diff --git a/conservancy_beancount/reports/accrual.py b/conservancy_beancount/reports/accrual.py
index e81c7f2f2636a638f402029618657ac0d395ae32..b00ee283c45e6ea6c1fdf6d10511ceba125b1342 100644
--- a/conservancy_beancount/reports/accrual.py
+++ b/conservancy_beancount/reports/accrual.py
@@ -507,11 +507,12 @@ class OutgoingReport(BaseReport):
         self.rt_wrapper = rtutil.RT(rt_client)
 
     def _primary_rt_id(self, posts: AccrualPostings) -> rtutil.TicketAttachmentIds:
-        rt_ids = list(posts.first_meta_links('rt-id'))
-        rt_ids_count = len(rt_ids)
-        if rt_ids_count != 1:
-            raise ValueError(f"{rt_ids_count} rt-id links found")
-        parsed = rtutil.RT.parse(rt_ids.pop())
+        rt_id = posts.rt_id
+        if rt_id is None:
+            raise ValueError("no rt-id links found")
+        elif isinstance(rt_id, Sentinel):
+            raise ValueError("multiple rt-id links found")
+        parsed = rtutil.RT.parse(rt_id)
         if parsed is None:
             raise ValueError("rt-id is not a valid RT reference")
         else:
@@ -598,20 +599,10 @@ class ReportType(enum.Enum):
         except KeyError:
             raise ValueError(f"unknown report type {name!r}") from None
 
-    @classmethod
-    def default_for(cls, groups: PostGroups) -> 'ReportType':
-        if len(groups) == 1 and all(
-                group.accrual_type is AccrualAccount.PAYABLE
-                and not group.is_paid()
-                for group in groups.values()
-        ):
-            return cls.OUTGOING
-        else:
-            return cls.BALANCE
-
 
 class ReturnFlag(enum.IntFlag):
     LOAD_ERRORS = 1
+    # 2 was used in the past, it can probably be reclaimed.
     REPORT_ERRORS = 4
     NOTHING_TO_REPORT = 8
 
@@ -687,6 +678,7 @@ def main(arglist: Optional[Sequence[str]]=None,
         config = configmod.Config()
         config.load_file()
 
+    returncode = 0
     books_loader = config.books_loader()
     if books_loader is None:
         entries, load_errors, _ = books.Loader.load_none(config.config_file_path())
@@ -695,29 +687,37 @@ def main(arglist: Optional[Sequence[str]]=None,
     else:
         entries, load_errors, _ = books_loader.load_all(args.since)
     filters.remove_opening_balance_txn(entries)
-
-    returncode = 0
-    postings = filter_search(data.Posting.from_entries(entries), args.search_terms)
-    groups: PostGroups = dict(AccrualPostings.group_by_first_meta_link(postings, 'invoice'))
     for error in load_errors:
         bc_printer.print_error(error, file=stderr)
         returncode |= ReturnFlag.LOAD_ERRORS
-    if not groups:
+
+    postings = list(filter_search(
+        data.Posting.from_entries(entries), args.search_terms,
+    ))
+    if not postings:
         logger.warning("no matching entries found to report")
         returncode |= ReturnFlag.NOTHING_TO_REPORT
-
-    groups = {
-        key: posts
-        for source_posts in groups.values()
-        for key, posts in source_posts.make_consistent()
-    }
+    groups: PostGroups
+    if args.report_type is None or args.report_type is ReportType.OUTGOING:
+        groups = dict(AccrualPostings.group_by_first_meta_link(postings, 'rt-id'))
+        if (args.report_type is None
+            and len(groups) == 1
+            and all(g.accrual_type is AccrualAccount.PAYABLE and not g.is_paid()
+                    for g in groups.values())
+        ):
+            args.report_type = ReportType.OUTGOING
+    if args.report_type is not ReportType.OUTGOING:
+        groups = {
+            key: group
+            for _, source in AccrualPostings.group_by_first_meta_link(postings, 'invoice')
+            for key, group in source.make_consistent()
+        }
     if args.report_type is not ReportType.AGING:
         groups = {
             key: posts for key, posts in groups.items() if not posts.is_paid()
         } or groups
+    del postings
 
-    if args.report_type is None:
-        args.report_type = ReportType.default_for(groups)
     report: Optional[BaseReport] = None
     output_path: Optional[Path] = None
     if args.report_type is ReportType.AGING:
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ def main(arglist: Optional[Sequence[str]]=None,
             report = OutgoingReport(rt_client, out_file)
     else:
         out_file = cliutil.text_output(args.output_file, stdout)
-        report = args.report_type.value(out_file)
+        report = BalanceReport(out_file)
 
     if report is None:
         returncode |= ReturnFlag.REPORT_ERRORS