diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/binding_mode_indicator.c b/sway/commands/bar/binding_mode_indicator.c
index f18b8d7c..b048b7b9 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/binding_mode_indicator.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/binding_mode_indicator.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <strings.h>
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 #include "log.h"
+#include "util.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_binding_mode_indicator(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
@@ -13,17 +14,14 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_binding_mode_indicator(int argc, char **argv) {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE,
 				"binding_mode_indicator", "No bar defined.");
 	}
-	if (strcasecmp("yes", argv[0]) == 0) {
-		config->current_bar->binding_mode_indicator = true;
+	config->current_bar->binding_mode_indicator = 
+		parse_boolean(argv[0], config->current_bar->binding_mode_indicator);
+	if (config->current_bar->binding_mode_indicator) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Enabling binding mode indicator on bar: %s",
 				config->current_bar->id);
-	} else if (strcasecmp("no", argv[0]) == 0) {
-		config->current_bar->binding_mode_indicator = false;
+	} else {
 		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Disabling binding mode indicator on bar: %s",
 				config->current_bar->id);
-	} else {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "binding_mode_indicator",
-				"Invalid value %s", argv[0]);
 	}
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/pango_markup.c b/sway/commands/bar/pango_markup.c
index 857571fb..d57cc45c 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/pango_markup.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/pango_markup.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <strings.h>
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 #include "log.h"
+#include "util.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_pango_markup(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
@@ -11,18 +12,14 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_pango_markup(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if (!config->current_bar) {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "pango_markup", "No bar defined.");
 	}
-	if (strcasecmp("enabled", argv[0]) == 0) {
-		config->current_bar->pango_markup = true;
+	config->current_bar->pango_markup 
+		= parse_boolean(argv[0], config->current_bar->pango_markup);
+	if (config->current_bar->pango_markup) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Enabling pango markup for bar: %s",
 				config->current_bar->id);
-	} else if (strcasecmp("disabled", argv[0]) == 0) {
-		config->current_bar->pango_markup = false;
+	} else {
 		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Disabling pango markup for bar: %s",
 				config->current_bar->id);
-	} else {
-		error = cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "pango_markup",
-				"Invalid value %s", argv[0]);
-		return error;
 	}
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/workspace_buttons.c b/sway/commands/bar/workspace_buttons.c
index a4079b2a..cd001e20 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/workspace_buttons.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/workspace_buttons.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <strings.h>
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 #include "log.h"
+#include "util.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_workspace_buttons(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
@@ -12,17 +13,14 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_workspace_buttons(int argc, char **argv) {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE,
 				"workspace_buttons", "No bar defined.");
 	}
-	if (strcasecmp("yes", argv[0]) == 0) {
-		config->current_bar->workspace_buttons = true;
+	config->current_bar->workspace_buttons = 
+		parse_boolean(argv[0], config->current_bar->workspace_buttons);
+	if (config->current_bar->workspace_buttons) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Enabling workspace buttons on bar: %s",
 				config->current_bar->id);
-	} else if (strcasecmp("no", argv[0]) == 0) {
-		config->current_bar->workspace_buttons = false;
+	} else {
 		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Disabling workspace buttons on bar: %s",
 				config->current_bar->id);
-	} else {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "workspace_buttons",
-				"Invalid value %s", argv[0]);
 	}
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/wrap_scroll.c b/sway/commands/bar/wrap_scroll.c
index 701de00a..04a4e6b8 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/wrap_scroll.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/wrap_scroll.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <strings.h>
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 #include "log.h"
+#include "util.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_wrap_scroll(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
@@ -11,17 +12,14 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_wrap_scroll(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if (!config->current_bar) {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "wrap_scroll", "No bar defined.");
 	}
-	if (strcasecmp("yes", argv[0]) == 0) {
-		config->current_bar->wrap_scroll = true;
+	config->current_bar->wrap_scroll = 
+			parse_boolean(argv[0], config->current_bar->wrap_scroll);
+	if (config->current_bar->wrap_scroll) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Enabling wrap scroll on bar: %s",
-				config->current_bar->id);
-	} else if (strcasecmp("no", argv[0]) == 0) {
-		config->current_bar->wrap_scroll = false;
+			config->current_bar->id);
+	} else {
 		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Disabling wrap scroll on bar: %s",
 				config->current_bar->id);
-	} else {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID,
-				"wrap_scroll", "Invalid value %s", argv[0]);
 	}
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }
diff --git a/sway/commands/floating.c b/sway/commands/floating.c
index 81bb86f8..4b82921c 100644
--- a/sway/commands/floating.c
+++ b/sway/commands/floating.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "sway/tree/view.h"
 #include "sway/tree/workspace.h"
 #include "list.h"
+#include "util.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_floating(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
@@ -40,17 +41,8 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_floating(int argc, char **argv) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	bool wants_floating;
-	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "enable") == 0) {
-		wants_floating = true;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "disable") == 0) {
-		wants_floating = false;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "toggle") == 0) {
-		wants_floating = !container_is_floating(container);
-	} else {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "floating",
-			"Expected 'floating <enable|disable|toggle>'");
-	}
+	bool wants_floating = 
+		parse_boolean(argv[0], container_is_floating(container));
 
 	container_set_floating(container, wants_floating);
 
diff --git a/sway/commands/input/xkb_capslock.c b/sway/commands/input/xkb_capslock.c
index 669b4ea9..a939c72f 100644
--- a/sway/commands/input/xkb_capslock.c
+++ b/sway/commands/input/xkb_capslock.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "sway/config.h"
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 #include "sway/input/input-manager.h"
+#include "util.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *input_cmd_xkb_capslock(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
@@ -15,14 +16,7 @@ struct cmd_results *input_cmd_xkb_capslock(int argc, char **argv) {
 			"No input device defined.");
 	}
 
-	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "enabled") == 0) {
-		ic->xkb_capslock = 1;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "disabled") == 0) {
-		ic->xkb_capslock = 0;
-	} else {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "xkb_capslock",
-			"Expected 'xkb_capslock <enabled|disabled>'");
-	}
+	ic->xkb_capslock = parse_boolean(argv[0], false);
 
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }
diff --git a/sway/commands/input/xkb_numlock.c b/sway/commands/input/xkb_numlock.c
index 1367da44..2e962c5b 100644
--- a/sway/commands/input/xkb_numlock.c
+++ b/sway/commands/input/xkb_numlock.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "sway/config.h"
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 #include "sway/input/input-manager.h"
+#include "util.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *input_cmd_xkb_numlock(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
@@ -15,14 +16,7 @@ struct cmd_results *input_cmd_xkb_numlock(int argc, char **argv) {
 			"No input device defined.");
 	}
 
-	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "enabled") == 0) {
-		ic->xkb_numlock = 1;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "disabled") == 0) {
-		ic->xkb_numlock = 0;
-	} else {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "xkb_numlock",
-			"Expected 'xkb_numlock <enabled|disabled>'");
-	}
+	ic->xkb_numlock = parse_boolean(argv[0], false);
 
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }
diff --git a/sway/commands/seat/fallback.c b/sway/commands/seat/fallback.c
index 11f5a08c..a0ddf3ef 100644
--- a/sway/commands/seat/fallback.c
+++ b/sway/commands/seat/fallback.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "sway/config.h"
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 #include "sway/input/input-manager.h"
+#include "util.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *seat_cmd_fallback(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
@@ -16,16 +17,8 @@ struct cmd_results *seat_cmd_fallback(int argc, char **argv) {
 	}
 	struct seat_config *new_config =
 		new_seat_config(current_seat_config->name);
-
-	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "true") == 0) {
-		new_config->fallback = 1;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "false") == 0) {
-		new_config->fallback = 0;
-	} else {
-		free_seat_config(new_config);
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "fallback",
-			"Expected 'fallback <true|false>'");
-	}
+		
+	new_config->fallback = parse_boolean(argv[0], false);
 
 	if (!config->validating) {
 		apply_seat_config(new_config);
diff --git a/sway/commands/smart_gaps.c b/sway/commands/smart_gaps.c
index 273905df..f14b6760 100644
--- a/sway/commands/smart_gaps.c
+++ b/sway/commands/smart_gaps.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "sway/tree/container.h"
 #include "log.h"
 #include "stringop.h"
+#include "util.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_smart_gaps(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = checkarg(argc, "smart_gaps", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1);
@@ -14,14 +15,7 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_smart_gaps(int argc, char **argv) {
 		return error;
 	}
 
-	if (strcmp(argv[0], "on") == 0) {
-		config->smart_gaps = true;
-	} else if (strcmp(argv[0], "off") == 0) {
-		config->smart_gaps = false;
-	} else {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "smart_gaps",
-			"Expected 'smart_gaps <on|off>' ");
-	}
+	config->smart_gaps = parse_boolean(argv[0], config->smart_gaps);
 
 	arrange_root();
 
diff --git a/sway/commands/sticky.c b/sway/commands/sticky.c
index f18322b7..7cd358a4 100644
--- a/sway/commands/sticky.c
+++ b/sway/commands/sticky.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "sway/tree/view.h"
 #include "sway/tree/workspace.h"
 #include "list.h"
+#include "util.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_sticky(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
@@ -26,21 +27,9 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_sticky(int argc, char **argv) {
 			"Can't set sticky on a tiled container");
 	}
 
-	bool wants_sticky;
-	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "enable") == 0) {
-		wants_sticky = true;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "disable") == 0) {
-		wants_sticky = false;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "toggle") == 0) {
-		wants_sticky = !container->is_sticky;
-	} else {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "sticky",
-			"Expected 'sticky <enable|disable|toggle>'");
-	}
-
-	container->is_sticky = wants_sticky;
+	container->is_sticky = parse_boolean(argv[0], container->is_sticky);
 
-	if (wants_sticky) {
+	if (container->is_sticky) {
 		// move container to active workspace
 		struct sway_workspace *active_workspace =
 			output_get_active_workspace(container->workspace->output);
diff --git a/sway/commands/ws_auto_back_and_forth.c b/sway/commands/ws_auto_back_and_forth.c
index 2485db35..3449d4cc 100644
--- a/sway/commands/ws_auto_back_and_forth.c
+++ b/sway/commands/ws_auto_back_and_forth.c
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <strings.h>
 #include "sway/commands.h"
+#include "util.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_ws_auto_back_and_forth(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "workspace_auto_back_and_forth", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	config->auto_back_and_forth = !strcasecmp(argv[0], "yes");
+	config->auto_back_and_forth = 
+		!parse_boolean(argv[0], config->auto_back_and_forth);
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }