diff --git a/notmuch-client.h b/notmuch-client.h
index b3dcb21a..45749a6b 100644
--- a/notmuch-client.h
+++ b/notmuch-client.h
@@ -150,6 +150,8 @@ chomp_newline (char *str)
  */
 extern int notmuch_format_version;
 
+typedef struct _notmuch_config notmuch_config_t;
+
 /* Commands that support structured output should support the
  * following argument
  *  { NOTMUCH_OPT_INT, &notmuch_format_version, "format-version", 0, 0 }
@@ -169,40 +171,34 @@ int
 notmuch_crypto_cleanup (notmuch_crypto_t *crypto);
 
 int
-notmuch_count_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_count_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 int
-notmuch_dump_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_dump_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 int
-notmuch_new_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_new_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 int
-notmuch_reply_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_reply_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 int
-notmuch_restore_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_restore_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 int
-notmuch_search_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_search_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 int
-notmuch_setup_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_setup_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 int
-notmuch_show_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_show_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 int
-notmuch_tag_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_tag_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 int
-notmuch_search_tags_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
-
-int
-notmuch_cat_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
-
-int
-notmuch_config_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_config_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 const char *
 notmuch_time_relative_date (const void *ctx, time_t then);
@@ -243,8 +239,6 @@ json_quote_str (const void *ctx, const char *str);
 
 /* notmuch-config.c */
 
-typedef struct _notmuch_config notmuch_config_t;
-
 notmuch_config_t *
 notmuch_config_open (void *ctx,
 		     const char *filename,
diff --git a/notmuch-config.c b/notmuch-config.c
index 247fbe4b..48312e3f 100644
--- a/notmuch-config.c
+++ b/notmuch-config.c
@@ -705,14 +705,8 @@ _item_split (char *item, char **group, char **key)
 }
 
 static int
-notmuch_config_command_get (void *ctx, char *item)
+notmuch_config_command_get (notmuch_config_t *config, char *item)
 {
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
-
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, FALSE);
-    if (config == NULL)
-	return 1;
-
     if (strcmp(item, "database.path") == 0) {
 	printf ("%s\n", notmuch_config_get_database_path (config));
     } else if (strcmp(item, "user.name") == 0) {
@@ -756,25 +750,17 @@ notmuch_config_command_get (void *ctx, char *item)
 	g_strfreev (value);
     }
 
-    notmuch_config_close (config);
-
     return 0;
 }
 
 static int
-notmuch_config_command_set (void *ctx, char *item, int argc, char *argv[])
+notmuch_config_command_set (notmuch_config_t *config, char *item, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     char *group, *key;
-    int ret;
 
     if (_item_split (item, &group, &key))
 	return 1;
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, FALSE);
-    if (config == NULL)
-	return 1;
-
     /* With only the name of an item, we clear it from the
      * configuration file.
      *
@@ -795,23 +781,15 @@ notmuch_config_command_set (void *ctx, char *item, int argc, char *argv[])
 	break;
     }
 
-    ret = notmuch_config_save (config);
-    notmuch_config_close (config);
-
-    return ret;
+    return notmuch_config_save (config);
 }
 
 static int
-notmuch_config_command_list (void *ctx)
+notmuch_config_command_list (notmuch_config_t *config)
 {
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     char **groups;
     size_t g, groups_length;
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, FALSE);
-    if (config == NULL)
-	return 1;
-
     groups = g_key_file_get_groups (config->key_file, &groups_length);
     if (groups == NULL)
 	return 1;
@@ -841,13 +819,11 @@ notmuch_config_command_list (void *ctx)
 
     g_strfreev (groups);
 
-    notmuch_config_close (config);
-
     return 0;
 }
 
 int
-notmuch_config_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
+notmuch_config_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     argc--; argv++; /* skip subcommand argument */
 
@@ -862,16 +838,16 @@ notmuch_config_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 		     "one argument.\n");
 	    return 1;
 	}
-	return notmuch_config_command_get (ctx, argv[1]);
+	return notmuch_config_command_get (config, argv[1]);
     } else if (strcmp (argv[0], "set") == 0) {
 	if (argc < 2) {
 	    fprintf (stderr, "Error: notmuch config set requires at least "
 		     "one argument.\n");
 	    return 1;
 	}
-	return notmuch_config_command_set (ctx, argv[1], argc - 2, argv + 2);
+	return notmuch_config_command_set (config, argv[1], argc - 2, argv + 2);
     } else if (strcmp (argv[0], "list") == 0) {
-	return notmuch_config_command_list (ctx);
+	return notmuch_config_command_list (config);
     }
 
     fprintf (stderr, "Unrecognized argument for notmuch config: %s\n",
diff --git a/notmuch-count.c b/notmuch-count.c
index 61722edb..390794ff 100644
--- a/notmuch-count.c
+++ b/notmuch-count.c
@@ -33,9 +33,8 @@ enum {
 };
 
 int
-notmuch_count_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
+notmuch_count_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     notmuch_database_t *notmuch;
     notmuch_query_t *query;
     char *query_str;
@@ -62,22 +61,18 @@ notmuch_count_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 	return 1;
     }
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, FALSE);
-    if (config == NULL)
-	return 1;
-
     if (notmuch_database_open (notmuch_config_get_database_path (config),
 			       NOTMUCH_DATABASE_MODE_READ_ONLY, &notmuch))
 	return 1;
 
-    query_str = query_string_from_args (ctx, argc-opt_index, argv+opt_index);
+    query_str = query_string_from_args (config, argc-opt_index, argv+opt_index);
     if (query_str == NULL) {
 	fprintf (stderr, "Out of memory.\n");
 	return 1;
     }
 
     if (*query_str == '\0') {
-	query_str = talloc_strdup (ctx, "");
+	query_str = talloc_strdup (config, "");
     }
 
     query = notmuch_query_create (notmuch, query_str);
diff --git a/notmuch-dump.c b/notmuch-dump.c
index 845a67e2..2024e303 100644
--- a/notmuch-dump.c
+++ b/notmuch-dump.c
@@ -23,9 +23,8 @@
 #include "string-util.h"
 
 int
-notmuch_dump_command (unused (void *ctx), int argc, char *argv[])
+notmuch_dump_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     notmuch_database_t *notmuch;
     notmuch_query_t *query;
     FILE *output = stdout;
@@ -34,10 +33,6 @@ notmuch_dump_command (unused (void *ctx), int argc, char *argv[])
     notmuch_tags_t *tags;
     const char *query_str = "";
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, FALSE);
-    if (config == NULL)
-	return 1;
-
     if (notmuch_database_open (notmuch_config_get_database_path (config),
 			       NOTMUCH_DATABASE_MODE_READ_ONLY, &notmuch))
 	return 1;
diff --git a/notmuch-new.c b/notmuch-new.c
index 49154180..faa33f1f 100644
--- a/notmuch-new.c
+++ b/notmuch-new.c
@@ -840,9 +840,8 @@ _remove_directory (void *ctx,
 }
 
 int
-notmuch_new_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
+notmuch_new_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     notmuch_database_t *notmuch;
     add_files_state_t add_files_state;
     double elapsed;
@@ -875,10 +874,6 @@ notmuch_new_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 	return 1;
     }
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, FALSE);
-    if (config == NULL)
-	return 1;
-
     add_files_state.new_tags = notmuch_config_get_new_tags (config, &add_files_state.new_tags_length);
     add_files_state.new_ignore = notmuch_config_get_new_ignore (config, &add_files_state.new_ignore_length);
     add_files_state.synchronize_flags = notmuch_config_get_maildir_synchronize_flags (config);
@@ -890,7 +885,7 @@ notmuch_new_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 	    return ret;
     }
 
-    dot_notmuch_path = talloc_asprintf (ctx, "%s/%s", db_path, ".notmuch");
+    dot_notmuch_path = talloc_asprintf (config, "%s/%s", db_path, ".notmuch");
 
     if (stat (dot_notmuch_path, &st)) {
 	int count;
@@ -941,9 +936,9 @@ notmuch_new_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
     add_files_state.removed_messages = add_files_state.renamed_messages = 0;
     gettimeofday (&add_files_state.tv_start, NULL);
 
-    add_files_state.removed_files = _filename_list_create (ctx);
-    add_files_state.removed_directories = _filename_list_create (ctx);
-    add_files_state.directory_mtimes = _filename_list_create (ctx);
+    add_files_state.removed_files = _filename_list_create (config);
+    add_files_state.removed_directories = _filename_list_create (config);
+    add_files_state.directory_mtimes = _filename_list_create (config);
 
     if (! debugger_is_active () && add_files_state.output_is_a_tty
 	&& ! add_files_state.verbose) {
@@ -970,7 +965,7 @@ notmuch_new_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 
     gettimeofday (&tv_start, NULL);
     for (f = add_files_state.removed_directories->head, i = 0; f && !interrupted; f = f->next, i++) {
-	ret = _remove_directory (ctx, notmuch, f->filename, &add_files_state);
+	ret = _remove_directory (config, notmuch, f->filename, &add_files_state);
 	if (ret)
 	    goto DONE;
 	if (do_print_progress) {
diff --git a/notmuch-reply.c b/notmuch-reply.c
index 9da42b93..e151f78a 100644
--- a/notmuch-reply.c
+++ b/notmuch-reply.c
@@ -702,9 +702,8 @@ enum {
 };
 
 int
-notmuch_reply_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
+notmuch_reply_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     notmuch_database_t *notmuch;
     notmuch_query_t *query;
     char *query_string;
@@ -752,21 +751,17 @@ notmuch_reply_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 	reply_format_func = notmuch_reply_format_headers_only;
     } else if (format == FORMAT_JSON) {
 	reply_format_func = notmuch_reply_format_sprinter;
-	sp = sprinter_json_create (ctx, stdout);
+	sp = sprinter_json_create (config, stdout);
     } else if (format == FORMAT_SEXP) {
 	reply_format_func = notmuch_reply_format_sprinter;
-	sp = sprinter_sexp_create (ctx, stdout);
+	sp = sprinter_sexp_create (config, stdout);
     } else {
 	reply_format_func = notmuch_reply_format_default;
     }
 
     notmuch_exit_if_unsupported_format ();
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, FALSE);
-    if (config == NULL)
-	return 1;
-
-    query_string = query_string_from_args (ctx, argc-opt_index, argv+opt_index);
+    query_string = query_string_from_args (config, argc-opt_index, argv+opt_index);
     if (query_string == NULL) {
 	fprintf (stderr, "Out of memory\n");
 	return 1;
@@ -787,7 +782,7 @@ notmuch_reply_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 	return 1;
     }
 
-    if (reply_format_func (ctx, config, query, &params, reply_all, sp) != 0)
+    if (reply_format_func (config, config, query, &params, reply_all, sp) != 0)
 	return 1;
 
     notmuch_crypto_cleanup (&params.crypto);
diff --git a/notmuch-restore.c b/notmuch-restore.c
index dd2507f3..1419621c 100644
--- a/notmuch-restore.c
+++ b/notmuch-restore.c
@@ -120,9 +120,8 @@ parse_sup_line (void *ctx, char *line,
 }
 
 int
-notmuch_restore_command (unused (void *ctx), int argc, char *argv[])
+notmuch_restore_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     notmuch_database_t *notmuch;
     notmuch_bool_t accumulate = FALSE;
     tag_op_flag_t flags = 0;
@@ -139,10 +138,6 @@ notmuch_restore_command (unused (void *ctx), int argc, char *argv[])
     int opt_index;
     int input_format = DUMP_FORMAT_AUTO;
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, FALSE);
-    if (config == NULL)
-	return 1;
-
     if (notmuch_database_open (notmuch_config_get_database_path (config),
 			       NOTMUCH_DATABASE_MODE_READ_WRITE, &notmuch))
 	return 1;
@@ -187,7 +182,7 @@ notmuch_restore_command (unused (void *ctx), int argc, char *argv[])
 	return 1;
     }
 
-    tag_ops = tag_op_list_create (ctx);
+    tag_ops = tag_op_list_create (config);
     if (tag_ops == NULL) {
 	fprintf (stderr, "Out of memory.\n");
 	return 1;
@@ -226,7 +221,7 @@ notmuch_restore_command (unused (void *ctx), int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (line_ctx != NULL)
 	    talloc_free (line_ctx);
 
-	line_ctx = talloc_new (ctx);
+	line_ctx = talloc_new (config);
 	if (input_format == DUMP_FORMAT_SUP) {
 	    ret = parse_sup_line (line_ctx, line, &query_string, tag_ops);
 	} else {
diff --git a/notmuch-search.c b/notmuch-search.c
index fac6663f..e6586397 100644
--- a/notmuch-search.c
+++ b/notmuch-search.c
@@ -290,9 +290,8 @@ enum {
 };
 
 int
-notmuch_search_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
+notmuch_search_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     notmuch_database_t *notmuch;
     notmuch_query_t *query;
     char *query_str;
@@ -349,20 +348,20 @@ notmuch_search_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 
     switch (format_sel) {
     case NOTMUCH_FORMAT_TEXT:
-	format = sprinter_text_create (ctx, stdout);
+	format = sprinter_text_create (config, stdout);
 	break;
     case NOTMUCH_FORMAT_TEXT0:
 	if (output == OUTPUT_SUMMARY) {
 	    fprintf (stderr, "Error: --format=text0 is not compatible with --output=summary.\n");
 	    return 1;
 	}
-	format = sprinter_text0_create (ctx, stdout);
+	format = sprinter_text0_create (config, stdout);
 	break;
     case NOTMUCH_FORMAT_JSON:
-	format = sprinter_json_create (ctx, stdout);
+	format = sprinter_json_create (config, stdout);
 	break;
     case NOTMUCH_FORMAT_SEXP:
-	format = sprinter_sexp_create (ctx, stdout);
+	format = sprinter_sexp_create (config, stdout);
 	break;
     default:
 	/* this should never happen */
@@ -371,10 +370,6 @@ notmuch_search_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 
     notmuch_exit_if_unsupported_format ();
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, FALSE);
-    if (config == NULL)
-	return 1;
-
     if (notmuch_database_open (notmuch_config_get_database_path (config),
 			       NOTMUCH_DATABASE_MODE_READ_ONLY, &notmuch))
 	return 1;
diff --git a/notmuch-setup.c b/notmuch-setup.c
index 72d862ab..475248b1 100644
--- a/notmuch-setup.c
+++ b/notmuch-setup.c
@@ -120,12 +120,11 @@ parse_tag_list (void *ctx, char *response)
 }
 
 int
-notmuch_setup_command (unused (void *ctx),
+notmuch_setup_command (notmuch_config_t *config,
 		       unused (int argc), unused (char *argv[]))
 {
     char *response = NULL;
     size_t response_size = 0;
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     const char **old_other_emails;
     size_t old_other_emails_len;
     GPtrArray *other_emails;
@@ -146,8 +145,6 @@ notmuch_setup_command (unused (void *ctx),
 	chomp_newline (response);				\
     } while (0)
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, TRUE);
-
     if (notmuch_config_is_new (config))
 	welcome_message_pre_setup ();
 
@@ -167,16 +164,16 @@ notmuch_setup_command (unused (void *ctx),
     for (i = 0; i < old_other_emails_len; i++) {
 	prompt ("Additional email address [%s]: ", old_other_emails[i]);
 	if (strlen (response))
-	    g_ptr_array_add (other_emails, talloc_strdup (ctx, response));
+	    g_ptr_array_add (other_emails, talloc_strdup (config, response));
 	else
-	    g_ptr_array_add (other_emails, talloc_strdup (ctx,
+	    g_ptr_array_add (other_emails, talloc_strdup (config,
 							 old_other_emails[i]));
     }
 
     do {
 	prompt ("Additional email address [Press 'Enter' if none]: ");
 	if (strlen (response))
-	    g_ptr_array_add (other_emails, talloc_strdup (ctx, response));
+	    g_ptr_array_add (other_emails, talloc_strdup (config, response));
     } while (strlen (response));
     if (other_emails->len)
 	notmuch_config_set_user_other_email (config,
@@ -190,7 +187,7 @@ notmuch_setup_command (unused (void *ctx),
     if (strlen (response)) {
 	const char *absolute_path;
 
-	absolute_path = make_path_absolute (ctx, response);
+	absolute_path = make_path_absolute (config, response);
 	notmuch_config_set_database_path (config, absolute_path);
     }
 
@@ -201,7 +198,7 @@ notmuch_setup_command (unused (void *ctx),
     prompt ("]: ");
 
     if (strlen (response)) {
-	GPtrArray *tags = parse_tag_list (ctx, response);
+	GPtrArray *tags = parse_tag_list (config, response);
 
 	notmuch_config_set_new_tags (config, (const char **) tags->pdata,
 				     tags->len);
@@ -217,7 +214,7 @@ notmuch_setup_command (unused (void *ctx),
     prompt ("]: ");
 
     if (strlen (response)) {
-	GPtrArray *tags = parse_tag_list (ctx, response);
+	GPtrArray *tags = parse_tag_list (config, response);
 
 	notmuch_config_set_search_exclude_tags (config,
 						(const char **) tags->pdata,
diff --git a/notmuch-show.c b/notmuch-show.c
index 5ae5d7de..c2ec122c 100644
--- a/notmuch-show.c
+++ b/notmuch-show.c
@@ -1056,9 +1056,8 @@ enum {
 };
 
 int
-notmuch_show_command (void *ctx, unused (int argc), unused (char *argv[]))
+notmuch_show_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     notmuch_database_t *notmuch;
     notmuch_query_t *query;
     char *query_string;
@@ -1176,11 +1175,7 @@ notmuch_show_command (void *ctx, unused (int argc), unused (char *argv[]))
     else
 	params.entire_thread = FALSE;
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, FALSE);
-    if (config == NULL)
-	return 1;
-
-    query_string = query_string_from_args (ctx, argc-opt_index, argv+opt_index);
+    query_string = query_string_from_args (config, argc-opt_index, argv+opt_index);
     if (query_string == NULL) {
 	fprintf (stderr, "Out of memory\n");
 	return 1;
@@ -1202,11 +1197,11 @@ notmuch_show_command (void *ctx, unused (int argc), unused (char *argv[]))
     }
 
     /* Create structure printer. */
-    sprinter = format->new_sprinter(ctx, stdout);
+    sprinter = format->new_sprinter(config, stdout);
 
     /* If a single message is requested we do not use search_excludes. */
     if (params.part >= 0)
-	ret = do_show_single (ctx, query, format, sprinter, &params);
+	ret = do_show_single (config, query, format, sprinter, &params);
     else {
 	/* We always apply set the exclude flag. The
 	 * exclude=true|false option controls whether or not we return
@@ -1225,7 +1220,7 @@ notmuch_show_command (void *ctx, unused (int argc), unused (char *argv[]))
 	    params.omit_excluded = FALSE;
 	}
 
-	ret = do_show (ctx, query, format, sprinter, &params);
+	ret = do_show (config, query, format, sprinter, &params);
     }
 
     notmuch_crypto_cleanup (&params.crypto);
diff --git a/notmuch-tag.c b/notmuch-tag.c
index 148e856a..0e73197c 100644
--- a/notmuch-tag.c
+++ b/notmuch-tag.c
@@ -178,11 +178,10 @@ tag_file (void *ctx, notmuch_database_t *notmuch, tag_op_flag_t flags,
 }
 
 int
-notmuch_tag_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
+notmuch_tag_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     tag_op_list_t *tag_ops = NULL;
     char *query_string = NULL;
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     notmuch_database_t *notmuch;
     struct sigaction action;
     tag_op_flag_t tag_flags = TAG_FLAG_NONE;
@@ -225,21 +224,17 @@ notmuch_tag_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 	    return 1;
 	}
     } else {
-	tag_ops = tag_op_list_create (ctx);
+	tag_ops = tag_op_list_create (config);
 	if (tag_ops == NULL) {
 	    fprintf (stderr, "Out of memory.\n");
 	    return 1;
 	}
 
-	if (parse_tag_command_line (ctx, argc - opt_index, argv + opt_index,
+	if (parse_tag_command_line (config, argc - opt_index, argv + opt_index,
 				    &query_string, tag_ops))
 	    return 1;
     }
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, FALSE);
-    if (config == NULL)
-	return 1;
-
     if (notmuch_database_open (notmuch_config_get_database_path (config),
 			       NOTMUCH_DATABASE_MODE_READ_WRITE, &notmuch))
 	return 1;
@@ -248,9 +243,9 @@ notmuch_tag_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 	tag_flags |= TAG_FLAG_MAILDIR_SYNC;
 
     if (batch)
-	ret = tag_file (ctx, notmuch, tag_flags, input);
+	ret = tag_file (config, notmuch, tag_flags, input);
     else
-	ret = tag_query (ctx, notmuch, query_string, tag_ops, tag_flags);
+	ret = tag_query (config, notmuch, query_string, tag_ops, tag_flags);
 
     notmuch_database_destroy (notmuch);
 
diff --git a/notmuch.c b/notmuch.c
index e434d033..3241e23f 100644
--- a/notmuch.c
+++ b/notmuch.c
@@ -22,56 +22,57 @@
 
 #include "notmuch-client.h"
 
-typedef int (*command_function_t) (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+typedef int (*command_function_t) (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 typedef struct command {
     const char *name;
     command_function_t function;
+    notmuch_bool_t create_config;
     const char *arguments;
     const char *summary;
 } command_t;
 
 static int
-notmuch_help_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_help_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 static int
-notmuch_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[]);
+notmuch_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[]);
 
 static command_t commands[] = {
-    { NULL, notmuch_command,
+    { NULL, notmuch_command, TRUE,
       NULL,
       "Notmuch main command." },
-    { "setup", notmuch_setup_command,
+    { "setup", notmuch_setup_command, TRUE,
       NULL,
       "Interactively setup notmuch for first use." },
-    { "new", notmuch_new_command,
+    { "new", notmuch_new_command, FALSE,
       "[options...]",
       "Find and import new messages to the notmuch database." },
-    { "search", notmuch_search_command,
+    { "search", notmuch_search_command, FALSE,
       "[options...] <search-terms> [...]",
       "Search for messages matching the given search terms." },
-    { "show", notmuch_show_command,
+    { "show", notmuch_show_command, FALSE,
       "<search-terms> [...]",
       "Show all messages matching the search terms." },
-    { "count", notmuch_count_command,
+    { "count", notmuch_count_command, FALSE,
       "[options...] <search-terms> [...]",
       "Count messages matching the search terms." },
-    { "reply", notmuch_reply_command,
+    { "reply", notmuch_reply_command, FALSE,
       "[options...] <search-terms> [...]",
       "Construct a reply template for a set of messages." },
-    { "tag", notmuch_tag_command,
+    { "tag", notmuch_tag_command, FALSE,
       "+<tag>|-<tag> [...] [--] <search-terms> [...]" ,
       "Add/remove tags for all messages matching the search terms." },
-    { "dump", notmuch_dump_command,
+    { "dump", notmuch_dump_command, FALSE,
       "[<filename>] [--] [<search-terms>]",
       "Create a plain-text dump of the tags for each message." },
-    { "restore", notmuch_restore_command,
+    { "restore", notmuch_restore_command, FALSE,
       "[--accumulate] [<filename>]",
       "Restore the tags from the given dump file (see 'dump')." },
-    { "config", notmuch_config_command,
+    { "config", notmuch_config_command, FALSE,
       "[get|set] <section>.<item> [value ...]",
       "Get or set settings in the notmuch configuration file." },
-    { "help", notmuch_help_command,
+    { "help", notmuch_help_command, TRUE, /* create but don't save config */
       "[<command>]",
       "This message, or more detailed help for the named command." }
 };
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@ exec_man (const char *page)
 }
 
 static int
-notmuch_help_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
+notmuch_help_command (notmuch_config_t *config, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     command_t *command;
 
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ notmuch_help_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
 
     command = find_command (argv[0]);
     if (command) {
-	char *page = talloc_asprintf (ctx, "notmuch-%s", command->name);
+	char *page = talloc_asprintf (config, "notmuch-%s", command->name);
 	exec_man (page);
     }
 
@@ -199,28 +200,23 @@ notmuch_help_command (void *ctx, int argc, char *argv[])
  * to be more clever about this in the future.
  */
 static int
-notmuch_command (void *ctx, unused(int argc), unused(char *argv[]))
+notmuch_command (notmuch_config_t *config,
+		 unused(int argc), unused(char *argv[]))
 {
-    notmuch_config_t *config;
     char *db_path;
     struct stat st;
 
-    config = notmuch_config_open (ctx, NULL, TRUE);
-
     /* If the user has never configured notmuch, then run
      * notmuch_setup_command which will give a nice welcome message,
      * and interactively guide the user through the configuration. */
-    if (notmuch_config_is_new (config)) {
-	notmuch_config_close (config);
-	return notmuch_setup_command (ctx, 0, NULL);
-    }
+    if (notmuch_config_is_new (config))
+	return notmuch_setup_command (config, 0, NULL);
 
     /* Notmuch is already configured, but is there a database? */
-    db_path = talloc_asprintf (ctx, "%s/%s",
+    db_path = talloc_asprintf (config, "%s/%s",
 			       notmuch_config_get_database_path (config),
 			       ".notmuch");
     if (stat (db_path, &st)) {
-	notmuch_config_close (config);
 	if (errno != ENOENT) {
 	    fprintf (stderr, "Error looking for notmuch database at %s: %s\n",
 		     db_path, strerror (errno));
@@ -252,8 +248,6 @@ notmuch_command (void *ctx, unused(int argc), unused(char *argv[]))
 	    notmuch_config_get_user_name (config),
 	    notmuch_config_get_user_primary_email (config));
 
-    notmuch_config_close (config);
-
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -264,6 +258,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
     char *talloc_report;
     const char *command_name = NULL;
     command_t *command;
+    notmuch_config_t *config;
     notmuch_bool_t print_help=FALSE, print_version=FALSE;
     int opt_index;
     int ret = 0;
@@ -308,7 +303,13 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	return 1;
     }
 
-    ret = (command->function)(local, argc - opt_index, argv + opt_index);
+    config = notmuch_config_open (local, NULL, command->create_config);
+    if (!config)
+	return 1;
+
+    ret = (command->function)(config, argc - opt_index, argv + opt_index);
+
+    notmuch_config_close (config);
 
     talloc_report = getenv ("NOTMUCH_TALLOC_REPORT");
     if (talloc_report && strcmp (talloc_report, "") != 0) {