diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 32875ea7b..3b0fa6e6a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -86,7 +86,8 @@ SET(AWE_MAN_SRCS
 ADD_EXECUTABLE(${PROJECT_AWE_NAME} ${AWE_SRCS}
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/common/tokenize.c)
 
-ADD_EXECUTABLE(${PROJECT_AWECLIENT_NAME} ${AWE_CLIENT_SRCS})
+ADD_EXECUTABLE(${PROJECT_AWECLIENT_NAME} ${AWE_CLIENT_SRCS}
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/common/tokenize.c)
 
 TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(${PROJECT_AWE_NAME}
     ${AWESOME_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES}
diff --git a/client.c b/client.c
index 951d1f70c..1c09991ad 100644
--- a/client.c
+++ b/client.c
@@ -293,13 +293,14 @@ client_raise(client_t *c)
 
     for(screen = 0; screen < globalconf.screens_info->nscreen; screen++)
         for(sb = globalconf.screens[screen].statusbar; sb; sb = sb->next)
-        {
-            xcb_configure_window(globalconf.connection,
-                                 sb->sw->window,
-                                 XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_SIBLING | XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_STACK_MODE,
-                                 config_win_vals);
-            config_win_vals[0] = sb->sw->window;
-        }
+            if(sb->sw)
+            {
+                xcb_configure_window(globalconf.connection,
+                                     sb->sw->window,
+                                     XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_SIBLING | XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_STACK_MODE,
+                                     config_win_vals);
+                config_win_vals[0] = sb->sw->window;
+            }
 
     for(layer = LAYER_OUTOFSPACE - 1; layer >= LAYER_DESKTOP; layer--)
         for(node = globalconf.stack; node; node = node->next)
@@ -957,7 +958,7 @@ luaA_client_border_set(lua_State *L)
 {
     client_t **c = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "client");
     int width = luaA_getopt_number(L, 2, "width", (*c)->border);
-    const char *colorstr = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "color", NULL);
+    const char *colorstr = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "color", NULL, NULL);
     xcolor_t color;
 
     client_setborder(*c, width);
diff --git a/common/draw.c b/common/draw.c
index f84e66b5c..cd21954b6 100644
--- a/common/draw.c
+++ b/common/draw.c
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ static void
 draw_markup_on_element(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
                        const char **names, const char **values)
 {
+    size_t len;
     draw_parser_data_t *data = p->priv;
 
     /* hack: markup.c validates tags so we can avoid strcmps here */
@@ -222,10 +223,10 @@ draw_markup_on_element(markup_parser_data_t *p, const char *elem,
         break;
       case 't': /* text */
         for(; *names; names++, values++)
-            switch(a_tokenize(*names, -1))
+            switch(a_tokenize(*names, (len = a_strlen(*names))))
             {
               case A_TK_ALIGN:
-                data->align = draw_align_get_from_str(*values);
+                data->align = draw_align_fromstr(*values, len);
                 break;
               case A_TK_SHADOW:
                 xcolor_new(data->connection, data->phys_screen, *values,
@@ -1019,11 +1020,12 @@ draw_text_extents(xcb_connection_t *conn, int phys_screen, font_t *font, const c
 /** Transform a string to a alignment_t type.
  * Recognized string are left, center or right. Everything else will be
  * recognized as AlignAuto.
- * \param align string with align text
- * \return alignment_t type
+ * \param align Atring with align text.
+ * \param len The string length.
+ * \return An alignment_t type.
  */
 alignment_t
-draw_align_get_from_str(const char *align)
+draw_align_fromstr(const char *align, ssize_t len)
 {
     switch (a_tokenize(align, -1))
     {
diff --git a/common/draw.h b/common/draw.h
index edb85d5f4..62b8a5a99 100644
--- a/common/draw.h
+++ b/common/draw.h
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ void draw_image(draw_context_t *, int, int, int, draw_image_t *);
 void draw_image_from_argb_data(draw_context_t *, int, int, int, int, int, unsigned char *);
 void draw_rotate(draw_context_t *, xcb_drawable_t, xcb_drawable_t, int, int, int, int, double, int, int);
 area_t draw_text_extents(xcb_connection_t *, int, font_t *, const char *, draw_parser_data_t *);
-alignment_t draw_align_get_from_str(const char *);
+alignment_t draw_align_fromstr(const char *, ssize_t);
 bool xcolor_new(xcb_connection_t *, int, const char *, xcolor_t *);
 
 void area_array_remove(area_array_t *, area_t);
diff --git a/common/tokenize.gperf b/common/tokenize.gperf
index 7da51d8d7..06faddaed 100644
--- a/common/tokenize.gperf
+++ b/common/tokenize.gperf
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 align
+auto
 bg
 border_padding
 border_width
diff --git a/common/util.c b/common/util.c
index a15909c6f..dc363aad6 100644
--- a/common/util.c
+++ b/common/util.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <limits.h>
 
 #include "util.h"
+#include "tokenize.h"
 
 /** Print error and exit with EXIT_FAILURE code.
  */
@@ -94,24 +95,37 @@ name_func_rlookup(void * funcp, const name_func_link_t *list)
     return NULL;
 }
 
+/** Get a position type from a string.
+ * \param pos The position.
+ * \param len The string length, -1 if unknown.
+ * \return A position.
+ */
 position_t
-position_get_from_str(const char *pos)
+position_fromstr(const char *pos, ssize_t len)
 {
-    if(!a_strcmp(pos, "top"))
+    switch(a_tokenize(pos, len))
+    {
+      case A_TK_TOP:
         return Top;
-    else if(!a_strcmp(pos, "bottom"))
+      case A_TK_BOTTOM:
         return Bottom;
-    else if(!a_strcmp(pos, "right"))
+      case A_TK_RIGHT:
         return Right;
-    else if(!a_strcmp(pos, "left"))
+      case A_TK_LEFT:
         return Left;
-    else if(!a_strcmp(pos, "auto"))
+      case A_TK_AUTO:
         return Auto;
-    return Off;
+      default:
+        return Off;
+    }
 }
 
+/** Convert a position type to a string.
+ * \param p The position.
+ * \return A position string.
+ */
 char *
-position_to_str(position_t p)
+position_tostr(position_t p)
 {
     switch(p)
     {
diff --git a/common/util.h b/common/util.h
index 1162bb910..e7ad5abbb 100644
--- a/common/util.h
+++ b/common/util.h
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@ void _fatal(int, const char *, const char *, ...)
 void _warn(int, const char *, const char *, ...)
     __attribute__ ((format(printf, 3, 4)));
 
-position_t position_get_from_str(const char *);
-char * position_to_str(position_t);
+position_t position_fromstr(const char *, ssize_t);
+char * position_tostr(position_t);
 void *name_func_lookup(const char *, const name_func_link_t *);
 const char * name_func_rlookup(void *, const name_func_link_t *);
 void a_exec(const char *);
diff --git a/lua.c b/lua.c
index b86835dbd..f44a27e97 100644
--- a/lua.c
+++ b/lua.c
@@ -404,10 +404,10 @@ luaA_colors_set(lua_State *L)
 {
     const char *fg, *bg;
     luaA_checktable(L, 1);
-    if((fg = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "fg", NULL)))
+    if((fg = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "fg", NULL, NULL)))
         xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
                        fg, &globalconf.colors.fg);
-    if((bg = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "bg",NULL)))
+    if((bg = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "bg", NULL, NULL)))
         xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
                        bg, &globalconf.colors.bg);
     return 0;
diff --git a/lua.h b/lua.h
index 8ff8195af..0e4ec4021 100644
--- a/lua.h
+++ b/lua.h
@@ -147,12 +147,12 @@ luaA_getopt_number(lua_State *L, int idx, const char *name, lua_Number def)
 }
 
 static inline const char *
-luaA_getopt_string(lua_State *L, int idx, const char *name, const char *def)
+luaA_getopt_string(lua_State *L, int idx, const char *name, const char *def, size_t *len)
 {
     /* assume that table is first on stack */
     lua_getfield(L, idx, name);
     /* return luaL_optnumber result */
-    return luaL_optstring(L, -1, def);
+    return luaL_optlstring(L, -1, def, len);
 }
 
 static inline bool
diff --git a/mouse.c b/mouse.c
index f7abeb6c6..c6165c030 100644
--- a/mouse.c
+++ b/mouse.c
@@ -58,12 +58,14 @@ typedef enum
 
 /** Convert a corner name into a corner type.
  * \param str A string.
+ * \param len String length.
  * \return A corner type.
  */
 static corner_t
-a_strtocorner(const char *str)
+a_strtocorner(const char *str, size_t len)
 {
-    switch (a_tokenize(str, -1)) {
+    switch (a_tokenize(str, len))
+    {
       case A_TK_BOTTOMRIGHT: return BottomRightCorner;
       case A_TK_BOTTOMLEFT:  return BottomLeftCorner;
       case A_TK_TOPLEFT:     return TopLeftCorner;
@@ -1058,11 +1060,12 @@ luaA_client_mouse_resize(lua_State *L)
     client_t **c = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "client");
     corner_t corner = AutoCorner;
     bool infobox = true;
+    size_t len;
 
     if(lua_gettop(L) == 2 && !lua_isnil(L, 2))
     {
         luaA_checktable(L, 2);
-        corner = a_strtocorner(luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "corner", "auto"));
+        corner = a_strtocorner(luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "corner", "auto", &len), len);
         infobox = luaA_getopt_boolean(L, 2, "infobox", true);
     }
 
diff --git a/statusbar.c b/statusbar.c
index a9e1e08f2..96e4cd5d5 100644
--- a/statusbar.c
+++ b/statusbar.c
@@ -287,9 +287,10 @@ statusbar_position_update(statusbar_t *statusbar, position_t position)
 static int
 luaA_statusbar_position_set(lua_State *L)
 {
+    size_t len;
     statusbar_t *s, **sb = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "statusbar");
-    const char *pos = luaL_checkstring(L, 2);
-    position_t position = position_get_from_str(pos);
+    const char *pos = luaL_checklstring(L, 2, &len);
+    position_t position = position_fromstr(pos, len);
 
     if(position != (*sb)->position)
     {
@@ -314,7 +315,7 @@ static int
 luaA_statusbar_position_get(lua_State *L)
 {
     statusbar_t **sb = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "statusbar");
-    lua_pushstring(L, position_to_str((*sb)->position));
+    lua_pushstring(L, position_tostr((*sb)->position));
     return 1;
 }
 
@@ -328,9 +329,10 @@ luaA_statusbar_position_get(lua_State *L)
 static int
 luaA_statusbar_align_set(lua_State *L)
 {
+    size_t len;
     statusbar_t **sb = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "statusbar");
-    const char *al = luaL_checkstring(L, 2);
-    alignment_t align = draw_align_get_from_str(al);
+    const char *al = luaL_checklstring(L, 2, &len);
+    alignment_t align = draw_align_fromstr(al, len);
 
     (*sb)->align = align;
     statusbar_position_update(*sb, (*sb)->position);
@@ -492,7 +494,8 @@ static int
 luaA_statusbar_new(lua_State *L)
 {
     statusbar_t *sb;
-    const char *color;
+    const char *buf;
+    size_t len;
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 1);
 
@@ -501,20 +504,20 @@ luaA_statusbar_new(lua_State *L)
     sb->name = luaA_name_init(L);
 
     lua_getfield(L, 1, "fg");
-    if((color = luaL_optstring(L, -1, NULL)))
+    if((buf = luaL_optstring(L, -1, NULL)))
         xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                       color, &sb->colors.fg);
+                   buf, &sb->colors.fg);
     else
         sb->colors.fg = globalconf.colors.fg;
 
     lua_getfield(L, 1, "bg");
-    if((color = luaL_optstring(L, -1, NULL)))
+    if((buf = luaL_optstring(L, -1, NULL)))
         xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
-                       color, &sb->colors.bg);
+                   buf, &sb->colors.bg);
     else
         sb->colors.bg = globalconf.colors.bg;
 
-    sb->align = draw_align_get_from_str(luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "align", "left"));
+    sb->align = draw_align_fromstr(luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "align", "left", &len), len);
 
     sb->width = luaA_getopt_number(L, 1, "width", 0);
     if(sb->width > 0)
@@ -524,7 +527,8 @@ luaA_statusbar_new(lua_State *L)
         /* 1.5 as default factor, it fits nice but no one knows why */
         sb->height = 1.5 * globalconf.font->height;
 
-    sb->position = position_get_from_str(luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "position", "top"));
+    buf = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "position", "top", &len);
+    sb->position = position_fromstr(buf, len);
 
     return luaA_statusbar_userdata_new(L, sb);
 }
diff --git a/tag.c b/tag.c
index 485260d73..9db1215a0 100644
--- a/tag.c
+++ b/tag.c
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ luaA_tag_new(lua_State *L)
     mwfact = luaA_getopt_number(L, 1, "mwfact", 0.5);
     ncol = luaA_getopt_number(L, 1, "ncol", 1);
     nmaster = luaA_getopt_number(L, 1, "nmaster", 1);
-    lay = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "layout", "tile");
+    lay = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "layout", "tile", NULL);
 
     layout = name_func_lookup(lay, LayoutList);
 
diff --git a/titlebar.c b/titlebar.c
index f7fd49b92..17356fb3a 100644
--- a/titlebar.c
+++ b/titlebar.c
@@ -298,12 +298,13 @@ luaA_titlebar_new(lua_State *L)
 {
     titlebar_t *tb;
     const char *color;
+    size_t len;
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 1);
 
     tb = p_new(titlebar_t, 1);
 
-    tb->align = draw_align_get_from_str(luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "align", "left"));
+    tb->align = draw_align_fromstr(luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "align", "left", &len), len);
 
     tb->width = luaA_getopt_number(L, 1, "width", 0);
     tb->height = luaA_getopt_number(L, 1, "height", 0);
@@ -311,21 +312,21 @@ luaA_titlebar_new(lua_State *L)
         /* 1.5 as default factor, it fits nice but no one knows why */
         tb->height = 1.5 * globalconf.font->height;
 
-    tb->position = position_get_from_str(luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "position", "top"));
+    tb->position = position_fromstr(luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "position", "top", &len), len);
 
-    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, -1, "fg", NULL)))
+    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, -1, "fg", NULL, NULL)))
         xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
                        color, &tb->colors.fg);
     else
         tb->colors.fg = globalconf.colors.fg;
 
-    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "bg", NULL)))
+    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "bg", NULL, NULL)))
         xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
                        color, &tb->colors.bg);
     else
         tb->colors.bg = globalconf.colors.bg;
 
-    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "border_color", NULL)))
+    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "border_color", NULL, NULL)))
         xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
                    color, &tb->border.color);
 
@@ -428,11 +429,11 @@ luaA_titlebar_colors_set(lua_State *L)
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 2);
 
-    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "fg", NULL)))
+    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "fg", NULL, NULL)))
         xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
                        color, &(*tb)->colors.fg);
 
-    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "bg", NULL)))
+    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "bg", NULL, NULL)))
         xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
                        color, &(*tb)->colors.bg);
 
@@ -459,7 +460,7 @@ luaA_titlebar_border_set(lua_State *L)
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 2);
 
-    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "color", NULL)))
+    if((color = luaA_getopt_string(L, 2, "color", NULL, NULL)))
     {
         xcolor_new(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen,
                        color, &(*tb)->border.color);
diff --git a/widget.c b/widget.c
index 6a8357240..d5c25a90b 100644
--- a/widget.c
+++ b/widget.c
@@ -310,11 +310,12 @@ luaA_widget_new(lua_State *L)
     widget_t *w = NULL;
     widget_constructor_t *wc;
     alignment_t align;
+    size_t len;
 
     luaA_checktable(L, 1);
-    align = draw_align_get_from_str(luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "align", "left"));
+    align = draw_align_fromstr(luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "align", "left", &len), len);
 
-    type = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "type", NULL);
+    type = luaA_getopt_string(L, 1, "type", NULL, NULL);
 
     if((wc = name_func_lookup(type, WidgetList)))
         w = wc(align);
diff --git a/widgets/graph.c b/widgets/graph.c
index fa9886e5c..ab384dad7 100644
--- a/widgets/graph.c
+++ b/widgets/graph.c
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ graph_tell(widget_t *widget, const char *property, const char *new_value)
             return WIDGET_ERROR_FORMAT_COLOR;
         return WIDGET_NOERROR;
       case A_TK_GROW:
-        switch((d->grow = position_get_from_str(new_value)))
+        switch((d->grow = position_fromstr(new_value, -1)))
         {
           case Left:
           case Right: