diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index e929430..ba2327b 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ dependencies {
     implementation("org.mapdb:mapdb:3.0.7")
     implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-coroutines-core:1.3.2")
     implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-reflect:1.3.50")
+    implementation("com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-annotations:2.10.0.pr3")
 
     testImplementation("io.kotlintest:kotlintest-runner-junit5:3.4.2")
     testImplementation("io.mockk:mockk:1.9.3")
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/Command.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/Command.kt
index 6d7f930..87eb446 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/Command.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/Command.kt
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 package moe.kageru.kagebot.command
 
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonProperty
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.Globals
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.Log
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.MessageUtil
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.Util.applyIf
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.Config
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.LocalizationSpec
-import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.RawCommand
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.features.MessageFeature
 import org.javacord.api.entity.message.MessageAuthor
 import org.javacord.api.entity.message.embed.EmbedBuilder
@@ -14,29 +14,23 @@ import org.javacord.api.event.message.MessageCreateEvent
 
 private const val AUTHOR_PLACEHOLDER = "@@"
 
-class Command(cmd: RawCommand) {
-    val trigger: String
-    private val response: String?
-    val matchType: MatchType
-    private val permissions: Permissions?
-    private val actions: MessageActions?
-    val regex: Regex?
-    val embed: EmbedBuilder?
-    val feature: MessageFeature?
-
-    init {
-        trigger = cmd.trigger ?: throw IllegalArgumentException("Every command must have a trigger.")
-        response = cmd.response
-        matchType = cmd.matchType?.let { type ->
-            MatchType.values().find { it.name.equals(type, ignoreCase = true) }
-                ?: throw IllegalArgumentException("Invalid [command.matchType]: “${cmd.matchType}”")
-        } ?: MatchType.PREFIX
-        permissions = cmd.permissions?.let { Permissions(it) }
-        actions = cmd.actions?.let { MessageActions(it) }
-        regex = if (matchType == MatchType.REGEX) Regex(trigger) else null
-        embed = cmd.embed?.let(MessageUtil::listToEmbed)
-        feature = cmd.feature?.let { Config.features.findByString(it) }
-    }
+class Command(
+    val trigger: String,
+    private val response: String? = null,
+    private val permissions: Permissions?,
+    @JsonProperty("action")
+    private val actions: MessageActions?,
+    embed: List<String>?,
+    feature: String?,
+    matchType: String?
+) {
+    val matchType: MatchType = matchType?.let { type ->
+        MatchType.values().find { it.name.equals(type, ignoreCase = true) }
+            ?: throw IllegalArgumentException("Invalid [command.matchType]: “$matchType”")
+    } ?: MatchType.PREFIX
+    val regex: Regex? = if (this.matchType == MatchType.REGEX) Regex(trigger) else null
+    val embed: EmbedBuilder? = embed?.let(MessageUtil::listToEmbed)
+    private val feature: MessageFeature? = feature?.let { Config.features.findByString(it) }
 
     fun isAllowed(message: MessageCreateEvent) = permissions?.isAllowed(message) ?: true
 
@@ -69,6 +63,7 @@ class Command(cmd: RawCommand) {
         }
 }
 
+@Suppress("unused")
 enum class MatchType {
     PREFIX {
         override fun matches(message: String, command: Command) = message.startsWith(command.trigger, ignoreCase = true)
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/MessageActions.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/MessageActions.kt
index 103cce9..1627812 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/MessageActions.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/MessageActions.kt
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 package moe.kageru.kagebot.command
 
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonProperty
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.Log
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.MessageUtil.sendEmbed
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.Config
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.LocalizationSpec
-import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.RawMessageActions
 import org.javacord.api.event.message.MessageCreateEvent
 
-class MessageActions(rawActions: RawMessageActions) {
-    private val delete: Boolean = rawActions.delete
-    private val redirect: MessageRedirect? = rawActions.redirect?.let(::MessageRedirect)
-    private val assignment: RoleAssignment? = rawActions.assign?.let(::RoleAssignment)
+class MessageActions(
+    private val delete: Boolean = false,
+    private val redirect: MessageRedirect?,
+    @JsonProperty("assign")
+    private val assignment: RoleAssignment?
+) {
 
     fun run(message: MessageCreateEvent, command: Command) {
         if (delete) {
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/MessageRedirect.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/MessageRedirect.kt
index d1e01ad..2da83fd 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/MessageRedirect.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/MessageRedirect.kt
@@ -7,14 +7,11 @@ import moe.kageru.kagebot.Util.applyIf
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.Util.failed
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.Config
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.LocalizationSpec
-import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.RawRedirect
 import org.javacord.api.entity.channel.TextChannel
 import org.javacord.api.event.message.MessageCreateEvent
 
-internal class MessageRedirect(rawRedirect: RawRedirect) {
-    private val target: TextChannel = rawRedirect.target?.let(Util::findChannel)
-        ?: throw IllegalArgumentException("Every redirect needs to have a target.")
-    private val anonymous: Boolean = rawRedirect.anonymous
+class MessageRedirect(target: String, private val anonymous: Boolean = false) {
+    private val targetChannel: TextChannel = Util.findChannel(target)
 
     fun execute(message: MessageCreateEvent, command: Command) {
         val embed = MessageUtil.withEmbed {
@@ -35,9 +32,9 @@ internal class MessageRedirect(rawRedirect: RawRedirect) {
             }
         }
 
-        if (MessageUtil.sendEmbed(target, embed).failed()) {
-            target.sendMessage("Error: could not redirect message.")
-            Log.warn("Could not redirect message to channel $target")
+        if (MessageUtil.sendEmbed(targetChannel, embed).failed()) {
+            targetChannel.sendMessage("Error: could not redirect message.")
+            Log.warn("Could not redirect message to channel $targetChannel")
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/Permissions.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/Permissions.kt
index 7052b9c..fbc1087 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/Permissions.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/Permissions.kt
@@ -1,20 +1,16 @@
 package moe.kageru.kagebot.command
 
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.Util
-import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.RawPermissions
 import org.javacord.api.entity.permission.Role
 import org.javacord.api.event.message.MessageCreateEvent
 
-class Permissions(perms: RawPermissions) {
-    private val hasOneOf: Set<Role>?
-    private val hasNoneOf: Set<Role>?
-    private val onlyDM: Boolean
-
-    init {
-        hasOneOf = perms.hasOneOf?.mapTo(mutableSetOf(), Util::findRole)
-        hasNoneOf = perms.hasNoneOf?.mapTo(mutableSetOf(), Util::findRole)
-        onlyDM = perms.onlyDM
-    }
+class Permissions(
+    hasOneOf: List<String>?,
+    hasNoneOf: List<String>?,
+    private val onlyDM: Boolean = false
+) {
+    private val hasOneOf: Set<Role>? = hasOneOf?.mapTo(mutableSetOf(), Util::findRole)
+    private val hasNoneOf: Set<Role>? = hasNoneOf?.mapTo(mutableSetOf(), Util::findRole)
 
     fun isAllowed(message: MessageCreateEvent): Boolean {
         if (message.messageAuthor.isBotOwner) {
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/RoleAssignment.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/RoleAssignment.kt
index 3120287..c3d28a7 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/RoleAssignment.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/command/RoleAssignment.kt
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 package moe.kageru.kagebot.command
 
+import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonProperty
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.Log
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.Util
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.Util.getUser
-import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.RawAssignment
 import org.javacord.api.event.message.MessageCreateEvent
 
-internal class RoleAssignment(rawAssignment: RawAssignment) {
-    private val role = rawAssignment.role?.let { idOrName ->
-        Util.findRole(idOrName)
-    } ?: throw IllegalArgumentException("Can’t find role “${rawAssignment.role}”")
+class RoleAssignment(@JsonProperty("role") role: String) {
+    private val role = Util.findRole(role)
 
     fun assign(message: MessageCreateEvent) =
         message.getUser()?.addRole(role, "Requested via command.")
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/Config.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/Config.kt
index 766de74..fae3055 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/Config.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/Config.kt
@@ -9,9 +9,12 @@ import org.javacord.api.entity.server.Server
 object Config {
     val systemSpec = Config { addSpec(SystemSpec) }.from.toml
     val localeSpec = Config { addSpec(LocalizationSpec) }.from.toml
+    val commandSpec = Config { addSpec(CommandSpec) }.from.toml
     lateinit var system: Config
     lateinit var localization: Config
     lateinit var server: Server
-    lateinit var commands: List<Command>
+    lateinit var commandConfig: Config
     lateinit var features: Features
+    // for easier access
+    val commands: List<Command> get() = commandConfig[CommandSpec.command]
 }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/ConfigParser.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/ConfigParser.kt
index b469eab..cce3bc9 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/ConfigParser.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/ConfigParser.kt
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package moe.kageru.kagebot.config
 
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.Globals
-import moe.kageru.kagebot.command.Command
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.SystemSpec.serverId
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.features.Features
 import java.io.File
@@ -18,12 +17,7 @@ object ConfigParser {
             .orElseThrow { IllegalArgumentException("Invalid server configured.") }
         Config.localization = Config.localeSpec.file(configFile)
         reloadFeatures(rawConfig)
-        reloadCommands(rawConfig)
-    }
-
-    fun reloadCommands(rawConfig: RawConfig) {
-        Config.commands = rawConfig.commands?.map(::Command)?.toMutableList()
-            ?: throw IllegalArgumentException("No commands found in config.")
+        Config.commandConfig = Config.commandSpec.file(configFile)
     }
 
     fun reloadFeatures(rawConfig: RawConfig) {
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/RawCommands.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/RawCommands.kt
deleted file mode 100644
index 062c7d0..0000000
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/RawCommands.kt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-package moe.kageru.kagebot.config
-
-import com.google.gson.annotations.SerializedName
-
-class RawCommand(
-    val trigger: String?,
-    val response: String?,
-    val matchType: String?,
-    val permissions: RawPermissions?,
-    @SerializedName("action")
-    val actions: RawMessageActions?,
-    val embed: List<String>?,
-    val feature: String?
-)
-
-class RawPermissions(val hasOneOf: List<String>?, val hasNoneOf: List<String>?, val onlyDM: Boolean)
-class RawMessageActions(val delete: Boolean, val redirect: RawRedirect?, val assign: RawAssignment?)
-class RawRedirect(val target: String?, val anonymous: Boolean)
-class RawAssignment(var role: String?)
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/RawConfig.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/RawConfig.kt
index 3ab1795..f2b882f 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/RawConfig.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/config/RawConfig.kt
@@ -3,16 +3,12 @@ package moe.kageru.kagebot.config
 import com.google.gson.annotations.SerializedName
 import com.moandjiezana.toml.Toml
 import com.uchuhimo.konf.ConfigSpec
+import moe.kageru.kagebot.command.Command
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.Config.system
 import java.awt.Color
 import java.io.File
 
-class RawConfig(
-    @SerializedName("command")
-    val commands: List<RawCommand>?,
-    @SerializedName("feature")
-    val features: RawFeatures?
-) {
+class RawConfig(@SerializedName("feature") val features: RawFeatures?) {
     companion object {
         const val DEFAULT_CONFIG_PATH = "config.toml"
 
@@ -46,3 +42,7 @@ object LocalizationSpec : ConfigSpec() {
     val messageDeleted by optional("Your message was deleted.")
     val timeout by optional("You have been timed out for @@ minutes.")
 }
+
+object CommandSpec : ConfigSpec(prefix = "") {
+    val command by optional(emptyList<Command>())
+}
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/HelpFeature.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/HelpFeature.kt
index 1c432ad..82e0e2e 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/HelpFeature.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/HelpFeature.kt
@@ -15,5 +15,4 @@ class HelpFeature : MessageFeature {
 
 private fun listCommands(message: MessageCreateEvent) = Config.commands
     .filter { it.matchType == MatchType.PREFIX && it.isAllowed(message) }
-    .map { it.trigger }
-    .joinToString("\n")
+    .joinToString("\n") { it.trigger }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/SetConfigFeature.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/SetConfigFeature.kt
index 17c8235..128d43c 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/SetConfigFeature.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/SetConfigFeature.kt
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class SetConfigFeature : MessageFeature {
         try {
             Config.localization = Config.localeSpec.string(newConfig)
             ConfigParser.reloadFeatures(rawConfig)
-            ConfigParser.reloadCommands(rawConfig)
+            Config.commandConfig = Config.commandSpec.string(newConfig)
             ConfigParser.configFile.writeText(newConfig)
             message.channel.sendMessage("Config reloaded.")
         } catch (e: IllegalArgumentException) {
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/WelcomeFeature.kt b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/WelcomeFeature.kt
index f87704f..3a9e38f 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/WelcomeFeature.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/features/WelcomeFeature.kt
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ class WelcomeFeature(rawWelcome: RawWelcomeFeature) : MessageFeature, EventFeatu
         rawWelcome.content?.let(MessageUtil::listToEmbed)
     }
     private val fallbackChannel: TextChannel? = rawWelcome.fallbackChannel?.let {
-        if (rawWelcome.fallbackMessage == null) {
-            throw IllegalArgumentException("[feature.welcome.fallbackMessage] must not be null if fallbackChannel is defined")
+        requireNotNull(rawWelcome.fallbackMessage) {
+            "[feature.welcome.fallbackMessage] must not be null if fallbackChannel is defined"
         }
         Util.findChannel(it)
     }
diff --git a/src/test/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/ConfigTest.kt b/src/test/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/ConfigTest.kt
index 527820c..def7346 100644
--- a/src/test/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/ConfigTest.kt
+++ b/src/test/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/ConfigTest.kt
@@ -29,9 +29,6 @@ class ConfigTest : ShouldSpec({
         redirectedMessage = "says"
         messageDeleted = "dongered"
         timeout = "timeout"
-        
-        [[command]]
-        response = "this command is broken"
         """.trimIndent()
         val message = TestUtil.mockMessage("anything")
         every { message.messageAttachments } returns listOf(mockk {
diff --git a/src/test/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/TestUtil.kt b/src/test/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/TestUtil.kt
index 14cf93f..cea6808 100644
--- a/src/test/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/TestUtil.kt
+++ b/src/test/kotlin/moe/kageru/kagebot/TestUtil.kt
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import io.mockk.mockk
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.Kagebot.process
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.Config
 import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.ConfigParser
-import moe.kageru.kagebot.config.RawConfig
 import org.javacord.api.DiscordApi
 import org.javacord.api.entity.channel.ServerTextChannel
 import org.javacord.api.entity.message.embed.EmbedBuilder
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ import java.io.File
 import java.util.*
 
 object TestUtil {
-    val TIMEOUT_ROLE = mockk<Role> {
+    private val TIMEOUT_ROLE = mockk<Role> {
         every { id } returns 123
     }
     val TEST_ROLE = mockk<Role> {
@@ -117,11 +116,10 @@ object TestUtil {
     }
 
     fun withCommands(config: String, test: (() -> Unit)) {
-        val oldCmds = Config.commands
-        val rawConfig = RawConfig.readFromString(config)
-        ConfigParser.reloadCommands(rawConfig)
+        val oldCmds = Config.commandConfig
+        Config.commandConfig = Config.commandSpec.string(config)
         test()
-        Config.commands = oldCmds
+        Config.commandConfig = oldCmds
     }
 
     fun withLocalization(config: String, test: (() -> Unit)) {