diff --git a/sway/commands.c b/sway/commands.c
index cae35237..c95b9858 100644
--- a/sway/commands.c
+++ b/sway/commands.c
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ static bool cmd_set(struct sway_config *config, int argc, char **argv) {
 
 static bool _do_split(struct sway_config *config, int argc, char **argv, int layout) {
 	char *name = layout == L_VERT  ? "splitv":
-		     layout == L_HORIZ ? "splith":"split";
+	         layout == L_HORIZ ? "splith":"split";
 	if (!checkarg(argc, name, EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 0)) {
 		return false;
 	}
diff --git a/sway/config.c b/sway/config.c
index 869fa077..d96d23fc 100644
--- a/sway/config.c
+++ b/sway/config.c
@@ -25,9 +25,16 @@ bool load_config() {
 		return false;
 	}
 	free(temp);
-	config = read_config(f, false);
+
+	bool config_load_success;
+	if (config) {
+		config_load_success = read_config(f, true);
+	} else {
+		config_load_success = read_config(f, false);
+	}
 	fclose(f);
-	return true;
+
+	return config_load_success;
 }
 
 void config_defaults(struct sway_config *config) {
@@ -42,14 +49,17 @@ void config_defaults(struct sway_config *config) {
 	config->focus_follows_mouse = true;
 	config->mouse_warping = true;
 	config->reloading = false;
+	config->active = false;
+	config->failed = false;
 }
 
-struct sway_config *read_config(FILE *file, bool is_active) {
-	struct sway_config *config = malloc(sizeof(struct sway_config));
-	config_defaults(config);
-
+bool read_config(FILE *file, bool is_active) {
+	struct sway_config *temp_config = malloc(sizeof(struct sway_config));
+	config_defaults(temp_config);
 	if (is_active) {
-		config->reloading = true;
+		sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Performing configuration file reload");
+		temp_config->reloading = true;
+		temp_config->active = true;
 	}
 
 	bool success = true;
@@ -72,14 +82,19 @@ struct sway_config *read_config(FILE *file, bool is_active) {
 		// Any command which would require wlc to be initialized
 		// should be queued for later execution
 		list_t *args = split_string(line, " ");
-		if (strcmp("workspace", args->items[0]) == 0) {
+		if (!is_active && (
+			strcmp("workspace", args->items[0]) == 0 ||
+			strcmp("exec", args->items[0]) == 0 ||
+			strcmp("exec_always", args->items[0]) == 0 )) {
 			sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Deferring command %s", line);
+
 			char *cmd = malloc(strlen(line) + 1);
 			strcpy(cmd, line);
-			list_add(config->cmd_queue, cmd);
-		} else if (!temp_depth && !handle_command(config, line)) {
+			list_add(temp_config->cmd_queue, cmd);
+		} else if (!temp_depth && !handle_command(temp_config, line)) {
 			sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Config load failed for line %s", line);
 			success = false;
+			temp_config->failed = true;
 		} 
 		list_free(args);
 
@@ -90,15 +105,12 @@ _continue:
 		free(line);
 	}
 
-	if (success == false) {
-		exit(1);
-	}
-
 	if (is_active) {
-		config->reloading = false;
+		temp_config->reloading = false;
 	}
+	config = temp_config;
 
-	return config;
+	return success;
 }
 
 char *do_var_replacement(struct sway_config *config, char *str) {
diff --git a/sway/config.h b/sway/config.h
index f55453a3..c9fd374c 100644
--- a/sway/config.h
+++ b/sway/config.h
@@ -30,12 +30,13 @@ struct sway_config {
 	// Flags
 	bool focus_follows_mouse;
 	bool mouse_warping;
-	
+	bool active;	
+	bool failed;	
 	bool reloading;
 };
 
 bool load_config();
-struct sway_config *read_config(FILE *file, bool is_active);
+bool read_config(FILE *file, bool is_active);
 char *do_var_replacement(struct sway_config *config, char *str);
 
 extern struct sway_config *config;
diff --git a/sway/handlers.c b/sway/handlers.c
index 4411b947..48c6cbf7 100644
--- a/sway/handlers.c
+++ b/sway/handlers.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "config.h"
 #include "commands.h"
 #include "handlers.h"
+#include "stringop.h"
 
 static bool handle_output_created(wlc_handle output) {
 	add_output(output);
@@ -165,11 +166,19 @@ static bool handle_pointer_button(wlc_handle view, uint32_t time, const struct w
 
 static void handle_wlc_ready(void) {
 	sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Compositor is ready, executing cmds in queue");
+
 	int i;
 	for (i = 0; i < config->cmd_queue->length; ++i) {
 		handle_command(config, config->cmd_queue->items[i]);
 	}
 	free_flat_list(config->cmd_queue);
+
+	if (config->failed) {
+		sway_log(L_ERROR, "Programs have been execd, aborting!");
+		sway_abort("Unable to load config");
+	}
+
+	config->active = true;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/sway/main.c b/sway/main.c
index b48d4b19..061564e2 100644
--- a/sway/main.c
+++ b/sway/main.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	signal(SIGCHLD, sigchld_handle);
 
 	if (!load_config()) {
-		sway_abort("Unable to load config");
+		sway_log(L_ERROR, "Config load failed, aborting sway post init!");
 	}
 
 	setenv("WLC_DIM", "0", 0);
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	setenv("DISPLAY", ":1", 1);
 
 	wlc_run();
+
 	return 0;
 }