diff --git a/binary-tiling.cpp b/binary-tiling.cpp
index 1a570175..f2a7d2d4 100644
--- a/binary-tiling.cpp
+++ b/binary-tiling.cpp
@@ -866,16 +866,7 @@ EX namespace bt {
     return point3(log(2) + log(-h[0]), h[1] / co, h[2] / co);
     }
   
-#if CAP_COMMANDLINE
-auto bt_config = addHook(hooks_args, 0, [] () {
-  using namespace arg;
-  if(argis("-btwidth")) {
-    shift_arg_formula(vid.binary_width);
-    return 0;
-    }
-  return 1;
-  });
-#endif
+auto bt_config = arg::add2("-btwidth", [] {arg::shift_arg_formula(vid.binary_width); });
 
 EX bool pseudohept(cell *c) {
   if(WDIM == 2)
diff --git a/commandline.cpp b/commandline.cpp
index 61c9b828..04438311 100644
--- a/commandline.cpp
+++ b/commandline.cpp
@@ -398,6 +398,7 @@ EX namespace arg {
     return 1;
     }
 
+  EX int add1(const string& s, const reaction_t& r) { return add_at(s, 1, r); }
   EX int add2(const string& s, const reaction_t& r) { return add_at(s, 2, r); }
   EX int add3(const string& s, const reaction_t& r) { return add_at(s, 3, r); }
 
@@ -419,4 +420,11 @@ EX namespace arg {
 EX }
 #endif
 
+#if !CAP_COMMANDLINE
+EX namespace arg {
+  EX int add1(const string& s, const reaction_t& r) { }
+  EX int add2(const string& s, const reaction_t& r) { }
+  EX int add3(const string& s, const reaction_t& r) { }
+EX }
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/floorshapes.cpp b/floorshapes.cpp
index bdc74e19..74c80c19 100644
--- a/floorshapes.cpp
+++ b/floorshapes.cpp
@@ -1077,14 +1077,7 @@ EX void viewmat() {
     }
   }
 
-#if CAP_COMMANDLINE
-auto floor_hook = 
-  addHook(hooks_args, 100, [] () {
-    using namespace arg;             
-    if(argis("-floordebug")) { floorshape_debug = true; return 0; }
-    else return 1;
-    });
-#endif
+auto floor_hook = arg::add1("-floordebug", [] { floorshape_debug = true; });
 #endif
 
 #if MAXMDIM < 4 || !CAP_GL
diff --git a/history.cpp b/history.cpp
index 4efdc2f5..f38aa2bb 100644
--- a/history.cpp
+++ b/history.cpp
@@ -702,20 +702,7 @@ EX namespace history {
 #endif
     }
 
-  #if CAP_COMMANDLINE
-  int readArgs() {
-    using namespace arg;
-             
-    if(0) ;
-    else if(argis("-playerpath")) {
-      history::create_playerpath();
-      }
-    else return 1;
-    return 0;
-    }
-
-  auto hookArg = addHook(hooks_args, 100, readArgs);
-  #endif  
+  auto hookArg = arg::add3("-playerpath", history::create_playerpath);
 
   auto hooks = addHook(hooks_clearmemory, 0, [] () {
     history::renderAutoband();