diff --git a/wandb/cli/cli.py b/wandb/cli/cli.py
index b9c801c0aad..03546880aa4 100644
--- a/wandb/cli/cli.py
+++ b/wandb/cli/cli.py
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
 
 def _get_cling_api(reset=None):
     """Get a reference to the internal api with cling settings."""
+    # TODO: move CLI to wandb-core backend
+    wandb.require("legacy-service")
+
     global _api
     if reset:
         _api = None
@@ -226,6 +229,9 @@ def projects(entity, display=True):
 @click.option("--verify", default=False, is_flag=True, help="Verify login credentials")
 @display_error
 def login(key, host, cloud, relogin, anonymously, verify, no_offline=False):
+    # TODO: move CLI to wandb-core backend
+    wandb.require("legacy-service")
+
     # TODO: handle no_offline
     anon_mode = "must" if anonymously else "never"
 
@@ -2949,14 +2955,6 @@ def enabled(service):
         )
 
 
-@cli.command("gc", hidden=True, context_settings={"ignore_unknown_options": True})
-@click.argument("args", nargs=-1)
-def gc(args):
-    click.echo(
-        "`wandb gc` command has been removed. Use `wandb sync --clean` to clean up synced runs."
-    )
-
-
 @cli.command(context_settings=CONTEXT, help="Verify your local instance")
 @click.option("--host", default=None, help="Test a specific instance of W&B")
 def verify(host):