diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 3d476595..551cce53 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/blang/semver v3.5.1+incompatible
 	github.com/dustin/go-humanize v1.0.0
 	github.com/go-errors/errors v1.0.1
+	github.com/kballard/go-shellquote v0.0.0-20180428030007-95032a82bc51
 	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.11
 	github.com/mattn/go-runewidth v0.0.7
 	github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir v1.1.0
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 420ee6b9..714b292b 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ github.com/gdamore/encoding v1.0.0 h1:+7OoQ1Bc6eTm5niUzBa0Ctsh6JbMW6Ra+YNuAtDBdk
 github.com/gdamore/encoding v1.0.0/go.mod h1:alR0ol34c49FCSBLjhosxzcPHQbf2trDkoo5dl+VrEg=
 github.com/go-errors/errors v1.0.1 h1:LUHzmkK3GUKUrL/1gfBUxAHzcev3apQlezX/+O7ma6w=
 github.com/go-errors/errors v1.0.1/go.mod h1:f4zRHt4oKfwPJE5k8C9vpYG+aDHdBFUsgrm6/TyX73Q=
+github.com/kballard/go-shellquote v0.0.0-20180428030007-95032a82bc51 h1:Z9n2FFNUXsshfwJMBgNA0RU6/i7WVaAegv3PtuIHPMs=
+github.com/kballard/go-shellquote v0.0.0-20180428030007-95032a82bc51/go.mod h1:CzGEWj7cYgsdH8dAjBGEr58BoE7ScuLd+fwFZ44+/x8=
 github.com/kr/pretty v0.1.0 h1:L/CwN0zerZDmRFUapSPitk6f+Q3+0za1rQkzVuMiMFI=
 github.com/kr/pretty v0.1.0/go.mod h1:dAy3ld7l9f0ibDNOQOHHMYYIIbhfbHSm3C4ZsoJORNo=
 github.com/kr/pty v1.1.1/go.mod h1:pFQYn66WHrOpPYNljwOMqo10TkYh1fy3cYio2l3bCsQ=
diff --git a/internal/action/actions.go b/internal/action/actions.go
index 925c97e8..f5e8441e 100644
--- a/internal/action/actions.go
+++ b/internal/action/actions.go
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@ import (
 	"time"
 	"unicode/utf8"
 
+	shellquote "github.com/kballard/go-shellquote"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/clipboard"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/buffer"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/config"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/screen"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/shell"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/util"
-	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/pkg/shellwords"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/tcell"
 )
 
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ func (h *BufPane) SaveAs() bool {
 	InfoBar.Prompt("Filename: ", "", "Save", nil, func(resp string, canceled bool) {
 		if !canceled {
 			// the filename might or might not be quoted, so unquote first then join the strings.
-			args, err := shellwords.Split(resp)
+			args, err := shellquote.Split(resp)
 			filename := strings.Join(args, " ")
 			if err != nil {
 				InfoBar.Error("Error parsing arguments: ", err)
diff --git a/internal/action/command.go b/internal/action/command.go
index 8af9a515..5947a634 100644
--- a/internal/action/command.go
+++ b/internal/action/command.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 	luar "layeh.com/gopher-luar"
 
+	shellquote "github.com/kballard/go-shellquote"
 	lua "github.com/yuin/gopher-lua"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/buffer"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/config"
@@ -21,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/screen"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/shell"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/util"
-	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/pkg/shellwords"
 )
 
 // A Command contains information about how to execute a command
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ func (h *BufPane) OpenCmd(args []string) {
 	if len(args) > 0 {
 		filename := args[0]
 		// the filename might or might not be quoted, so unquote first then join the strings.
-		args, err := shellwords.Split(filename)
+		args, err := shellquote.Split(filename)
 		if err != nil {
 			InfoBar.Error("Error parsing args ", err)
 			return
@@ -706,7 +706,7 @@ func (h *BufPane) UnbindCmd(args []string) {
 
 // RunCmd runs a shell command in the background
 func (h *BufPane) RunCmd(args []string) {
-	runf, err := shell.RunBackgroundShell(shellwords.Join(args...))
+	runf, err := shell.RunBackgroundShell(shellquote.Join(args...))
 	if err != nil {
 		InfoBar.Error(err)
 	} else {
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ func (h *BufPane) TermCmd(args []string) {
 
 // HandleCommand handles input from the user
 func (h *BufPane) HandleCommand(input string) {
-	args, err := shellwords.Split(input)
+	args, err := shellquote.Split(input)
 	if err != nil {
 		InfoBar.Error("Error parsing args ", err)
 		return
diff --git a/internal/action/terminal_supported.go b/internal/action/terminal_supported.go
index 21a6de0e..b0b10632 100644
--- a/internal/action/terminal_supported.go
+++ b/internal/action/terminal_supported.go
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@
 package action
 
 import (
+	shellquote "github.com/kballard/go-shellquote"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/shell"
-	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/pkg/shellwords"
 )
 
 const TermEmuSupported = true
 
 func RunTermEmulator(h *BufPane, input string, wait bool, getOutput bool, callback string, userargs []interface{}) error {
-	args, err := shellwords.Split(input)
+	args, err := shellquote.Split(input)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/shell/shell.go b/internal/shell/shell.go
index 3a00a30f..24df587f 100644
--- a/internal/shell/shell.go
+++ b/internal/shell/shell.go
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ import (
 	"os/signal"
 	"strings"
 
+	shellquote "github.com/kballard/go-shellquote"
 	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/internal/screen"
-	"github.com/zyedidia/micro/pkg/shellwords"
 )
 
 // ExecCommand executes a command using exec
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func ExecCommand(name string, arg ...string) (string, error) {
 
 // RunCommand executes a shell command and returns the output/error
 func RunCommand(input string) (string, error) {
-	args, err := shellwords.Split(input)
+	args, err := shellquote.Split(input)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func RunCommand(input string) (string, error) {
 // It returns a function which will run the command and returns a string
 // message result
 func RunBackgroundShell(input string) (func() string, error) {
-	args, err := shellwords.Split(input)
+	args, err := shellquote.Split(input)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func RunBackgroundShell(input string) (func() string, error) {
 
 // RunInteractiveShell runs a shellcommand interactively
 func RunInteractiveShell(input string, wait bool, getOutput bool) (string, error) {
-	args, err := shellwords.Split(input)
+	args, err := shellquote.Split(input)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/shellwords/LICENSE b/pkg/shellwords/LICENSE
deleted file mode 100644
index 740fa931..00000000
--- a/pkg/shellwords/LICENSE
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-The MIT License (MIT)
-
-Copyright (c) 2017 Yasuhiro Matsumoto
-
-Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
-of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
-in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
-to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
-copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
-furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
-
-The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
-copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-
-THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
-IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
-FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
-AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
-LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
-OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
-SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/pkg/shellwords/README.md b/pkg/shellwords/README.md
deleted file mode 100644
index d77ee695..00000000
--- a/pkg/shellwords/README.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-This is a modified version of `go-shellwords` for the micro editor.
-
-# go-shellwords
-
-[![Coverage Status](https://coveralls.io/repos/mattn/go-shellwords/badge.png?branch=master)](https://coveralls.io/r/mattn/go-shellwords?branch=master)
-[![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/mattn/go-shellwords.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/mattn/go-shellwords)
-
-Parse line as shell words.
-
-## Usage
-
-```go
-args, err := shellwords.Parse("./foo --bar=baz")
-// args should be ["./foo", "--bar=baz"]
-```
-
-```go
-os.Setenv("FOO", "bar")
-p := shellwords.NewParser()
-p.ParseEnv = true
-args, err := p.Parse("./foo $FOO")
-// args should be ["./foo", "bar"]
-```
-
-```go
-p := shellwords.NewParser()
-p.ParseBacktick = true
-args, err := p.Parse("./foo `echo $SHELL`")
-// args should be ["./foo", "/bin/bash"]
-```
-
-```go
-shellwords.ParseBacktick = true
-p := shellwords.NewParser()
-args, err := p.Parse("./foo `echo $SHELL`")
-// args should be ["./foo", "/bin/bash"]
-```
-
-# Thanks
-
-This is based on cpan module [Parse::CommandLine](https://metacpan.org/pod/Parse::CommandLine).
-
-# License
-
-under the MIT License: http://mattn.mit-license.org/2017
-
-# Author
-
-Yasuhiro Matsumoto (a.k.a mattn)
diff --git a/pkg/shellwords/shellwords.go b/pkg/shellwords/shellwords.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 99a506c6..00000000
--- a/pkg/shellwords/shellwords.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,180 +0,0 @@
-package shellwords
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"errors"
-	"os"
-	"regexp"
-)
-
-var envRe = regexp.MustCompile(`\$({[a-zA-Z0-9_]+}|[a-zA-Z0-9_]+)`)
-
-func isSpace(r rune) bool {
-	switch r {
-	case ' ', '\t', '\r', '\n':
-		return true
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
-func replaceEnv(s string) string {
-	return envRe.ReplaceAllStringFunc(s, func(s string) string {
-		s = s[1:]
-		if s[0] == '{' {
-			s = s[1 : len(s)-1]
-		}
-		return os.Getenv(s)
-	})
-}
-
-type Parser struct {
-	Position int
-}
-
-func NewParser() *Parser {
-	return &Parser{0}
-}
-
-func (p *Parser) Parse(line string) ([]string, error) {
-	args := []string{}
-	buf := ""
-	var escaped, doubleQuoted, singleQuoted, backQuote, dollarQuote bool
-	backtick := ""
-
-	pos := -1
-	got := false
-
-loop:
-	for i, r := range line {
-		if escaped {
-			buf += string(r)
-			escaped = false
-			continue
-		}
-
-		if r == '\\' {
-			if singleQuoted {
-				buf += string(r)
-			} else {
-				escaped = true
-			}
-			continue
-		}
-
-		if isSpace(r) {
-			if singleQuoted || doubleQuoted || backQuote || dollarQuote {
-				buf += string(r)
-				backtick += string(r)
-			} else if got {
-				buf = replaceEnv(buf)
-				args = append(args, buf)
-				buf = ""
-				got = false
-			}
-			continue
-		}
-
-		switch r {
-		case '`':
-			if !singleQuoted && !doubleQuoted && !dollarQuote {
-				if backQuote {
-					out, err := shellRun(backtick)
-					if err != nil {
-						return nil, err
-					}
-					buf = out
-				}
-				backtick = ""
-				backQuote = !backQuote
-				continue
-				backtick = ""
-				backQuote = !backQuote
-			}
-		case ')':
-			if !singleQuoted && !doubleQuoted && !backQuote {
-				if dollarQuote {
-					out, err := shellRun(backtick)
-					if err != nil {
-						return nil, err
-					}
-					buf = out
-				}
-				backtick = ""
-				dollarQuote = !dollarQuote
-				continue
-				backtick = ""
-				dollarQuote = !dollarQuote
-			}
-		case '(':
-			if !singleQuoted && !doubleQuoted && !backQuote {
-				if !dollarQuote && len(buf) > 0 && buf == "$" {
-					dollarQuote = true
-					buf += "("
-					continue
-				} else {
-					return nil, errors.New("invalid command line string")
-				}
-			}
-		case '"':
-			if !singleQuoted && !dollarQuote {
-				doubleQuoted = !doubleQuoted
-				continue
-			}
-		case '\'':
-			if !doubleQuoted && !dollarQuote {
-				singleQuoted = !singleQuoted
-				continue
-			}
-		case ';', '&', '|', '<', '>':
-			if !(escaped || singleQuoted || doubleQuoted || backQuote) {
-				pos = i
-				break loop
-			}
-		}
-
-		got = true
-		buf += string(r)
-		if backQuote || dollarQuote {
-			backtick += string(r)
-		}
-	}
-
-	buf = replaceEnv(buf)
-	args = append(args, buf)
-
-	if escaped || singleQuoted || doubleQuoted || backQuote || dollarQuote {
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid command line string")
-	}
-
-	p.Position = pos
-
-	return args, nil
-}
-
-func Split(line string) ([]string, error) {
-	return NewParser().Parse(line)
-}
-
-func Join(args ...string) string {
-	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	for i, w := range args {
-		if i != 0 {
-			buf.WriteByte(' ')
-		}
-		if w == "" {
-			buf.WriteString("''")
-			continue
-		}
-
-		for _, b := range w {
-			switch b {
-			case ' ', '\t', '\r', '\n':
-				buf.WriteByte('\\')
-				buf.WriteString(string(b))
-			default:
-				buf.WriteString(string(b))
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return buf.String()
-}
diff --git a/pkg/shellwords/util_posix.go b/pkg/shellwords/util_posix.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 31bdda5a..00000000
--- a/pkg/shellwords/util_posix.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-// +build !windows
-
-package shellwords
-
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"os"
-	"os/exec"
-	"strings"
-)
-
-func shellRun(line string) (string, error) {
-	shell := os.Getenv("SHELL")
-	b, err := exec.Command(shell, "-c", line).Output()
-	if err != nil {
-		if eerr, ok := err.(*exec.ExitError); ok {
-			b = eerr.Stderr
-		}
-		return "", errors.New(err.Error() + ":" + string(b))
-	}
-	return strings.TrimSpace(string(b)), nil
-}
diff --git a/pkg/shellwords/util_windows.go b/pkg/shellwords/util_windows.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 5e06565a..00000000
--- a/pkg/shellwords/util_windows.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-package shellwords
-
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"os"
-	"os/exec"
-	"strings"
-)
-
-func shellRun(line string) (string, error) {
-	shell := os.Getenv("COMSPEC")
-	b, err := exec.Command(shell, "/c", line).Output()
-	if err != nil {
-		if eerr, ok := err.(*exec.ExitError); ok {
-			b = eerr.Stderr
-		}
-		return "", errors.New(err.Error() + ":" + string(b))
-	}
-	return strings.TrimSpace(string(b)), nil
-}
diff --git a/runtime/help/commands.md b/runtime/help/commands.md
index 5e04dd34..ee0eb31d 100644
--- a/runtime/help/commands.md
+++ b/runtime/help/commands.md
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ meaning that all keybindings from a normal buffer are supported (as well
 as mouse and selection).
 
 When running a command, you can use extra syntax that micro will expand before
-running the command. To use an argument with a space in it, simply put it in
-quotes. You can also use environment variables in the command bar and they
-will be expanded to their value. Finally, you can put an expression in backticks
-and it will be evaluated by the shell beforehand.
+running the command. To use an argument with a space in it, put it in
+quotes. The command bar parser uses the same rules for parsing arguments that
+`/bin/sh` would use (single quotes, double quotes, escaping). The command bar
+does not look up environment variables.
 
 # Commands