diff --git a/sway/commands/split.c b/sway/commands/split.c
index ca116aef9..ab8565a95 100644
--- a/sway/commands/split.c
+++ b/sway/commands/split.c
@@ -8,58 +8,33 @@
 #include "sway/input/seat.h"
 #include "log.h"
 
-static struct cmd_results *_do_split(int argc, char **argv, int layout) {
-	char *name = layout == L_VERT  ? "splitv" :
-		layout == L_HORIZ ? "splith" : "split";
-	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if (config->reading) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, name,
-				"Can't be used in config file.");
-	}
-	if (!config->active) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, name,
-				"Can only be used when sway is running.");
-	}
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, name, EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 0))) {
-		return error;
-	}
-
-	struct sway_container *focused = config->handler_context.current_container;
-	struct sway_container *parent = container_split(focused, layout);
+static struct cmd_results *do_split(int layout) {
+	struct sway_container *con = config->handler_context.current_container;
+	struct sway_container *parent = container_split(con, layout);
 	arrange_windows(parent, -1, -1);
 
-	// TODO borders: update borders
-
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_split(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if (config->reading) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "split",
-				"Can't be used in config file.");
-	}
-	if (!config->active) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "split",
-				"Can only be used when sway is running.");
-	}
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "split", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
 	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "v") == 0 || strcasecmp(argv[0], "vertical") == 0) {
-		_do_split(argc - 1, argv + 1, L_VERT);
+		do_split(L_VERT);
 	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "h") == 0 ||
 			strcasecmp(argv[0], "horizontal") == 0) {
-		_do_split(argc - 1, argv + 1, L_HORIZ);
+		do_split(L_HORIZ);
 	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "t") == 0 ||
 			strcasecmp(argv[0], "toggle") == 0) {
 		struct sway_container *focused =
 			config->handler_context.current_container;
 
 		if (focused->parent->layout == L_VERT) {
-			_do_split(argc - 1, argv + 1, L_HORIZ);
+			do_split(L_HORIZ);
 		} else {
-			_do_split(argc - 1, argv + 1, L_VERT);
+			do_split(L_VERT);
 		}
 	} else {
 		error = cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "split",
@@ -70,18 +45,32 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_split(int argc, char **argv) {
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_splitv(int argc, char **argv) {
-	return _do_split(argc, argv, L_VERT);
+	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
+	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "splitv", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 0))) {
+		return error;
+	}
+	return do_split(L_VERT);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_splith(int argc, char **argv) {
-	return _do_split(argc, argv, L_HORIZ);
+	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
+	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "splitv", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 0))) {
+		return error;
+	}
+	return do_split(L_HORIZ);
 }
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_splitt(int argc, char **argv) {
-	struct sway_container *focused = config->handler_context.current_container;
-	if (focused->parent->layout == L_VERT) {
-		return _do_split(argc, argv, L_HORIZ);
+	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
+	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "splitv", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 0))) {
+		return error;
+	}
+
+	struct sway_container *con = config->handler_context.current_container;
+
+	if (con->parent->layout == L_VERT) {
+		return do_split(L_HORIZ);
 	} else {
-		return _do_split(argc, argv, L_VERT);
+		return do_split(L_VERT);
 	}
 }