diff --git a/platformio/commands/init.py b/platformio/commands/init.py
index 45fa1fe0..96493d49 100644
--- a/platformio/commands/init.py
+++ b/platformio/commands/init.py
@@ -93,10 +93,24 @@ def cli(ctx, project_dir, board, ide,  # pylint: disable=R0913
 
     if board:
         fill_project_envs(
-            ctx, project_file, board, enable_auto_uploading, env_prefix)
+            ctx, project_file, board, enable_auto_uploading, env_prefix,
+            ide is not None
+        )
 
     if ide:
-        pg = ProjectGenerator(project_dir, ide, board[0] if board else None)
+        if not board:
+            raise exception.BoardNotDefined()
+        if len(board) > 1:
+            click.secho(
+                "Warning! You have initialised project with more than 1 board"
+                " for the specified IDE.\n"
+                "However, the IDE features (code autocompletion, syntax lint)"
+                " have been configured for the first board '%s' from your list"
+                " '%s'." % (board[0], ", ".join(board)),
+                fg="yellow"
+            )
+        pg = ProjectGenerator(
+            project_dir, ide, board[0])
         pg.generate()
 
     click.secho(
@@ -113,7 +127,7 @@ def cli(ctx, project_dir, board, ide,  # pylint: disable=R0913
 
 
 def fill_project_envs(ctx, project_file, board_types, enable_auto_uploading,
-                      env_prefix):
+                      env_prefix, force_download):
     builtin_boards = get_boards()
     content = []
     used_envs = []
@@ -144,7 +158,8 @@ def fill_project_envs(ctx, project_file, board_types, enable_auto_uploading,
         if enable_auto_uploading:
             content.append("targets = upload")
 
-    _install_dependent_platforms(ctx, used_platforms)
+    if force_download and used_platforms:
+        _install_dependent_platforms(ctx, used_platforms)
 
     if not content:
         return
diff --git a/platformio/exception.py b/platformio/exception.py
index afba9b61..48d109ae 100644
--- a/platformio/exception.py
+++ b/platformio/exception.py
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ class PlatformNotInstalledYet(PlatformioException):
         "Use `platformio platforms install` command"
 
 
+class BoardNotDefined(PlatformioException):
+
+    MESSAGE = "You need to specify board type using `-b` or `--board` "\
+        "option. Supported boards list is available via "\
+        " `platformio boards` command"
+
+
 class UnknownBoard(PlatformioException):
 
     MESSAGE = "Unknown board type '%s'"
diff --git a/platformio/ide/projectgenerator.py b/platformio/ide/projectgenerator.py
index 7e90574c..28132e58 100644
--- a/platformio/ide/projectgenerator.py
+++ b/platformio/ide/projectgenerator.py
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ from os.path import abspath, basename, expanduser, isdir, join, relpath
 import bottle
 import click
 
-from platformio import util
+from platformio import exception, util
 
 
 class ProjectGenerator(object):
 
-    def __init__(self, project_dir, ide, board=None):
+    def __init__(self, project_dir, ide, board):
         self.project_dir = project_dir
         self.ide = ide
         self.board = board
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class ProjectGenerator(object):
                 data = {"env_name": section[4:]}
                 for k, v in config.items(section):
                     data[k] = v
-                if self.board and self.board == data.get("board"):
+                if self.board == data.get("board"):
                     break
         return data
 
@@ -68,16 +68,15 @@ class ProjectGenerator(object):
             ["platformio", "-f", "run", "-t", "idedata",
              "-e", envdata['env_name'], "-d", self.project_dir]
         )
+
         if result['returncode'] != 0 or '"includes":' not in result['out']:
-            return data
+            raise exception.PlatformioException(
+                "\n".join([result['out'], result['err']]))
 
         output = result['out']
-        try:
-            start_index = output.index('\n{"')
-            stop_index = output.rindex('}')
-            data = json.loads(output[start_index + 1:stop_index + 1])
-        except ValueError:
-            pass
+        start_index = output.index('\n{"')
+        stop_index = output.rindex('}')
+        data = json.loads(output[start_index + 1:stop_index + 1])
 
         return data