diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/webapp/publish_deployment_auction.py b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/webapp/publish_deployment_auction.py
index b6694638..f6f20653 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/webapp/publish_deployment_auction.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/webapp/publish_deployment_auction.py
@@ -12,9 +12,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-import shutil
 import sys
-import tempfile
 
 import click
 import yaml
@@ -43,23 +41,23 @@ def fatal(msg: str):
 )
 @click.option(
     "--commits-duration",
-    help="Auction commits duration (in seconds).",
-    required=True,
+    help="Auction commits duration (in seconds) (default: 600).",
+    default=600,
 )
 @click.option(
     "--reveals-duration",
-    help="Auction reveals duration (in seconds).",
-    required=True,
+    help="Auction reveals duration (in seconds) (default: 600).",
+    default=600,
 )
 @click.option(
     "--commit-fee",
-    help="Auction bid commit fee (in alnt).",
-    required=True,
+    help="Auction bid commit fee (in alnt) (default: 100000).",
+    default=100000,
 )
 @click.option(
     "--reveal-fee",
-    help="Auction bid reveal fee (in alnt).",
-    required=True,
+    help="Auction bid reveal fee (in alnt) (default: 100000).",
+    default=100000,
 )
 @click.option(
     "--max-price",
@@ -88,44 +86,40 @@ def command(
     max_price,
     num_providers,
     dry_run,
-):  # noqa: C901
-    tempdir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
-    try:
-        laconic = LaconicRegistryClient(laconic_config)
+):
+    laconic = LaconicRegistryClient(laconic_config)
 
-        app_record = laconic.get_record(app)
-        if not app_record:
-            fatal(f"Unable to locate app: {app}")
+    app_record = laconic.get_record(app)
+    if not app_record:
+        fatal(f"Unable to locate app: {app}")
 
-        provider_auction_params = {
-            "kind": AUCTION_KIND_PROVIDER,
-            "commits_duration": commits_duration,
-            "reveals_duration": reveals_duration,
-            "denom": TOKEN_DENOM,
-            "commit_fee": commit_fee,
-            "reveal_fee": reveal_fee,
-            "max_price": max_price,
-            "num_providers": num_providers,
+    provider_auction_params = {
+        "kind": AUCTION_KIND_PROVIDER,
+        "commits_duration": commits_duration,
+        "reveals_duration": reveals_duration,
+        "denom": TOKEN_DENOM,
+        "commit_fee": commit_fee,
+        "reveal_fee": reveal_fee,
+        "max_price": max_price,
+        "num_providers": num_providers,
+    }
+    auction_id = laconic.create_auction(provider_auction_params)
+    print("Deployment auction created:", auction_id)
+
+    if not auction_id:
+        fatal("Unable to create a provider auction")
+
+    deployment_auction = {
+        "record": {
+            "type": "ApplicationDeploymentAuction",
+            "application": app,
+            "auction": auction_id,
         }
-        auction_id = laconic.create_auction(provider_auction_params)
-        print("Deployment auction created:", auction_id)
+    }
 
-        if not auction_id:
-            fatal("Unable to create a provider auction")
+    if dry_run:
+        print(yaml.dump(deployment_auction))
+        return
 
-        deployment_auction = {
-            "record": {
-                "type": "ApplicationDeploymentAuction",
-                "application": app,
-                "auction": auction_id,
-            }
-        }
-
-        if dry_run:
-            print(yaml.dump(deployment_auction))
-            return
-
-        # Publish the deployment auction record
-        laconic.publish(deployment_auction)
-    finally:
-        shutil.rmtree(tempdir, ignore_errors=True)
+    # Publish the deployment auction record
+    laconic.publish(deployment_auction)
diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/webapp/util.py b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/webapp/util.py
index 8a4f321a..f4c4343b 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/webapp/util.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/webapp/util.py
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ class LaconicRegistryClient:
         return AttrDict(json.loads(logged_cmd(self.log_file, *args)))
 
     def create_auction(self, auction):
-        if auction["kind"] == "provider":
+        if auction["kind"] == AUCTION_KIND_PROVIDER:
             args = [
                 "laconic",
                 "-c",