diff --git a/initd/runlst.c b/initd/runlst.c
index 908ec15..ee8c5c5 100644
--- a/initd/runlst.c
+++ b/initd/runlst.c
@@ -37,15 +37,28 @@ static NORETURN void split_and_exec(char *cmd)
 	while (*cmd != '\0') {
 		argv[i++] = cmd;	/* FIXME: buffer overflow!! */
 
-		while (*cmd != '\0' && !isspace(*cmd))
-			++cmd;
+		if (*cmd == '"') {
+			while (*cmd != '\0' && *cmd != '"') {
+				if (cmd[0] == '\\' && cmd[1] != '\0')
+					++cmd;
 
-		if (isspace(*cmd)) {
-			*(cmd++) = '\0';
-
-			while (isspace(*cmd))
 				++cmd;
+			}
+
+			if (*cmd == '"')
+				*(cmd++) = '\0';
+
+			unescape(argv[i - 1]);
+		} else {
+			while (*cmd != '\0' && *cmd != ' ')
+				++cmd;
+
+			if (*cmd == ' ')
+				*(cmd++) = '\0';
 		}
+
+		while (*cmd == ' ')
+			++cmd;
 	}
 
 	argv[i] = NULL;
diff --git a/lib/include/util.h b/lib/include/util.h
index e99be3b..0ed7002 100644
--- a/lib/include/util.h
+++ b/lib/include/util.h
@@ -68,20 +68,10 @@ typedef struct {
 char *rdline(int fd, int argc, const char *const *argv);
 
 /*
-	Split a line of the shape "key = value" into key and value part.
-
-	The key can contain alphanumeric characters and can be padded with
-	spaces or tabs.
-
-	The value can be either a sequence of alphanumeric characters, period
-	or underscore OR a string in quotation marks. For strings, the
-	quotation marks are removed and escape sequences are processed.
-
-	The value may also be padded with spaces or tabs but the line may not
-	contain anything else after the value, except for spaces, tabs or
-	the '#' symbol which is interpreted as start of a comment.
+	Remove double quotes ('"') from a string and substitute escape
+	sequences in between double quotes.
 */
-int splitkv(char *line, char **key, char **value);
+int unescape(char *src);
 
 /*
 	Search through an array of enum_map_t entries to resolve a string to
diff --git a/lib/src/rdsvc.c b/lib/src/rdsvc.c
index b186cd9..04cf30f 100644
--- a/lib/src/rdsvc.c
+++ b/lib/src/rdsvc.c
@@ -28,10 +28,21 @@
 #include "service.h"
 #include "util.h"
 
+static int try_unescape(char *arg, const char *filename, size_t lineno)
+{
+	if (unescape(arg)) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "%s: %zu: malformed string constant\n",
+			filename, lineno);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int svc_desc(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 		    const char *filename, size_t lineno)
 {
-	(void)filename; (void)lineno;
+	if (try_unescape(arg, filename, lineno))
+		return -1;
 	svc->desc = arg;
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -39,7 +50,8 @@ static int svc_desc(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 static int svc_tty(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 		   const char *filename, size_t lineno)
 {
-	(void)filename; (void)lineno;
+	if (try_unescape(arg, filename, lineno))
+		return -1;
 	svc->ctty = arg;
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -63,8 +75,12 @@ static int svc_exec(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 static int svc_before(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 		      const char *filename, size_t lineno)
 {
-	char **new = realloc(svc->before,
-			     sizeof(char*) * (svc->num_before + 1));
+	char **new;
+
+	if (try_unescape(arg, filename, lineno))
+		return -1;
+
+	new = realloc(svc->before, sizeof(char*) * (svc->num_before + 1));
 
 	if (new == NULL) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "%s: %zu: out of memory\n", filename, lineno);
@@ -80,7 +96,12 @@ static int svc_before(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 static int svc_after(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 		     const char *filename, size_t lineno)
 {
-	char **new = realloc(svc->after, sizeof(char*) * (svc->num_after + 1));
+	char **new;
+
+	if (try_unescape(arg, filename, lineno))
+		return -1;
+
+	new = realloc(svc->after, sizeof(char*) * (svc->num_after + 1));
 
 	if (new == NULL) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "%s: %zu: out of memory\n", filename, lineno);
@@ -96,7 +117,22 @@ static int svc_after(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 static int svc_type(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 		    const char *filename, size_t lineno)
 {
-	int type = svc_type_from_string(arg);
+	char *extra;
+	int type;
+
+	if (try_unescape(arg, filename, lineno))
+		return -1;
+
+	for (extra = arg; *extra != ' ' && *extra != '\0'; ++extra)
+		;
+
+	if (*extra == ' ') {
+		*(extra++) = '\0';
+	} else {
+		extra = NULL;
+	}
+
+	type = svc_type_from_string(arg);
 
 	if (type == -1) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "%s: %zu: unknown service type '%s'\n",
@@ -104,15 +140,51 @@ static int svc_type(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	if (extra != NULL) {
+		switch (type) {
+		case SVC_RESPAWN:
+			if (strncmp(extra, "limit ", 6) != 0)
+				goto fail_limit;
+			extra += 6;
+
+			svc->rspwn_limit = 0;
+
+			if (!isdigit(*extra))
+				goto fail_limit;
+
+			while (isdigit(*extra)) {
+				svc->rspwn_limit *= 10;
+				svc->rspwn_limit += *(extra++) - '0';
+			}
+
+			if (*extra != '\0')
+				goto fail_limit;
+			break;
+		default:
+			fprintf(stderr, "%s: %zu: unexpected extra arguments "
+				"for type '%s'\n", filename, lineno, arg);
+			return -1;
+		}
+	}
+
 	svc->type = type;
 	free(arg);
 	return 0;
+fail_limit:
+	fprintf(stderr, "%s: %zu: expected 'limit <value>' after 'respawn'\n",
+		filename, lineno);
+	return -1;
 }
 
 static int svc_target(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 		      const char *filename, size_t lineno)
 {
-	int target = svc_target_from_string(arg);
+	int target;
+
+	if (try_unescape(arg, filename, lineno))
+		return -1;
+
+	target = svc_target_from_string(arg);
 
 	if (target == -1) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "%s: %zu: unknown service target '%s'\n",
@@ -125,33 +197,6 @@ static int svc_target(service_t *svc, char *arg,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int svc_rspwn_limit(service_t *svc, char *arg,
-			   const char *filename, size_t lineno)
-{
-	const char *ptr;
-
-	svc->rspwn_limit = 0;
-
-	if (!isdigit(*arg))
-		goto fail;
-
-	for (ptr = arg; isdigit(*ptr); ++ptr)
-		svc->rspwn_limit = svc->rspwn_limit * 10 + (*ptr - '0');
-
-	if (*ptr != '\0')
-		goto fail;
-
-	free(arg);
-	return 0;
-fail:
-	fprintf(stderr,
-		"%s: %zu: expected numeric argument for respawn limit\n",
-		filename, lineno);
-	free(arg);
-	return -1;
-}
-
-
 static const struct {
 	const char *key;
 
@@ -165,7 +210,6 @@ static const struct {
 	{ "tty", svc_tty },
 	{ "before", svc_before },
 	{ "after", svc_after },
-	{ "respawn_limit", svc_rspwn_limit },
 };
 
 
@@ -239,36 +283,42 @@ service_t *rdsvc(int dirfd, const char *filename)
 			goto fail;
 		}
 
-		if (splitkv(line, &key, &value)) {
-			if (key == NULL) {
-				fprintf(stderr,
-					"%s: %zu: expected <key> = <value>\n",
-					filename, lineno);
-			} else if (value == NULL) {
-				fprintf(stderr,
-					"%s: %zu: expected value after %s\n",
-					filename, lineno, key);
-			} else {
-				fprintf(stderr,
-					"%s: %zu: unexpected arguments "
-					"after key-value pair\n",
-					filename, lineno);
-			}
-			goto fail;
-		}
-
-		if (key == NULL) {
+		if (!strlen(line)) {
 			free(line);
 			continue;
 		}
 
+		key = value = line;
+
+		while (*value != ' ' && *value != '\0') {
+			if (!isalpha(*value)) {
+				fprintf(stderr, "%s: %zu: unexpected '%c' in "
+					"keyword\n", filename, lineno, *value);
+				goto fail_line;
+			}
+			++value;
+		}
+
+		if (*value == ' ') {
+			*(value++) = '\0';
+		} else {
+			value = NULL;
+		}
+
 		for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(svc_params); ++i) {
 			if (!strcmp(svc_params[i].key, key))
 				break;
 		}
 
 		if (i >= ARRAY_SIZE(svc_params)) {
-			fprintf(stderr, "%s: %zu: unknown parameter '%s'\n",
+			fprintf(stderr, "%s: %zu: unknown keyword '%s'\n",
+				filename, lineno, key);
+			goto fail_line;
+		}
+
+		if (value == NULL) {
+			fprintf(stderr,
+				"%s: %zu: expected argument after '%s'\n",
 				filename, lineno, key);
 			goto fail_line;
 		}
diff --git a/lib/src/splitkv.c b/lib/src/splitkv.c
index b1ef8d3..3631ea8 100644
--- a/lib/src/splitkv.c
+++ b/lib/src/splitkv.c
@@ -19,13 +19,6 @@
 
 #include "util.h"
 
-static char *skpspc(char *ptr)
-{
-	while (*ptr == ' ' || *ptr == '\t')
-		++ptr;
-	return ptr;
-}
-
 static int xdigit(int x)
 {
 	if (isupper(x))
@@ -35,107 +28,61 @@ static int xdigit(int x)
 	return x - '0';
 }
 
-static char *parse_str(char *src)
+int unescape(char *src)
 {
 	char *dst = src;
 	int c;
 
 	for (;;) {
-		c = *(src++);
+		while (*src != '"' && *src != '\0')
+			*(dst++) = *(src++);
 
-		switch (c) {
-		case '\\':
-			c = *(src++);
-
-			switch (c) {
-			case 'a': c = '\a'; break;
-			case 'b': c = '\b'; break;
-			case 'f': c = '\f'; break;
-			case 'n': c = '\n'; break;
-			case 't': c = '\t'; break;
-			case '\\': break;
-			case '"': break;
-			case 'x':
-				c = 0;
-				if (isxdigit(*src))
-					c = (c << 4) | xdigit(*(src++));
-				if (isxdigit(*src))
-					c = (c << 4) | xdigit(*(src++));
-				break;
-			case '0':
-				c = 0;
-				if (isdigit(*src) && *src < '8')
-					c = (c << 3) | (*(src++) - '0');
-				if (isdigit(*src) && *src < '8')
-					c = (c << 3) | (*(src++) - '0');
-				if (isdigit(*src) && *src < '8')
-					c = (c << 3) | (*(src++) - '0');
-				break;
-			default:
-				return NULL;
-			}
+		if (*src == '\0')
 			break;
-		case '"':
-			*(dst++) = '\0';
-			goto out;
+
+		++src;
+
+		while ((c = *(src++)) != '"') {
+			if (c == '\0')
+				return -1;
+
+			if (c == '\\') {
+				c = *(src++);
+
+				switch (c) {
+				case 'a': c = '\a'; break;
+				case 'b': c = '\b'; break;
+				case 'f': c = '\f'; break;
+				case 'n': c = '\n'; break;
+				case 't': c = '\t'; break;
+				case '\\':
+				case '"':
+					break;
+				case 'x':
+					c = 0;
+					if (isxdigit(*src))
+						c = (c<<4) | xdigit(*(src++));
+					if (isxdigit(*src))
+						c = (c<<4) | xdigit(*(src++));
+					break;
+				case '0':
+					c = 0;
+					if (isdigit(*src) && *src < '8')
+						c = (c<<3) | (*(src++) - '0');
+					if (isdigit(*src) && *src < '8')
+						c = (c<<3) | (*(src++) - '0');
+					if (isdigit(*src) && *src < '8')
+						c = (c<<3) | (*(src++) - '0');
+					break;
+				default:
+					return -1;
+				}
+			}
+
+			*(dst++) = c;
 		}
-
-		*(dst++) = c;
-	}
-out:
-	return src;
-}
-
-int splitkv(char *line, char **key, char **value)
-{
-	*key = NULL;
-	*value = NULL;
-
-	line = skpspc(line);
-
-	if (*line == '#' || *line == '\0')
-		return 0;
-
-	if (!isalpha(*line))
-		return -1;
-
-	*key = line;
-
-	while (isalnum(*line))
-		++line;
-
-	if (*line == ' ' || *line == '\t') {
-		*(line++) = '\0';
-		line = skpspc(line);
 	}
 
-	if (*line != '=')
-		return -1;
-
-	*(line++) = '\0';
-	line = skpspc(line);
-
-	if (*line == '"') {
-		++line;
-		*value = line;
-
-		line = parse_str(line);
-	} else if (isalnum(*line)) {
-		*value = line;
-
-		while (isalnum(*line) || *line == '.' || *line == '_')
-			++line;
-
-		if (*line != '\0')
-			*(line++) = '\0';
-	} else {
-		return -1;
-	}
-
-	line = skpspc(line);
-
-	if (*line != '\0' && *line != '#')
-		return -1;
-
+	*(dst++) = '\0';
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/services/agetty.in b/services/agetty.in
index c0ae21b..c4f78ad 100644
--- a/services/agetty.in
+++ b/services/agetty.in
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-description = "agetty on %0"
-exec = "@SBINPATH@/agetty %0 linux"
-type = respawn
-target = boot
-after = sysinit
-tty = "/dev/%0"
+description agetty on %0
+exec "@SBINPATH@/agetty" %0 linux
+type respawn
+target boot
+after sysinit
+tty "/dev/%0"
diff --git a/services/hostname.in b/services/hostname.in
index be0020d..55b71d9 100644
--- a/services/hostname.in
+++ b/services/hostname.in
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-description = "reload hostname"
-exec = "@BINPATH@/hostname --file /etc/hostname"
-type = wait
-target = boot
-before = sysinit
-after = hwclock
+description reload hostname
+exec "@BINPATH@/hostname" --file /etc/hostname
+type wait
+target boot
+before sysinit
+after hwclock
diff --git a/services/hwclock.in b/services/hwclock.in
index e8a2513..d07b3e7 100644
--- a/services/hwclock.in
+++ b/services/hwclock.in
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-description = "restore time from RTC"
-exec = "@SBINPATH@/hwclock --hctosys --utc"
-type = wait
-target = boot
-before = sysinit
+description restore time from RTC
+exec "@SBINPATH@/hwclock" --hctosys --utc
+type wait
+target boot
+before sysinit
diff --git a/services/loopback.in b/services/loopback.in
index 741ed1c..c44306c 100644
--- a/services/loopback.in
+++ b/services/loopback.in
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-description = "configure network loopback device"
-type = wait
-target = boot
-before = sysinit
-after = hwclock
-after = hostname
+description configure network loopback device
+type wait
+target boot
+before sysinit
+after hwclock
+after hostname
 
-exec = "@SBINPATH@/ip addr add 127.0.0.1/8 dev lo brd +"
-exec = "@SBINPATH@/ip link set lo up"
+exec "@SBINPATH@/ip" addr add 127.0.0.1/8 dev lo brd +
+exec "@SBINPATH@/ip" link set lo up
diff --git a/services/reboot.in b/services/reboot.in
index 94d1b78..3c3c689 100644
--- a/services/reboot.in
+++ b/services/reboot.in
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-description = "system reboot"
-exec = "@SBINPATH@/shutdown -nrf"
-type = wait
-target = reboot
-after = "sync"
-after = "sigkill"
-after = "sigterm"
+description system reboot
+exec "@SBINPATH@/shutdown" -nrf
+type wait
+target reboot
+after sync
+after sigkill
+after sigterm
diff --git a/services/shutdown.in b/services/shutdown.in
index 560dd47..c357b36 100644
--- a/services/shutdown.in
+++ b/services/shutdown.in
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-description = "system shutdown"
-exec = "@SBINPATH@/shutdown -npf"
-type = wait
-target = shutdown
-after = "sync"
-after = "sigkill"
-after = "sigterm"
+description system shutdown
+exec "@SBINPATH@/shutdown" -npf
+type wait
+target shutdown
+after sync
+after sigkill
+after sigterm
diff --git a/services/sigkill.in b/services/sigkill.in
index 10e96b4..8f09dd5 100644
--- a/services/sigkill.in
+++ b/services/sigkill.in
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-description = "send SIGKILL to remaining processes"
-exec = "@SCRIPTDIR@/killall5 9"
-type = wait
-target = "%0"
-after = "sigterm"
-before = "sync"
-before = "shutdown"
-before = "reboot"
+description send SIGKILL to remaining processes
+exec "@SCRIPTDIR@/killall5" 9
+type wait
+target %0
+after sigterm
+before sync
+before shutdown
+before reboot
diff --git a/services/sigterm.in b/services/sigterm.in
index 126d144..b00610c 100644
--- a/services/sigterm.in
+++ b/services/sigterm.in
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-description = "send SIGTERM to all processes"
-exec = "@SCRIPTDIR@/killall5 15"
-exec = "@BINPATH@/sleep 5"
-type = wait
-target = "%0"
-before = "sigkill"
-before = "sync"
-before = "reboot"
-before = "shutdown"
+description send SIGTERM to all processes
+exec "@SCRIPTDIR@/killall5" 15
+exec "@BINPATH@/sleep" 5
+type wait
+target %0
+before sigkill
+before sync
+before reboot
+before shutdown
diff --git a/services/sync.in b/services/sync.in
index 69571cf..0ffb9a5 100644
--- a/services/sync.in
+++ b/services/sync.in
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-description = "sync"
-exec = "@BINPATH@/sync"
-type = wait
-target = "%0"
-after = "sigkill"
-after = "sigterm"
-before = "reboot"
-before = "shutdown"
+description sync
+exec "@BINPATH@/sync"
+type wait
+target %0
+after sigkill
+after sigterm
+before reboot
+before shutdown
diff --git a/services/sysctl.in b/services/sysctl.in
index cd7b217..61edaf3 100755
--- a/services/sysctl.in
+++ b/services/sysctl.in
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-description = "configure kernel paramters"
-exec = "@SBINPATH@/sysctl --system"
-type = wait
-target = boot
-before = sysinit
-after = hwclock
-after = hostname
+description configure kernel paramters
+exec "@SBINPATH@/sysctl" --system
+type wait
+target boot
+before sysinit
+after hwclock
+after hostname
diff --git a/services/sysinit b/services/sysinit
index 12e5c55..cb5eb6b 100644
--- a/services/sysinit
+++ b/services/sysinit
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-description = "basic system initialization"
-type = once
-target = boot
+description basic system initialization
+type once
+target boot