diff --git a/include/commands.h b/include/commands.h
index 5c87be511..1b4cd9ca3 100644
--- a/include/commands.h
+++ b/include/commands.h
@@ -3,13 +3,15 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include "config.h"
 
-struct cmd_handler {
-	char *command;
-	enum  cmd_status {
-		CMD_SUCCESS,
-		CMD_FAILURE,
-		CMD_DEFER,
-	} (*handle)(int argc, char **argv);
+
+enum  cmd_status {
+	CMD_SUCCESS,
+	CMD_FAILURE,
+	CMD_INVALID,
+	CMD_DEFER,
+	// Config Blocks
+	CMD_BLOCK_END,
+	CMD_BLOCK_MODE,
 };
 
 enum cmd_status handle_command(char *command);
diff --git a/include/stringop.h b/include/stringop.h
index f9f3130c7..49bfa771d 100644
--- a/include/stringop.h
+++ b/include/stringop.h
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@ extern int setenv(const char *, const char *, int);
 #endif
 
 // array of whitespace characters to use for delims
-extern const char *whitespace;
+extern const char whitespace[];
 
 char *strip_whitespace(char *str);
 char *strip_comments(char *str);
+void strip_quotes(char *str);
 
 // Simply split a string with delims, free with `free_flat_list`
 list_t *split_string(const char *str, const char *delims);
@@ -27,5 +28,10 @@ int unescape_string(char *string);
 char *join_args(char **argv, int argc);
 char *join_list(list_t *list, char *separator);
 
+// split string into 2 by delim.
+char *cmdsep(char **stringp, const char *delim);
+// Split string into 2 by delim, handle quotes
+char *argsep(char **stringp, const char *delim);
+
 char *strdup(const char *);
 #endif
diff --git a/sway/commands.c b/sway/commands.c
index 68bdff2ca..03c682d7b 100644
--- a/sway/commands.c
+++ b/sway/commands.c
@@ -20,6 +20,40 @@
 #include "sway.h"
 #include "resize.h"
 
+typedef enum cmd_status sway_cmd(int argc, char **argv);
+
+struct cmd_handler {
+	char *command;
+	sway_cmd *handle;
+};
+
+static sway_cmd cmd_bindsym;
+static sway_cmd cmd_orientation;
+static sway_cmd cmd_exec;
+static sway_cmd cmd_exec_always;
+static sway_cmd cmd_exit;
+static sway_cmd cmd_floating;
+static sway_cmd cmd_floating_mod;
+static sway_cmd cmd_focus;
+static sway_cmd cmd_focus_follows_mouse;
+static sway_cmd cmd_fullscreen;
+static sway_cmd cmd_gaps;
+static sway_cmd cmd_kill;
+static sway_cmd cmd_layout;
+static sway_cmd cmd_log_colors;
+static sway_cmd cmd_mode;
+static sway_cmd cmd_move;
+static sway_cmd cmd_output;
+static sway_cmd cmd_reload;
+static sway_cmd cmd_resize;
+static sway_cmd cmd_scratchpad;
+static sway_cmd cmd_set;
+static sway_cmd cmd_split;
+static sway_cmd cmd_splith;
+static sway_cmd cmd_splitv;
+static sway_cmd cmd_workspace;
+static sway_cmd cmd_ws_auto_back_and_forth;
+
 swayc_t *sp_view;
 int sp_index = 0;
 
@@ -147,37 +181,33 @@ static enum cmd_status cmd_bindsym(int argc, char **argv) {
 }
 
 static enum cmd_status cmd_exec_always(int argc, char **argv) {
+	if (!config->active) return CMD_DEFER;
 	if (!checkarg(argc, "exec_always", EXPECTED_MORE_THAN, 0)) {
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
-	if (!config->active) {
-		return CMD_DEFER;
-	}
+	// Put argument into cmd array
+	char *tmp = join_args(argv, argc);
+	char cmd[4096];
+	strcpy(cmd, tmp);
+	free(tmp);
+	
+	char *args[] = {"sh", "-c", cmd, 0 };
+	sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Executing %s", cmd);
 
-	pid_t pid = fork();
-	/* Failed to fork */
-	if (pid  < 0) {
-		sway_log(L_ERROR, "exec command failed, sway did not fork");
+	pid_t pid;
+	if ((pid = fork()) == 0) {
+		execv("/bin/sh", args);
+		_exit(-1);
+	} else if (pid < 0) {
+		sway_log(L_ERROR, "exec command failed, sway could not fork");
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
-	/* Child process */
-	if (pid == 0) {
-		char *args = join_args(argv, argc);
-		sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Executing %s", args);
-		execl("/bin/sh", "sh", "-c", args, (char *)NULL);
-		/* Execl doesnt return unless failure */
-		sway_log(L_ERROR, "could not find /bin/sh");
-		free(args);
-		exit(-1);
-	}
-	/* Parent */
 	return CMD_SUCCESS;
 }
 
 static enum cmd_status cmd_exec(int argc, char **argv) {
-	if (!config->active) {
-		return CMD_DEFER;
-	}
+	if (!config->active) return CMD_DEFER;
+
 	if (config->reloading) {
 		char *args = join_args(argv, argc);
 		sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Ignoring 'exec %s' due to reload", args);
@@ -194,8 +224,8 @@ static void kill_views(swayc_t *container, void *data) {
 }
 
 static enum cmd_status cmd_exit(int argc, char **argv) {
-	if (!checkarg(argc, "exit", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 0)
-			|| config->reading || !config->active) {
+	if (config->reading) return CMD_INVALID;
+	if (!checkarg(argc, "exit", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 0)) {
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
 	// Close all views
@@ -205,8 +235,8 @@ static enum cmd_status cmd_exit(int argc, char **argv) {
 }
 
 static enum cmd_status cmd_floating(int argc, char **argv) {
-	if (!checkarg(argc, "floating", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1)
-			|| config->reading || !config->active) {
+	if (config->reading) return CMD_INVALID;
+	if (!checkarg(argc, "floating", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1)) {
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
 
@@ -267,8 +297,8 @@ static enum cmd_status cmd_floating(int argc, char **argv) {
 }
 
 static enum cmd_status cmd_floating_mod(int argc, char **argv) {
-	if (!checkarg(argc, "floating_modifier", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1)
-			|| !config->reading) {
+	if (!config->reading) return CMD_INVALID;
+	if (!checkarg(argc, "floating_modifier", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1)) {
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
 	int i, j;
@@ -292,10 +322,10 @@ static enum cmd_status cmd_floating_mod(int argc, char **argv) {
 }
 
 static enum cmd_status cmd_focus(int argc, char **argv) {
+	if (config->reading) return CMD_INVALID;
 	static int floating_toggled_index = 0;
 	static int tiled_toggled_index = 0;
-	if (!checkarg(argc, "focus", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1)
-			|| config->reading || !config->active) {
+	if (!checkarg(argc, "focus", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1)) {
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
 	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "left") == 0) {
@@ -350,6 +380,7 @@ static enum cmd_status cmd_focus(int argc, char **argv) {
 }
 
 static enum cmd_status cmd_focus_follows_mouse(int argc, char **argv) {
+	if (!config->reading) return CMD_INVALID;
 	if (!checkarg(argc, "focus_follows_mouse", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1)) {
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
@@ -359,7 +390,7 @@ static enum cmd_status cmd_focus_follows_mouse(int argc, char **argv) {
 }
 
 static void hide_view_in_scratchpad(swayc_t *sp_view) {
-	if(sp_view == NULL) {
+	if (sp_view == NULL) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -375,15 +406,19 @@ static void hide_view_in_scratchpad(swayc_t *sp_view) {
 }
 
 static enum cmd_status cmd_mode(int argc, char **argv) {
-	if (!checkarg(argc, "move", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1)) {
+	if (!checkarg(argc, "mode", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1)) {
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
-	bool mode_make = !strcmp(argv[argc-1], "{");
-	if (mode_make && !config->reading) {
-		return CMD_FAILURE;
+	char *mode_name = join_args(argv, argc);
+	int mode_len = strlen(mode_name);
+	bool mode_make = mode_name[mode_len-1] == '{';
+	if (mode_make) {
+		if (!config->reading) return CMD_INVALID;
+		// Trim trailing spaces
+		do {
+			mode_name[--mode_len] = 0;
+		} while(isspace(mode_name[mode_len-1]));
 	}
-
-	char *mode_name = join_args(argv, argc - mode_make);
 	struct sway_mode *mode = NULL;
 	// Find mode
 	int i, len = config->modes->length;
@@ -406,16 +441,18 @@ static enum cmd_status cmd_mode(int argc, char **argv) {
 		free(mode_name);
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
-	sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Switching to mode `%s'",mode->name);
+	if ((config->reading && mode_make) || (!config->reading && !mode_make)) {
+		sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Switching to mode `%s'",mode->name);
+	}
 	free(mode_name);
 	// Set current mode
 	config->current_mode = mode;
-	return CMD_SUCCESS;
+	return mode_make ? CMD_BLOCK_MODE : CMD_SUCCESS;
 }
 
 static enum cmd_status cmd_move(int argc, char **argv) {
-	if (!checkarg(argc, "move", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1)
-			|| config->reading || !config->active) {
+	if (config->reading) return CMD_FAILURE;
+	if (!checkarg(argc, "move", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1)) {
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
 
@@ -485,10 +522,11 @@ static enum cmd_status cmd_move(int argc, char **argv) {
 }
 
 static enum cmd_status cmd_orientation(int argc, char **argv) {
-	if (!checkarg(argc, "orientation", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1)
-			|| !config->reading) {
+	if (!config->reading) return CMD_FAILURE;
+	if (!checkarg(argc, "orientation", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1)) {
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
+
 	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "horizontal") == 0) {
 		config->default_orientation = L_HORIZ;
 	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "vertical") == 0) {
@@ -502,6 +540,7 @@ static enum cmd_status cmd_orientation(int argc, char **argv) {
 }
 
 static enum cmd_status cmd_output(int argc, char **argv) {
+	if (!config->reading) return CMD_FAILURE;
 	if (!checkarg(argc, "output", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1)) {
 		return CMD_FAILURE;
 	}
@@ -512,7 +551,6 @@ static enum cmd_status cmd_output(int argc, char **argv) {
 	output->enabled = true;
 
 	// TODO: atoi doesn't handle invalid numbers
-	
 	if (strcasecmp(argv[1], "disable") == 0) {
 		output->enabled = false;
 	}
@@ -953,7 +991,7 @@ static enum cmd_status cmd_log_colors(int argc, char **argv) {
 	}
 	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "no") == 0) {
 		sway_log_colors(0);
-	} else if(strcasecmp(argv[0], "yes") == 0) {
+	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "yes") == 0) {
 		sway_log_colors(1);
 	} else {
 		sway_log(L_ERROR, "Invalid log_colors command (expected `yes` or `no`, got '%s')", argv[0]);
@@ -1089,57 +1127,88 @@ static struct cmd_handler *find_handler(char *line) {
 	return res;
 }
 
-enum cmd_status handle_command(char *exec) {
-	sway_log(L_INFO, "Handling command '%s'", exec);
-	int argc;
-	char **argv = split_args(exec, &argc);
-	enum cmd_status status = CMD_FAILURE;
-	struct cmd_handler *handler;
-	if (!argc) {
-		return status;
-	}
-	if ((handler = find_handler(argv[0])) == NULL
-			|| (status = handler->handle(argc - 1, argv + 1)) != CMD_SUCCESS) {
-		sway_log(L_ERROR, "Command failed: %s", argv[0]);
-	}
-	free_argv(argc, argv);
+enum cmd_status handle_command(char *_exec) {
+	enum cmd_status status = CMD_SUCCESS;
+	char *exec = strdup(_exec);
+	char *head = exec;
+	char *cmdlist;
+	char *cmd;
+	char *criteria __attribute__((unused));
+
+	head = exec;
+	do {
+		// Handle criteria
+		if (*head == '[') {
+			criteria = argsep(&head, "]");
+			if (head) {
+				++head;
+				// TODO handle criteria
+			} else {
+				sway_log(L_ERROR, "Unmatched [");
+				status = CMD_INVALID;
+			}
+			// Skip leading whitespace
+			head += strspn(head, whitespace);
+		}
+		// Split command list
+		cmdlist = argsep(&head, ";");
+		cmdlist += strspn(cmdlist, whitespace);
+		do {
+			// Split commands
+			cmd = argsep(&cmdlist, ",");
+			cmd += strspn(cmd, whitespace);
+			sway_log(L_INFO, "Handling command '%s'", cmd);
+			//TODO better handling of argv
+			int argc;
+			char **argv = split_args(cmd, &argc);
+			if (argc>1 && (*argv[1] == '\"' || *argv[1] == '\'')) {
+				strip_quotes(argv[1]);
+			}
+			struct cmd_handler *handler = find_handler(argv[0]);
+			enum cmd_status res = CMD_INVALID;
+			if (!handler
+					|| (res = handler->handle(argc-1, argv+1)) != CMD_SUCCESS) {
+				sway_log(L_ERROR, "Command '%s' failed", cmd);
+				free_argv(argc, argv);
+				status = res;
+				goto cleanup;
+			}
+			free_argv(argc, argv);
+		} while(cmdlist);
+	} while(head);
+	cleanup:
+	free(exec);
 	return status;
 }
 
 enum cmd_status config_command(char *exec) {
-	sway_log(L_INFO, "handling config command '%s'", exec);
+	enum cmd_status status = CMD_SUCCESS;
 	int argc;
 	char **argv = split_args(exec, &argc);
-	enum cmd_status status = CMD_FAILURE;
-	struct cmd_handler *handler;
-	if (!argc) {
-		status = CMD_SUCCESS;
+	if (!argc) goto cleanup;
+
+	sway_log(L_INFO, "handling config command '%s'", exec);
+	// Endblock
+	if (**argv == '}') {
+		status = CMD_BLOCK_END;
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
-	// TODO better block handling
-	if (strncmp(argv[0], "}", 1) == 0) {
-		config->current_mode = config->modes->items[0];
-		status = CMD_SUCCESS;
+	struct cmd_handler *handler = find_handler(argv[0]);
+	if (!handler) {
+		status = CMD_INVALID;
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
-	if ((handler = find_handler(argv[0]))) {
-		// Dont replace first argument in cmd_set
-		int i = handler->handle == cmd_set ? 2 : 1;
-		int e = argc;
-		for (; i < e; ++i) {
-			argv[i] = do_var_replacement(argv[i]);
-		}
-		status = handler->handle(argc - 1, argv + 1);
-		if (status == CMD_FAILURE) {
-			sway_log(L_ERROR, "Config load failed for line `%s'", exec);
-		} else if (status == CMD_DEFER) {
-			sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Defferring command `%s'", exec);
-			list_add(config->cmd_queue, strdup(exec));
-			status = CMD_SUCCESS;
-		}
-	} else {
-		sway_log(L_ERROR, "Unknown command `%s'", exec);
+	int i;
+	// Var replacement, for all but first argument of set
+	for (i = handler->handle == cmd_set ? 2 : 1; i < argc; ++i) {
+		argv[i] = do_var_replacement(argv[i]);
 	}
+	/* Strip quotes for first argument.
+	 * TODO This part needs to be handled much better */
+	if (argc>1 && (*argv[1] == '\"' || *argv[1] == '\'')) {
+		strip_quotes(argv[1]);
+	}
+	status = handler->handle(argc-1, argv+1);
 	cleanup:
 	free_argv(argc, argv);
 	return status;
diff --git a/sway/config.c b/sway/config.c
index 23d6ac0d6..46a264241 100644
--- a/sway/config.c
+++ b/sway/config.c
@@ -110,47 +110,49 @@ static void config_defaults(struct sway_config *config) {
 
 static char *get_config_path(void) {
 	char *config_path = NULL;
-	char *paths[3] = {getenv("HOME"), getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME"), ""};
-	int pathlen[3] = {0, 0, 0};
+	char *paths[3] = { getenv("HOME"), getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME"), "" };
+	int pathlen[3] = { 0, 0, 0 };
 	int i;
 #define home paths[0]
 #define conf paths[1]
 	// Get home and config directories
+	conf = conf ? strdup(conf) : NULL;
 	home = home ? strdup(home) : NULL;
-	if (conf) {
-		conf = strdup(conf);
-	} else if (home) {
+	// If config folder is unset, set it to $HOME/.config
+	if (!conf && home) {
 		const char *def = "/.config";
 		conf = malloc(strlen(home) + strlen(def) + 1);
 		strcpy(conf, home);
 		strcat(conf, def);
-	} else {
-		home = strdup("");
-		conf = strdup("");
 	}
-	pathlen[0] = strlen(home);
-	pathlen[1] = strlen(conf);
+	// Get path lengths
+	pathlen[0] = home ? strlen(home) : 0;
+	pathlen[1] = conf ? strlen(conf) : 0;
 #undef home
 #undef conf
+
 	// Search for config file from search paths
 	static const char *search_paths[] = {
 		"/.sway/config", // Prepend with $home
 		"/sway/config", // Prepend with $config
 		"/etc/sway/config",
 		"/.i3/config", // $home
-		"/.i3/config", // $config
+		"/i3/config", // $config
 		"/etc/i3/config"
 	};
 	for (i = 0; i < (int)(sizeof(search_paths) / sizeof(char *)); ++i) {
-		char *test = malloc(pathlen[i%3] + strlen(search_paths[i]) + 1);
-		strcpy(test, paths[i%3]);
-		strcat(test, search_paths[i]);
-		sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Checking for config at %s", test);
-		if (file_exists(test)) {
-			config_path = test;
-			goto cleanup;
+		// Only try path if it is set by enviroment variables
+		if (paths[i%3]) {
+			char *test = malloc(pathlen[i%3] + strlen(search_paths[i]) + 1);
+			strcpy(test, paths[i%3]);
+			strcpy(test + pathlen[i%3], search_paths[i]);
+			sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Checking for config at %s", test);
+			if (file_exists(test)) {
+				config_path = test;
+				goto cleanup;
+			}
+			free(test);
 		}
-		free(test);
 	}
 
 	sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Trying to find config in XDG_CONFIG_DIRS");
@@ -225,14 +227,46 @@ bool read_config(FILE *file, bool is_active) {
 		config->active = true;
 	}
 	bool success = true;
+	enum cmd_status block = CMD_BLOCK_END;
 
 	char *line;
 	while (!feof(file)) {
 		line = read_line(file);
 		line = strip_comments(line);
-		if (config_command(line) == CMD_FAILURE) {
+		switch(config_command(line)) {
+		case CMD_FAILURE:
+		case CMD_INVALID:
 			sway_log(L_ERROR, "Error on line '%s'", line);
 			success = false;
+			break;
+
+		case CMD_DEFER:
+			sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Defferring command `%s'", line);
+			list_add(config->cmd_queue, strdup(line));
+			break;
+
+		case CMD_BLOCK_MODE:
+			if (block == CMD_BLOCK_END) {
+				block = CMD_BLOCK_MODE;
+			} else {
+				sway_log(L_ERROR, "Invalid block '%s'", line);
+			}
+			break;
+
+		case CMD_BLOCK_END:
+			switch(block) {
+			case CMD_BLOCK_MODE:
+				sway_log(L_DEBUG, "End of mode block");
+				config->current_mode = config->modes->items[0];
+				break;
+
+			case CMD_BLOCK_END:
+				sway_log(L_ERROR, "Unmatched }");
+				break;
+
+			default:;
+			}
+		default:;
 		}
 		free(line);
 	}
diff --git a/sway/container.c b/sway/container.c
index 85b169a19..4c523827c 100644
--- a/sway/container.c
+++ b/sway/container.c
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ swayc_t *swayc_by_test(swayc_t *container, bool (*test)(swayc_t *view, void *dat
 }
 
 static bool test_name(swayc_t *view, void *data) {
-	if (!view && !view->name) {
+	if (!view || !view->name) {
 		return false;
 	}
 	return strcmp(view->name, data) == 0;
diff --git a/sway/handlers.c b/sway/handlers.c
index cef4a980e..cf07bc8b8 100644
--- a/sway/handlers.c
+++ b/sway/handlers.c
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ static bool handle_key(wlc_handle view, uint32_t time, const struct wlc_modifier
 		struct sway_binding *binding = mode->bindings->items[i];
 
 		if ((modifiers->mods ^ binding->modifiers) == 0) {
-			bool match;
+			bool match = false;
 			int j;
 			for (j = 0; j < binding->keys->length; ++j) {
 				xkb_keysym_t *key = binding->keys->items[j];
diff --git a/sway/layout.c b/sway/layout.c
index 086dc5420..3cd873d69 100644
--- a/sway/layout.c
+++ b/sway/layout.c
@@ -206,7 +206,8 @@ void swap_geometry(swayc_t *a, swayc_t *b) {
 
 void move_container(swayc_t *container, enum movement_direction dir) {
 	enum swayc_layouts layout;
-	if (container->is_floating) {
+	if (container->is_floating
+			|| (container->type != C_VIEW && container->type != C_CONTAINER)) {
 		return;
 	}
 	if (dir == MOVE_UP || dir == MOVE_DOWN) {
diff --git a/sway/log.c b/sway/log.c
index a6582172b..a206d9719 100644
--- a/sway/log.c
+++ b/sway/log.c
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ int colored = 1;
 log_importance_t v = L_SILENT;
 
 static const char *verbosity_colors[] = {
-	"", // L_SILENT
-	"\x1B[1;31m", // L_ERROR
-	"\x1B[1;34m", // L_INFO
-	"\x1B[1;30m", // L_DEBUG
+	[L_SILENT] = "",
+	[L_ERROR ] = "\x1B[1;31m",
+	[L_INFO  ] = "\x1B[1;34m",
+	[L_DEBUG ] = "\x1B[1;30m",
 };
 
 void init_log(log_importance_t verbosity) {
diff --git a/sway/stringop.c b/sway/stringop.c
index 7a2c83171..31a036c35 100644
--- a/sway/stringop.c
+++ b/sway/stringop.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
 #include <strings.h>
 #include <ctype.h>
 #include "stringop.h"
@@ -7,7 +8,7 @@
 #include "string.h"
 #include "list.h"
 
-const char *whitespace = " \f\n\r\t\v";
+const char whitespace[] = " \f\n\r\t\v";
 
 /* Note: This returns 8 characters for trimmed_start per tab character. */
 char *strip_whitespace(char *_str) {
@@ -105,40 +106,40 @@ char **split_args(const char *start, int *argc) {
 	bool in_char = false;
 	bool escaped = false;
 	const char *end = start;
-	while (*start) {
-		if (!in_token) {
-			start = (end += strspn(end, whitespace));
-			in_token = true;
-		}
-		if (*end == '"' && !in_char && !escaped) {
-			in_string = !in_string;
-		} else if (*end == '\'' && !in_string && !escaped) {
-			in_char = !in_char;
-		} else if (*end == '\\') {
-			escaped = !escaped;
-		} else if (*end == '\0' || (!in_string && !in_char && !escaped
-				&& strchr(whitespace, *end))) {
-			goto add_part;
-		}
-		if (*end != '\\') {
+	if (start) {
+		while (*start) {
+			if (!in_token) {
+				start = (end += strspn(end, whitespace));
+				in_token = true;
+			}
+			if (*end == '"' && !in_char && !escaped) {
+				in_string = !in_string;
+			} else if (*end == '\'' && !in_string && !escaped) {
+				in_char = !in_char;
+			} else if (*end == '\\') {
+				escaped = !escaped;
+			} else if (*end == '\0' || (!in_string && !in_char && !escaped
+						&& strchr(whitespace, *end))) {
+				goto add_token;
+			}
+			if (*end != '\\') {
+				escaped = false;
+			}
+			++end;
+			continue;
+			add_token:
+			if (end - start > 0) {
+				char *token = malloc(end - start + 1);
+				strncpy(token, start, end - start + 1);
+				token[end - start] = '\0';
+				argv[*argc] = token;
+				if (++*argc + 1 == alloc) {
+					argv = realloc(argv, (alloc *= 2) * sizeof(char *));
+				}
+			}
+			in_token = false;
 			escaped = false;
 		}
-		++end;
-		continue;
-		add_part:
-		if (end - start > 0) {
-			char *token = malloc(end - start + 1);
-			strncpy(token, start, end - start + 1);
-			token[end - start] = '\0';
-			strip_quotes(token);
-			unescape_string(token);
-			argv[*argc] = token;
-			if (++*argc + 1 == alloc) {
-				argv = realloc(argv, (alloc *= 2) * sizeof(char *));
-			}
-		}
-		in_token = false;
-		escaped = false;
 	}
 	argv[*argc] = NULL;
 	return argv;
@@ -312,6 +313,56 @@ char *join_list(list_t *list, char *separator) {
 	return res;
 }
 
+char *cmdsep(char **stringp, const char *delim) {
+	// skip over leading delims
+	char *head = *stringp + strspn(*stringp, delim);
+	// Find end token
+	char *tail = *stringp += strcspn(*stringp, delim);
+	// Set stringp to begining of next token
+	*stringp += strspn(*stringp, delim);
+	// Set stringp to null if last token
+	if (!**stringp) *stringp = NULL;
+	// Nullify end of first token
+	*tail = 0;
+	return head;
+}
+
+char *argsep(char **stringp, const char *delim) {
+	char *start = *stringp;
+	char *end = start;
+	bool in_string = false;
+	bool in_char = false;
+	bool escaped = false;
+	while (1) {
+		if (*end == '"' && !in_char && !escaped) {
+			in_string = !in_string;
+		} else if (*end == '\'' && !in_string && !escaped) {
+			in_char = !in_char;
+		} else if (*end == '\\') {
+			escaped = !escaped;
+		} else if (*end == '\0') {
+			*stringp = NULL;
+			goto found;
+		} else if (!in_string && !in_char && !escaped && strchr(delim, *end)) {
+			if (end - start) {
+				*(end++) = 0;
+				*stringp = end + strspn(end, delim);;
+				if (!**stringp) *stringp = NULL;
+				goto found;
+			} else {
+				++start;
+				end = start;
+			}
+		}
+		if (*end != '\\') {
+			escaped = false;
+		}
+		++end;
+	}
+	found:
+	return start;
+}
+
 char *strdup(const char *str) {
 	char *dup = malloc(strlen(str) + 1);
 	if (dup) {
@@ -319,3 +370,4 @@ char *strdup(const char *str) {
 	}
 	return dup;
 }
+