diff --git a/backportpackage b/backportpackage
index 83108f3..85e5b82 100755
--- a/backportpackage
+++ b/backportpackage
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import urllib
 
 from debian.deb822 import Dsc
 import launchpadlib.launchpad
+import lsb_release
 
 from ubuntutools.builder import getBuilder
 from ubuntutools.logger import Logger
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ def parse(args):
                  dest='dest_releases',
                  default=[],
                  action='append',
-                 help='Backport to DEST release (required)',
+                 help='Backport to DEST release (default: current release)',
                  metavar='DEST')
     p.add_option('-s', '--source',
                  dest='source_release',
@@ -81,8 +82,6 @@ def parse(args):
     opts, args = p.parse_args(args)
     if len(args) != 1:
         p.error('You must specify a source package')
-    if not opts.dest_releases:
-        p.error('You must specify at least one destination release')
     if not opts.upload and not opts.build:
         p.error('Nothing to do')
 
@@ -232,6 +231,13 @@ def main(args):
     lp = launchpadlib.launchpad.Launchpad.login_anonymously(script_name,
                                                             opts.launchpad)
 
+    if not opts.dest_releases:
+        try:
+            distinfo = lsb_release.get_distro_information()
+            opts.dest_releases = [distinfo['CODENAME']]
+        except:
+            error('No destination release specified and unable to guess yours')
+
     workdir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='backportpackage-')
     try:
         dscfile = fetch_package(lp,
diff --git a/doc/backportpackage.1 b/doc/backportpackage.1
index 996dc7f..6400af1 100644
--- a/doc/backportpackage.1
+++ b/doc/backportpackage.1
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ backportpackage \- helper to test package backports
 .SH SYNOPSIS
 .TP
 .B backportpackage \fR[\fIadditional options\fR]
-\-\-destination <\fIdest release\fR>
-.br
 \-\-upload <\fIupload target\fR>
 .br
 <\fIsource package\fR>
@@ -15,8 +13,8 @@ backportpackage \- helper to test package backports
 .TP
 .B \-d \fIDEST\fR, \-\-destination=\fIDEST\fR
 \fBRequired\fR. Backport the package to the specified Ubuntu
-release. This option may be specified multiple times, but must be
-specified at least once.
+release. If this option is unspecified, then \fBbackportpackage\fR
+defaults to the release on which it is currently running.
 .TP
 .B \-s \fISOURCE\fR, \-\-source=\fISOURCE\fR
 Backport the package from the specified Ubuntu release. If neither