diff --git a/sway/commands/exit.c b/sway/commands/exit.c
index 4bb6a97be..d5353c205 100644
--- a/sway/commands/exit.c
+++ b/sway/commands/exit.c
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@ void sway_terminate(int exit_code);
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_exit(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if (config->reading) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "exit", "Can't be used in config file.");
-	}
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "exit", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 0))) {
 		return error;
 	}
diff --git a/sway/commands/focus.c b/sway/commands/focus.c
index ba47d1e13..f1a8078f7 100644
--- a/sway/commands/focus.c
+++ b/sway/commands/focus.c
@@ -33,20 +33,6 @@ static bool parse_movement_direction(const char *name, enum movement_direction *
 struct cmd_results *cmd_focus(int argc, char **argv) {
 	swayc_t *con = config->handler_context.current_container;
 	struct sway_seat *seat = config->handler_context.seat;
-
-	if (!sway_assert(seat, "'focus' command called without seat context")) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "focus",
-			"Command 'focus' called without seat context (this is a bug in sway)");
-	}
-
-	if (config->reading) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "focus",
-			"Command 'focus' cannot be used in the config file");
-	}
-	if (con == NULL) {
-		wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "no container to focus");
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
-	}
 	if (con->type < C_WORKSPACE) {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "focus",
 			"Command 'focus' cannot be used above the workspace level");
diff --git a/sway/commands/kill.c b/sway/commands/kill.c
index 4b3666be2..f408ce2a9 100644
--- a/sway/commands/kill.c
+++ b/sway/commands/kill.c
@@ -6,14 +6,6 @@
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_kill(int argc, char **argv) {
-	if (config->reading) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "kill",
-			"Command 'kill' cannot be used in the config file");
-	}
-	if (config->handler_context.current_container == NULL) {
-		wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "no container to kill");
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
-	}
 	enum swayc_types type = config->handler_context.current_container->type;
 	if (type != C_VIEW && type != C_CONTAINER) {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, NULL,
diff --git a/sway/commands/layout.c b/sway/commands/layout.c
index d953abc8c..b0fc5d664 100644
--- a/sway/commands/layout.c
+++ b/sway/commands/layout.c
@@ -7,19 +7,10 @@
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_layout(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if (config->reading) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "layout", "Can't be used in config file.");
-	}
-	if (!config->active) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "layout", "Can only be used when sway is running.");
-	}
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "layout", EXPECTED_MORE_THAN, 0))) {
 		return error;
 	}
 	swayc_t *parent = config->handler_context.current_container;
-	if (!sway_assert(parent != NULL, "command called without container context")) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
 
 	// TODO: floating
 	/*
diff --git a/sway/commands/reload.c b/sway/commands/reload.c
index 419c7de3d..d54d40db6 100644
--- a/sway/commands/reload.c
+++ b/sway/commands/reload.c
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_reload(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
-	if (config->reading) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "reload", "Can't be used in config file.");
-	}
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "reload", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 0))) {
 		return error;
 	}