git a/core/core_commands.py b/core/core_commands.py
index a9e82930f..76c2bfdf8 100644
--- a/core/core_commands.py
+++ b/core/core_commands.py
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ import asyncio
 
 log = logging.getLogger("red")
 
-OWNER_DISCLAIMER = ("Setting as owner people who do not have access to "
-                    "the system that is hosting Red is **extremely "
-                    "dangerous**.\n**Owners and co owners are able to access "
-                    "any data that is present on the host system.**")
+OWNER_DISCLAIMER = ("⚠ **Only** the person who is hosting Red should be "
+                    "owner. **This has SERIOUS security implications. The "
+                    "owner can access any data that is present on the host "
+                    "system.** ⚠")
 
 
 class Core:
@@ -281,38 +281,3 @@ class Core:
                 await ctx.send("You have been set as owner.")
             else:
                 await ctx.send("Invalid token.")
-
-    @_set.command(aliases=["coowners"])
-    @checks.is_owner()
-    @commands.guild_only()
-    async def coowner(self, ctx, *coowners: discord.Member):
-        """Sets Red's coowner(s)
-
-        Leave empty to reset"""
-        def check(m):
-            return m.author == ctx.author and m.channel == ctx.channel
-
-        coowners = [m.id for m in coowners]
-
-        if not coowners:
-            await ctx.bot.db.set("coowners", [])
-            await ctx.send("Coowners list cleared.")
-            return
-
-        await ctx.send("Remember:\n" + OWNER_DISCLAIMER)
-        await asyncio.sleep(5)
-
-        await ctx.send("Type `I understand` if you have read and understand "
-                       "the above message.")
-
-        try:
-            message = await ctx.bot.wait_for("message", check=check,
-                                             timeout=60)
-        except asyncio.TimeoutError:
-            await ctx.send("The set owner request has timed out.")
-        else:
-            if message.content.lower().strip() == "i understand":
-                await ctx.bot.db.set("coowners", coowners)
-                await ctx.send("{} coowner(s) set.".format(len(coowners)))
-            else:
-                await ctx.send("Set coowner request aborted.")
\ No newline at end of file