diff --git a/arguments.c b/arguments.c
index 49bc8b2a..1f786529 100644
--- a/arguments.c
+++ b/arguments.c
@@ -29,8 +29,10 @@
  * Manipulate command arguments.
  */
 
+/* List of argument values. */
 TAILQ_HEAD(args_values, args_value);
 
+/* Single arguments flag. */
 struct args_entry {
 	u_char			 flag;
 	struct args_values	 values;
@@ -38,12 +40,20 @@ struct args_entry {
 	RB_ENTRY(args_entry)	 entry;
 };
 
+/* Parsed argument flags and values. */
 struct args {
 	struct args_tree	 tree;
 	u_int			 count;
 	struct args_value	*values;
 };
 
+/* Prepared command state. */
+struct args_command_state {
+	struct cmd_list		*cmdlist;
+	char			*cmd;
+	struct cmd_parse_input	 pi;
+};
+
 static struct args_entry	*args_find(struct args *, u_char);
 
 static int	args_cmp(struct args_entry *, struct args_entry *);
@@ -477,6 +487,133 @@ args_string(struct args *args, u_int idx)
 	return (args_value_as_string(&args->values[idx]));
 }
 
+/* Make a command now. */
+struct cmd_list *
+args_make_commands_now(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item, u_int idx)
+{
+	struct args_command_state	*state;
+	char				*error;
+	struct cmd_list			*cmdlist;
+
+	state = args_make_commands_prepare(self, item, idx, NULL, 0, 0);
+	cmdlist = args_make_commands(state, 0, NULL, &error);
+	args_make_commands_free(state);
+	if (cmdlist == NULL) {
+		cmdq_error(item, "%s", error);
+		free(error);
+	}
+	return (cmdlist);
+}
+
+/* Save bits to make a command later. */
+struct args_command_state *
+args_make_commands_prepare(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item, u_int idx,
+    const char *default_command, int wait, int expand)
+{
+	struct args			*args = cmd_get_args(self);
+	struct cmd_find_state		*target = cmdq_get_target(item);
+	struct client			*tc = cmdq_get_target_client(item);
+	struct args_value		*value;
+	struct args_command_state	*state;
+	const char			*cmd;
+
+	state = xcalloc(1, sizeof *state);
+
+	if (idx < args->count) {
+		value = &args->values[idx];
+		if (value->type == ARGS_COMMANDS) {
+			state->cmdlist = value->cmdlist;
+			state->cmdlist->references++;
+			return (state);
+		}
+		cmd = value->string;
+	} else {
+		if (default_command == NULL)
+			fatalx("argument out of range");
+		cmd = default_command;
+	}
+
+
+	if (expand)
+		state->cmd = format_single_from_target(item, cmd);
+	else
+		state->cmd = xstrdup(cmd);
+	log_debug("%s: %s", __func__, state->cmd);
+
+	if (wait)
+		state->pi.item = item;
+	cmd_get_source(self, &state->pi.file, &state->pi.line);
+	state->pi.c = tc;
+	if (state->pi.c != NULL)
+		state->pi.c->references++;
+	cmd_find_copy_state(&state->pi.fs, target);
+
+	return (state);
+}
+
+/* Return argument as command. */
+struct cmd_list *
+args_make_commands(struct args_command_state *state, int argc, char **argv,
+    char **error)
+{
+	struct cmd_parse_result	*pr;
+	char			*cmd, *new_cmd;
+	int			 i;
+
+	if (state->cmdlist != NULL)
+		return (state->cmdlist);
+
+	cmd = xstrdup(state->cmd);
+	for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
+		new_cmd = cmd_template_replace(cmd, argv[i], i + 1);
+		log_debug("%s: %%%u %s: %s", __func__, i + 1, argv[i], new_cmd);
+		free(cmd);
+		cmd = new_cmd;
+	}
+	log_debug("%s: %s", __func__, cmd);
+
+	pr = cmd_parse_from_string(cmd, &state->pi);
+	free(cmd);
+	switch (pr->status) {
+	case CMD_PARSE_ERROR:
+		*error = pr->error;
+		return (NULL);
+	case CMD_PARSE_SUCCESS:
+		return (pr->cmdlist);
+	}
+}
+
+/* Free commands state. */
+void
+args_make_commands_free(struct args_command_state *state)
+{
+	if (state->cmdlist != NULL)
+		cmd_list_free(state->cmdlist);
+	if (state->pi.c != NULL)
+		server_client_unref(state->pi.c);
+	free(state->cmd);
+	free(state);
+}
+
+/* Get prepared command. */
+char *
+args_make_commands_get_command(struct args_command_state *state)
+{
+	struct cmd	*first;
+	int		 n;
+	char		*s;
+
+	if (state->cmdlist != NULL) {
+		first = cmd_list_first(state->cmdlist);
+		if (first == NULL)
+			return (xstrdup(""));
+		return (xstrdup(cmd_get_entry(first)->name));
+	}
+	n = strcspn(state->cmd, " ,");
+	xasprintf(&s, "%.*s", n, state->cmd);
+	return (s);
+}
+
 /* Get first value in argument. */
 struct args_value *
 args_first_value(struct args *args, u_char flag)
diff --git a/cmd-command-prompt.c b/cmd-command-prompt.c
index f80760ce..a877897e 100644
--- a/cmd-command-prompt.c
+++ b/cmd-command-prompt.c
@@ -48,21 +48,24 @@ const struct cmd_entry cmd_command_prompt_entry = {
 	.exec = cmd_command_prompt_exec
 };
 
+struct cmd_command_prompt_prompt {
+	char	*input;
+	char	*prompt;
+};
+
 struct cmd_command_prompt_cdata {
-	struct cmdq_item	*item;
-	struct cmd_parse_input	 pi;
+	struct cmdq_item		 *item;
+	struct args_command_state	 *state;
 
-	int			 flags;
-	enum prompt_type	 prompt_type;
+	int				  flags;
+	enum prompt_type		  prompt_type;
 
-	char			*inputs;
-	char			*next_input;
+	struct cmd_command_prompt_prompt *prompts;
+	u_int				  count;
+	u_int				  current;
 
-	char			*prompts;
-	char			*next_prompt;
-
-	char			*template;
-	int	 		 idx;
+	int				  argc;
+	char				**argv;
 };
 
 static enum cmd_retval
@@ -71,12 +74,12 @@ cmd_command_prompt_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	struct args			*args = cmd_get_args(self);
 	struct client			*tc = cmdq_get_target_client(item);
 	struct cmd_find_state		*target = cmdq_get_target(item);
-	const char			*inputs, *prompts, *type, *s;
+	const char			*type, *s, *input;
 	struct cmd_command_prompt_cdata	*cdata;
-	char				*prompt, *comma, *input = NULL;
+	char				*tmp, *prompts, *prompt, *next_prompt;
+	char				*inputs, *next_input;
 	u_int				 count = args_count(args);
-	size_t				 n;
-	int				 wait = !args_has(args, 'b');
+	int				 wait = !args_has(args, 'b'), space = 1;
 
 	if (tc->prompt_string != NULL)
 		return (CMD_RETURN_NORMAL);
@@ -84,50 +87,49 @@ cmd_command_prompt_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 		wait = 0;
 
 	cdata = xcalloc(1, sizeof *cdata);
-	cdata->idx = 1;
-
-	cmd_get_source(self, &cdata->pi.file, &cdata->pi.line);
-	if (wait)
-		cdata->pi.item = item;
-	cdata->pi.c = tc;
-	cmd_find_copy_state(&cdata->pi.fs, target);
-
 	if (wait)
 		cdata->item = item;
+	cdata->state = args_make_commands_prepare(self, item, 0, "%1", wait,
+	    args_has(args, 'F'));
 
-	if (count != 0) {
-		s = args_string(args, 0);
-		if (args_has(args, 'F'))
-			cdata->template = format_single_from_target(item, s);
-		else
-			cdata->template = xstrdup(s);
-	}  else
-		cdata->template = xstrdup("%1");
-
-	if ((prompts = args_get(args, 'p')) != NULL)
-		cdata->prompts = xstrdup(prompts);
-	else if (count != 0) {
-		n = strcspn(cdata->template, " ,");
-		xasprintf(&cdata->prompts, "(%.*s) ", (int)n, cdata->template);
+	if ((s = args_get(args, 'p')) == NULL) {
+		if (count != 0) {
+			tmp = args_make_commands_get_command(cdata->state);
+			xasprintf(&prompts, "(%s)", tmp);
+			free(tmp);
+		} else {
+			prompts = xstrdup(":");
+			space = 0;
+		}
+		next_prompt = prompts;
 	} else
-		cdata->prompts = xstrdup(":");
-
-	/* Get first prompt. */
-	cdata->next_prompt = cdata->prompts;
-	comma = strsep(&cdata->next_prompt, ",");
-	if (prompts == NULL)
-		prompt = xstrdup(comma);
+		next_prompt = prompts = xstrdup (s);
+	if ((s = args_get(args, 'I')) != NULL)
+		next_input = inputs = xstrdup(s);
 	else
-		xasprintf(&prompt, "%s ", comma);
+		next_input = NULL;
+	while ((prompt = strsep(&next_prompt, ",")) != NULL) {
+		cdata->prompts = xreallocarray(cdata->prompts, cdata->count + 1,
+		    sizeof *cdata->prompts);
+		if (!space)
+			tmp = xstrdup(prompt);
+		else
+			xasprintf(&tmp, "%s ", prompt);
+		cdata->prompts[cdata->count].prompt = tmp;
 
-	/* Get initial prompt input. */
-	if ((inputs = args_get(args, 'I')) != NULL) {
-		cdata->inputs = xstrdup(inputs);
-		cdata->next_input = cdata->inputs;
-		input = strsep(&cdata->next_input, ",");
+		if (next_input != NULL) {
+			input = strsep(&next_input, ",");
+			if (input == NULL)
+				input = "";
+		} else
+			input = "";
+		cdata->prompts[cdata->count].input = xstrdup(input);
+
+		cdata->count++;
 	}
+	free(inputs);
+	free(prompts);
 
-	/* Get prompt type. */
 	if ((type = args_get(args, 'T')) != NULL) {
 		cdata->prompt_type = status_prompt_type(type);
 		if (cdata->prompt_type == PROMPT_TYPE_INVALID) {
@@ -145,10 +147,9 @@ cmd_command_prompt_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 		cdata->flags |= PROMPT_INCREMENTAL;
 	else if (args_has(args, 'k'))
 		cdata->flags |= PROMPT_KEY;
-	status_prompt_set(tc, target, prompt, input,
-	    cmd_command_prompt_callback, cmd_command_prompt_free, cdata,
-	    cdata->flags, cdata->prompt_type);
-	free(prompt);
+	status_prompt_set(tc, target, cdata->prompts[0].prompt,
+	    cdata->prompts[0].input, cmd_command_prompt_callback,
+	    cmd_command_prompt_free, cdata, cdata->flags, cdata->prompt_type);
 
 	if (!wait)
 		return (CMD_RETURN_NORMAL);
@@ -159,51 +160,39 @@ static int
 cmd_command_prompt_callback(struct client *c, void *data, const char *s,
     int done)
 {
-	struct cmd_command_prompt_cdata	*cdata = data;
-	char				*new_template, *prompt, *comma, *error;
-	char				*input = NULL;
-	struct cmdq_item		*item = cdata->item;
-	enum cmd_parse_status		 status;
+	struct cmd_command_prompt_cdata		*cdata = data;
+	char					*error;
+	struct cmdq_item			*item = cdata->item, *new_item;
+	struct cmd_list				*cmdlist;
+	struct cmd_command_prompt_prompt	*prompt;
 
 	if (s == NULL)
 		goto out;
-	if (done && (cdata->flags & PROMPT_INCREMENTAL))
-		goto out;
-
-	new_template = cmd_template_replace(cdata->template, s, cdata->idx);
 	if (done) {
-		free(cdata->template);
-		cdata->template = new_template;
+		if (cdata->flags & PROMPT_INCREMENTAL)
+			goto out;
+
+		cmd_append_argv(&cdata->argc, &cdata->argv, s);
+		if (++cdata->current != cdata->count) {
+			prompt = &cdata->prompts[cdata->current];
+			status_prompt_update(c, prompt->prompt, prompt->input);
+			return (1);
+		}
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * Check if there are more prompts; if so, get its respective input
-	 * and update the prompt data.
-	 */
-	if (done && (comma = strsep(&cdata->next_prompt, ",")) != NULL) {
-		xasprintf(&prompt, "%s ", comma);
-		input = strsep(&cdata->next_input, ",");
-		status_prompt_update(c, prompt, input);
-
-		free(prompt);
-		cdata->idx++;
-		return (1);
-	}
-
-	if (item != NULL) {
-		status = cmd_parse_and_insert(new_template, &cdata->pi, item,
-		    cmdq_get_state(item), &error);
-	} else {
-		status = cmd_parse_and_append(new_template, &cdata->pi, c, NULL,
-		    &error);
-	}
-	if (status == CMD_PARSE_ERROR) {
+	cmdlist = args_make_commands(cdata->state, cdata->argc, cdata->argv,
+	    &error);
+	if (cmdlist == NULL) {
 		cmdq_append(c, cmdq_get_error(error));
 		free(error);
+	} else if (item == NULL) {
+		new_item = cmdq_get_command(cmdlist, NULL);
+		cmdq_append(c, new_item);
+	} else {
+		new_item = cmdq_get_command(cmdlist, cmdq_get_state(item));
+		cmdq_insert_after(item, new_item);
 	}
 
-	if (!done)
-		free(new_template);
 	if (c->prompt_inputcb != cmd_command_prompt_callback)
 		return (1);
 
@@ -217,9 +206,14 @@ static void
 cmd_command_prompt_free(void *data)
 {
 	struct cmd_command_prompt_cdata	*cdata = data;
+	u_int				 i;
 
-	free(cdata->inputs);
+	for (i = 0; i < cdata->count; i++) {
+		free(cdata->prompts[i].prompt);
+		free(cdata->prompts[i].input);
+	}
 	free(cdata->prompts);
-	free(cdata->template);
+	cmd_free_argv(cdata->argc, cdata->argv);
+	args_make_commands_free(cdata->state);
 	free(cdata);
 }
diff --git a/cmd-confirm-before.c b/cmd-confirm-before.c
index 580c379a..4fe43302 100644
--- a/cmd-confirm-before.c
+++ b/cmd-confirm-before.c
@@ -47,9 +47,8 @@ const struct cmd_entry cmd_confirm_before_entry = {
 };
 
 struct cmd_confirm_before_data {
-	char			*cmd;
 	struct cmdq_item	*item;
-	struct cmd_parse_input	 pi;
+	struct cmd_list		*cmdlist;
 };
 
 static enum cmd_retval
@@ -59,31 +58,25 @@ cmd_confirm_before_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	struct cmd_confirm_before_data	*cdata;
 	struct client			*tc = cmdq_get_target_client(item);
 	struct cmd_find_state		*target = cmdq_get_target(item);
-	char				*cmd, *copy, *new_prompt, *tmp;
-	const char			*prompt;
+	char				*new_prompt;
+	const char			*prompt, *cmd;
 	int				 wait = !args_has(args, 'b');
 
 	cdata = xcalloc(1, sizeof *cdata);
-	cdata->cmd = xstrdup(args_string(args, 0));
+	cdata->cmdlist = args_make_commands_now(self, item, 0);
+	if (cdata->cmdlist == NULL)
+		return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
+
+	if (wait)
+		cdata->item = item;
 
 	if ((prompt = args_get(args, 'p')) != NULL)
 		xasprintf(&new_prompt, "%s ", prompt);
 	else {
-		tmp = copy = xstrdup(cdata->cmd);
-		cmd = strsep(&tmp, " \t");
+		cmd = cmd_get_entry(cmd_list_first(cdata->cmdlist))->name;
 		xasprintf(&new_prompt, "Confirm '%s'? (y/n) ", cmd);
-		free(copy);
 	}
 
-	cmd_get_source(self, &cdata->pi.file, &cdata->pi.line);
-	if (wait)
-		cdata->pi.item = item;
-	cdata->pi.c = tc;
-	cmd_find_copy_state(&cdata->pi.fs, target);
-
-	if (wait)
-		cdata->item = item;
-
 	status_prompt_set(tc, target, new_prompt, NULL,
 	    cmd_confirm_before_callback, cmd_confirm_before_free, cdata,
 	    PROMPT_SINGLE, PROMPT_TYPE_COMMAND);
@@ -99,10 +92,7 @@ cmd_confirm_before_callback(struct client *c, void *data, const char *s,
     __unused int done)
 {
 	struct cmd_confirm_before_data	*cdata = data;
-	const char			*cmd = cdata->cmd;
-	char				*error;
-	struct cmdq_item		*item = cdata->item;
-	enum cmd_parse_status		 status;
+	struct cmdq_item		*item = cdata->item, *new_item;
 	int				 retcode = 1;
 
 	if (c->flags & CLIENT_DEAD)
@@ -114,14 +104,13 @@ cmd_confirm_before_callback(struct client *c, void *data, const char *s,
 		goto out;
 	retcode = 0;
 
-	if (item != NULL) {
-		status = cmd_parse_and_insert(cmd, &cdata->pi, item,
-		    cmdq_get_state(item), &error);
-	} else
-		status = cmd_parse_and_append(cmd, &cdata->pi, c, NULL, &error);
-	if (status == CMD_PARSE_ERROR) {
-		cmdq_append(c, cmdq_get_error(error));
-		free(error);
+	if (item == NULL) {
+		new_item = cmdq_get_command(cdata->cmdlist, NULL);
+		cmdq_append(c, new_item);
+	} else {
+		new_item = cmdq_get_command(cdata->cmdlist,
+		    cmdq_get_state(item));
+		cmdq_insert_after(item, new_item);
 	}
 
 out:
@@ -139,6 +128,6 @@ cmd_confirm_before_free(void *data)
 {
 	struct cmd_confirm_before_data	*cdata = data;
 
-	free(cdata->cmd);
+	cmd_list_free(cdata->cmdlist);
 	free(cdata);
 }
diff --git a/cmd-display-panes.c b/cmd-display-panes.c
index bc171638..169ab3d5 100644
--- a/cmd-display-panes.c
+++ b/cmd-display-panes.c
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ const struct cmd_entry cmd_display_panes_entry = {
 };
 
 struct cmd_display_panes_data {
-	struct cmdq_item	*item;
-	char			*command;
+	struct cmdq_item		*item;
+	struct args_command_state	*state;
 };
 
 static void
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ cmd_display_panes_free(__unused struct client *c, void *data)
 
 	if (cdata->item != NULL)
 		cmdq_continue(cdata->item);
-	free(cdata->command);
+	args_make_commands_free(cdata->state);
 	free(cdata);
 }
 
@@ -215,10 +215,11 @@ static int
 cmd_display_panes_key(struct client *c, void *data, struct key_event *event)
 {
 	struct cmd_display_panes_data	*cdata = data;
-	char				*cmd, *expanded, *error;
+	char				*expanded, *error;
+	struct cmdq_item		*item = cdata->item, *new_item;
+	struct cmd_list			*cmdlist;
 	struct window			*w = c->session->curw->window;
 	struct window_pane		*wp;
-	enum cmd_parse_status		 status;
 	u_int				 index;
 	key_code			 key;
 
@@ -239,15 +240,19 @@ cmd_display_panes_key(struct client *c, void *data, struct key_event *event)
 	window_unzoom(w);
 
 	xasprintf(&expanded, "%%%u", wp->id);
-	cmd = cmd_template_replace(cdata->command, expanded, 1);
 
-	status = cmd_parse_and_append(cmd, NULL, c, NULL, &error);
-	if (status == CMD_PARSE_ERROR) {
+	cmdlist = args_make_commands(cdata->state, 1, &expanded, &error);
+	if (cmdlist == NULL) {
 		cmdq_append(c, cmdq_get_error(error));
 		free(error);
+	} else if (item == NULL) {
+		new_item = cmdq_get_command(cmdlist, NULL);
+		cmdq_append(c, new_item);
+	} else {
+		new_item = cmdq_get_command(cmdlist, cmdq_get_state(item));
+		cmdq_insert_after(item, new_item);
 	}
 
-	free(cmd);
 	free(expanded);
 	return (1);
 }
@@ -261,6 +266,7 @@ cmd_display_panes_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	u_int		 		 delay;
 	char				*cause;
 	struct cmd_display_panes_data	*cdata;
+	int				 wait = !args_has(args, 'b');
 
 	if (tc->overlay_draw != NULL)
 		return (CMD_RETURN_NORMAL);
@@ -275,15 +281,11 @@ cmd_display_panes_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	} else
 		delay = options_get_number(s->options, "display-panes-time");
 
-	cdata = xmalloc(sizeof *cdata);
-	if (args_count(args))
-		cdata->command = xstrdup(args_string(args, 0));
-	else
-		cdata->command = xstrdup("select-pane -t '%%'");
-	if (args_has(args, 'b'))
-		cdata->item = NULL;
-	else
+	cdata = xcalloc(1, sizeof *cdata);
+	if (wait)
 		cdata->item = item;
+	cdata->state = args_make_commands_prepare(self, item, 0,
+	    "select-pane -t \"%%%\"", wait, 0);
 
 	if (args_has(args, 'N')) {
 		server_client_set_overlay(tc, delay, NULL, NULL,
@@ -295,7 +297,7 @@ cmd_display_panes_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 		    cmd_display_panes_free, NULL, cdata);
 	}
 
-	if (args_has(args, 'b'))
+	if (!wait)
 		return (CMD_RETURN_NORMAL);
 	return (CMD_RETURN_WAIT);
 }
diff --git a/cmd-if-shell.c b/cmd-if-shell.c
index a04bdddd..7804ef27 100644
--- a/cmd-if-shell.c
+++ b/cmd-if-shell.c
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@
 
 static enum cmd_retval	cmd_if_shell_exec(struct cmd *, struct cmdq_item *);
 
-static void		cmd_if_shell_callback(struct job *);
-static void		cmd_if_shell_free(void *);
+static void	cmd_if_shell_callback(struct job *);
+static void	cmd_if_shell_free(void *);
 
 const struct cmd_entry cmd_if_shell_entry = {
 	.name = "if-shell",
@@ -49,10 +49,8 @@ const struct cmd_entry cmd_if_shell_entry = {
 };
 
 struct cmd_if_shell_data {
-	struct cmd_parse_input	 input;
-
-	char			*cmd_if;
-	char			*cmd_else;
+	struct cmd_list		*cmd_if;
+	struct cmd_list		*cmd_else;
 
 	struct client		*client;
 	struct cmdq_item	*item;
@@ -63,46 +61,42 @@ cmd_if_shell_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 {
 	struct args			*args = cmd_get_args(self);
 	struct cmd_find_state		*target = cmdq_get_target(item);
-	struct cmdq_state		*state = cmdq_get_state(item);
 	struct cmd_if_shell_data	*cdata;
-	char				*shellcmd, *error;
-	const char			*cmd = NULL, *file;
+	struct cmdq_item		*new_item;
+	char				*shellcmd;
 	struct client			*tc = cmdq_get_target_client(item);
 	struct session			*s = target->s;
-	struct cmd_parse_input		 pi;
-	enum cmd_parse_status		 status;
+	struct cmd_list			*cmdlist = NULL;
 	u_int				 count = args_count(args);
 
 	shellcmd = format_single_from_target(item, args_string(args, 0));
 	if (args_has(args, 'F')) {
 		if (*shellcmd != '0' && *shellcmd != '\0')
-			cmd = args_string(args, 1);
+			cmdlist = args_make_commands_now(self, item, 1);
 		else if (count == 3)
-			cmd = args_string(args, 2);
-		free(shellcmd);
-		if (cmd == NULL)
+			cmdlist = args_make_commands_now(self, item, 2);
+		else {
+			free(shellcmd);
 			return (CMD_RETURN_NORMAL);
-
-		memset(&pi, 0, sizeof pi);
-		cmd_get_source(self, &pi.file, &pi.line);
-		pi.item = item;
-		pi.c = tc;
-		cmd_find_copy_state(&pi.fs, target);
-
-		status = cmd_parse_and_insert(cmd, &pi, item, state, &error);
-		if (status == CMD_PARSE_ERROR) {
-			cmdq_error(item, "%s", error);
-			free(error);
-			return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
 		}
+		free(shellcmd);
+		if (cmdlist == NULL)
+			return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
+		new_item = cmdq_get_command(cmdlist, cmdq_get_state(item));
+		cmdq_insert_after(item, new_item);
 		return (CMD_RETURN_NORMAL);
 	}
 
 	cdata = xcalloc(1, sizeof *cdata);
 
-	cdata->cmd_if = xstrdup(args_string(args, 1));
-	if (count == 3)
-		cdata->cmd_else = xstrdup(args_string(args, 2));
+	cdata->cmd_if = args_make_commands_now(self, item, 1);
+	if (cdata->cmd_if == NULL)
+	    return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
+	if (count == 3) {
+		cdata->cmd_else = args_make_commands_now(self, item, 2);
+		if (cdata->cmd_else == NULL)
+		    return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
+	}
 
 	if (!args_has(args, 'b'))
 		cdata->client = cmdq_get_client(item);
@@ -114,14 +108,6 @@ cmd_if_shell_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	if (!args_has(args, 'b'))
 		cdata->item = item;
 
-	cmd_get_source(self, &file, &cdata->input.line);
-	if (file != NULL)
-		cdata->input.file = xstrdup(file);
-	cdata->input.c = tc;
-	if (cdata->input.c != NULL)
-		cdata->input.c->references++;
-	cmd_find_copy_state(&cdata->input.fs, target);
-
 	if (job_run(shellcmd, 0, NULL, s,
 	    server_client_get_cwd(cmdq_get_client(item), s), NULL,
 	    cmd_if_shell_callback, cmd_if_shell_free, cdata, 0, -1,
@@ -143,43 +129,24 @@ cmd_if_shell_callback(struct job *job)
 {
 	struct cmd_if_shell_data	*cdata = job_get_data(job);
 	struct client			*c = cdata->client;
-	struct cmdq_item		*new_item = NULL;
-	struct cmdq_state		*new_state = NULL;
-	char				*cmd;
+	struct cmdq_item		*item = cdata->item, *new_item;
+	struct cmd_list			*cmdlist;
 	int				 status;
-	struct cmd_parse_result		*pr;
 
 	status = job_get_status(job);
 	if (!WIFEXITED(status) || WEXITSTATUS(status) != 0)
-		cmd = cdata->cmd_else;
+		cmdlist = cdata->cmd_else;
 	else
-		cmd = cdata->cmd_if;
-	if (cmd == NULL)
+		cmdlist = cdata->cmd_if;
+	if (cmdlist == NULL)
 		goto out;
 
-	pr = cmd_parse_from_string(cmd, &cdata->input);
-	switch (pr->status) {
-	case CMD_PARSE_ERROR:
-		if (cdata->item != NULL)
-		       cmdq_error(cdata->item, "%s", pr->error);
-		free(pr->error);
-		break;
-	case CMD_PARSE_SUCCESS:
-		if (cdata->item == NULL)
-			new_state = cmdq_new_state(NULL, NULL, 0);
-		else
-			new_state = cmdq_get_state(cdata->item);
-		new_item = cmdq_get_command(pr->cmdlist, new_state);
-		if (cdata->item == NULL)
-			cmdq_free_state(new_state);
-		cmd_list_free(pr->cmdlist);
-		break;
-	}
-	if (new_item != NULL) {
-		if (cdata->item == NULL)
-			cmdq_append(c, new_item);
-		else
-			cmdq_insert_after(cdata->item, new_item);
+	if (item == NULL) {
+		new_item = cmdq_get_command(cmdlist, NULL);
+		cmdq_append(c, new_item);
+	} else {
+		new_item = cmdq_get_command(cmdlist, cmdq_get_state(item));
+		cmdq_insert_after(item, new_item);
 	}
 
 out:
@@ -195,12 +162,9 @@ cmd_if_shell_free(void *data)
 	if (cdata->client != NULL)
 		server_client_unref(cdata->client);
 
-	free(cdata->cmd_else);
-	free(cdata->cmd_if);
-
-	if (cdata->input.c != NULL)
-		server_client_unref(cdata->input.c);
-	free((void *)cdata->input.file);
+	if (cdata->cmd_else != NULL)
+		cmd_list_free(cdata->cmd_else);
+	cmd_list_free(cdata->cmd_if);
 
 	free(cdata);
 }
diff --git a/cmd-run-shell.c b/cmd-run-shell.c
index 207e4710..f23a8ec3 100644
--- a/cmd-run-shell.c
+++ b/cmd-run-shell.c
@@ -53,14 +53,13 @@ const struct cmd_entry cmd_run_shell_entry = {
 struct cmd_run_shell_data {
 	struct client		*client;
 	char			*cmd;
-	int			 shell;
+	struct cmd_list		*cmdlist;
 	char			*cwd;
 	struct cmdq_item	*item;
 	struct session		*s;
 	int			 wp_id;
 	struct event		 timer;
 	int			 flags;
-	struct cmd_parse_input	 pi;
 };
 
 static void
@@ -100,11 +99,10 @@ cmd_run_shell_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	struct client			*tc = cmdq_get_target_client(item);
 	struct session			*s = target->s;
 	struct window_pane		*wp = target->wp;
-	const char			*delay;
+	const char			*delay, *cmd;
 	double				 d;
 	struct timeval			 tv;
 	char				*end;
-	const char			*cmd = args_string(args, 0);
 	int				 wait = !args_has(args, 'b');
 
 	if ((delay = args_get(args, 'd')) != NULL) {
@@ -117,16 +115,14 @@ cmd_run_shell_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 		return (CMD_RETURN_NORMAL);
 
 	cdata = xcalloc(1, sizeof *cdata);
-	if (cmd != NULL)
-		cdata->cmd = format_single_from_target(item, cmd);
-
-	cdata->shell = !args_has(args, 'C');
-	if (!cdata->shell) {
-		cmd_get_source(self, &cdata->pi.file, &cdata->pi.line);
-		if (wait)
-			cdata->pi.item = item;
-		cdata->pi.c = tc;
-		cmd_find_copy_state(&cdata->pi.fs, target);
+	if (!args_has(args, 'C')) {
+		cmd = args_string(args, 0);
+		if (cmd != NULL)
+			cdata->cmd = format_single_from_target(item, cmd);
+	} else {
+		cdata->cmdlist = args_make_commands_now(self, item, 0);
+		if (cdata->cmdlist == NULL)
+			return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
 	}
 
 	if (args_has(args, 't') && wp != NULL)
@@ -170,11 +166,9 @@ cmd_run_shell_timer(__unused int fd, __unused short events, void* arg)
 	struct cmd_run_shell_data	*cdata = arg;
 	struct client			*c = cdata->client;
 	const char			*cmd = cdata->cmd;
-	char				*error;
-	struct cmdq_item		*item = cdata->item;
-	enum cmd_parse_status		 status;
+	struct cmdq_item		*item = cdata->item, *new_item;
 
-	if (cmd != NULL && cdata->shell) {
+	if (cdata->cmdlist == NULL && cmd != NULL) {
 		if (job_run(cmd, 0, NULL, cdata->s, cdata->cwd, NULL,
 		    cmd_run_shell_callback, cmd_run_shell_free, cdata,
 		    cdata->flags, -1, -1) == NULL)
@@ -182,21 +176,14 @@ cmd_run_shell_timer(__unused int fd, __unused short events, void* arg)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (cmd != NULL) {
-		if (item != NULL) {
-			status = cmd_parse_and_insert(cmd, &cdata->pi, item,
-			    cmdq_get_state(item), &error);
+	if (cdata->cmdlist != NULL) {
+		if (item == NULL) {
+			new_item = cmdq_get_command(cdata->cmdlist, NULL);
+			cmdq_append(c, new_item);
 		} else {
-			status = cmd_parse_and_append(cmd, &cdata->pi, c, NULL,
-			    &error);
-		}
-		if (status == CMD_PARSE_ERROR) {
-			if (cdata->item == NULL) {
-				*error = toupper((u_char)*error);
-				status_message_set(c, -1, 1, 0, "%s", error);
-			} else
-				cmdq_error(cdata->item, "%s", error);
-			free(error);
+			new_item = cmdq_get_command(cdata->cmdlist,
+			    cmdq_get_state(item));
+			cmdq_insert_after(item, new_item);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -265,6 +252,8 @@ cmd_run_shell_free(void *data)
 		session_remove_ref(cdata->s, __func__);
 	if (cdata->client != NULL)
 		server_client_unref(cdata->client);
+	if (cdata->cmdlist != NULL)
+		cmd_list_free(cdata->cmdlist);
 	free(cdata->cwd);
 	free(cdata->cmd);
 	free(cdata);
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index fa0268a2..6bdc7e6a 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 extern char   **environ;
 
 struct args;
+struct args_command_state;
 struct client;
 struct cmd;
 struct cmd_find_state;
@@ -2213,6 +2214,14 @@ u_char		 args_next(struct args_entry **);
 u_int		 args_count(struct args *);
 struct args_value *args_value(struct args *, u_int);
 const char	*args_string(struct args *, u_int);
+struct cmd_list	*args_make_commands_now(struct cmd *, struct cmdq_item *,
+		     u_int);
+struct args_command_state *args_make_commands_prepare(struct cmd *,
+		     struct cmdq_item *, u_int, const char *, int, int);
+struct cmd_list *args_make_commands(struct args_command_state *, int, char **,
+		     char **);
+void		 args_make_commands_free(struct args_command_state *);
+char		*args_make_commands_get_command(struct args_command_state *);
 struct args_value *args_first_value(struct args *, u_char);
 struct args_value *args_next_value(struct args_value *);
 long long	 args_strtonum(struct args *, u_char, long long, long long,