diff --git a/backends/frotz/main.cpp b/backends/frotz/main.cpp
index 1e8b2f65..01f67245 100644
--- a/backends/frotz/main.cpp
+++ b/backends/frotz/main.cpp
@@ -339,56 +339,19 @@ int main (int argc, char* argv[]) {
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	std::string configFile;
-	boost::program_options::variables_map vm;
-	boost::program_options::options_description desc("Usage: spectrum <config_file.cfg>\nAllowed options");
-	desc.add_options()
-		("help", "help")
-		("host,h", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&host)->default_value(""), "Host to connect to")
-		("port,p", boost::program_options::value<int>(&port)->default_value(10000), "Port to connect to")
-		("config", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&configFile)->default_value(""), "Config file")
-		;
-
-	try
-	{
-		boost::program_options::positional_options_description p;
-		p.add("config", -1);
-		boost::program_options::store(boost::program_options::command_line_parser(argc, argv).
-			options(desc).positional(p).allow_unregistered().run(), vm);
-		boost::program_options::notify(vm);
-			
-		if(vm.count("help"))
-		{
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-
-		if(vm.count("config") == 0) {
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-	}
-	catch (std::runtime_error& e)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-	catch (...)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-
-	Config config(argc, argv);
-	if (!config.load(configFile)) {
-		std::cerr << "Can't open " << argv[1] << " configuration file.\n";
+	std::string error;
+	Config *cfg = Config::createFromArgs(argc, argv, error, host, port);
+	if (cfg == NULL) {
+		std::cerr << error;
 		return 1;
 	}
 
 	Swift::SimpleEventLoop eventLoop;
 	loop_ = &eventLoop;
-	np = new FrotzNetworkPlugin(&config, &eventLoop, host, port);
+	np = new FrotzNetworkPlugin(cfg, &eventLoop, host, port);
 	loop_->run();
 
+	delete cfg;
+
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/backends/libcommuni/main.cpp b/backends/libcommuni/main.cpp
index c059714c..4509b9af 100644
--- a/backends/libcommuni/main.cpp
+++ b/backends/libcommuni/main.cpp
@@ -27,63 +27,24 @@ int main (int argc, char* argv[]) {
 	std::string host;
 	int port;
 
-
-	std::string configFile;
-	boost::program_options::variables_map vm;
-	boost::program_options::options_description desc("Usage: spectrum <config_file.cfg>\nAllowed options");
-	desc.add_options()
-		("help", "help")
-		("host,h", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&host)->default_value(""), "Host to connect to")
-		("port,p", boost::program_options::value<int>(&port)->default_value(10000), "Port to connect to")
-		("config", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&configFile)->default_value(""), "Config file")
-		;
-
-	try
-	{
-		boost::program_options::positional_options_description p;
-		p.add("config", -1);
-		boost::program_options::store(boost::program_options::command_line_parser(argc, argv).
-			options(desc).positional(p).allow_unregistered().run(), vm);
-		boost::program_options::notify(vm);
-			
-		if(vm.count("help"))
-		{
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-
-		if(vm.count("config") == 0) {
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-	}
-	catch (std::runtime_error& e)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-	catch (...)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
+	std::string error;
+	Config *cfg = Config::createFromArgs(argc, argv, error, host, port);
+	if (cfg == NULL) {
+		std::cerr << error;
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	Config config(argc, argv);
-	if (!config.load(configFile)) {
-		std::cerr << "Can't open " << argv[1] << " configuration file.\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
 	QCoreApplication app(argc, argv);
 
-	Logging::initBackendLogging(&config);
+	Logging::initBackendLogging(cfg);
 
 	Swift::QtEventLoop eventLoop;
 
-	if (!CONFIG_HAS_KEY(&config, "service.irc_server")) {
-		np = new IRCNetworkPlugin(&config, &eventLoop, host, port);
+	if (!CONFIG_HAS_KEY(cfg, "service.irc_server")) {
+		np = new IRCNetworkPlugin(cfg, &eventLoop, host, port);
 	}
 	else {
-		np = new SingleIRCNetworkPlugin(&config, &eventLoop, host, port);
+		np = new SingleIRCNetworkPlugin(cfg, &eventLoop, host, port);
 	}
 
 	return app.exec();
diff --git a/backends/libpurple/main.cpp b/backends/libpurple/main.cpp
index db76217f..fc4bc886 100644
--- a/backends/libpurple/main.cpp
+++ b/backends/libpurple/main.cpp
@@ -1641,51 +1641,14 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 		}
 #endif
 
-	std::string configFile;
-	boost::program_options::variables_map vm;
-	boost::program_options::options_description desc("Usage: spectrum <config_file.cfg>\nAllowed options");
-	desc.add_options()
-		("help", "help")
-		("host,h", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&host)->default_value(""), "Host to connect to")
-		("port,p", boost::program_options::value<int>(&port)->default_value(10000), "Port to connect to")
-		("config", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&configFile)->default_value(""), "Config file")
-		;
-
-	try
-	{
-		boost::program_options::positional_options_description p;
-		p.add("config", -1);
-		boost::program_options::store(boost::program_options::command_line_parser(argc, argv).
-			options(desc).positional(p).allow_unregistered().run(), vm);
-		boost::program_options::notify(vm);
-			
-		if(vm.count("help"))
-		{
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-
-		if(vm.count("config") == 0) {
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-	}
-	catch (std::runtime_error& e)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-	catch (...)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
+	std::string error;
+	Config *cfg = Config::createFromArgs(argc, argv, error, host, port);
+	if (cfg == NULL) {
+		std::cerr << error;
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	config = boost::make_shared<Config>(argc, argv);
-	if (!config->load(vm["config"].as<std::string>())) {
-		std::cerr << "Can't load configuration file.\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
+	config = boost::shared_ptr<Config>(cfg);
  
 	Logging::initBackendLogging(config.get());
 	initPurple();
diff --git a/backends/libyahoo2/main.cpp b/backends/libyahoo2/main.cpp
index d7937424..9c133839 100644
--- a/backends/libyahoo2/main.cpp
+++ b/backends/libyahoo2/main.cpp
@@ -741,60 +741,21 @@ int main (int argc, char* argv[]) {
 	}
 #endif
 
-	std::string configFile;
-	boost::program_options::variables_map vm;
-	boost::program_options::options_description desc("Usage: spectrum <config_file.cfg>\nAllowed options");
-	desc.add_options()
-		("help", "help")
-		("host,h", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&host)->default_value(""), "Host to connect to")
-		("port,p", boost::program_options::value<int>(&port)->default_value(10000), "Port to connect to")
-		("config", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&configFile)->default_value(""), "Config file")
-		;
-
-	try
-	{
-		boost::program_options::positional_options_description p;
-		p.add("config", -1);
-		boost::program_options::store(boost::program_options::command_line_parser(argc, argv).
-			options(desc).positional(p).allow_unregistered().run(), vm);
-		boost::program_options::notify(vm);
-			
-		if(vm.count("help"))
-		{
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-
-		if(vm.count("config") == 0) {
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-	}
-	catch (std::runtime_error& e)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-	catch (...)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
+	std::string error;
+	Config *cfg = Config::createFromArgs(argc, argv, error, host, port);
+	if (cfg == NULL) {
+		std::cerr << error;
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	Config config(argc, argv);
-	if (!config.load(configFile)) {
-		std::cerr << "Can't open " << argv[1] << " configuration file.\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-
-	Logging::initBackendLogging(&config);
+	Logging::initBackendLogging(cfg);
 
 	register_callbacks();
 	yahoo_set_log_level(YAHOO_LOG_DEBUG);
 
 	Swift::SimpleEventLoop eventLoop;
 	loop_ = &eventLoop;
-	np = new YahooPlugin(&config, &eventLoop, host, port);
+	np = new YahooPlugin(cfg, &eventLoop, host, port);
 	loop_->run();
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/backends/skype/main.cpp b/backends/skype/main.cpp
index 180e9182..99d77bc2 100644
--- a/backends/skype/main.cpp
+++ b/backends/skype/main.cpp
@@ -836,54 +836,14 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 		}
 #endif
 
-	std::string configFile;
-	boost::program_options::variables_map vm;
-	boost::program_options::options_description desc("Usage: spectrum <config_file.cfg>\nAllowed options");
-	desc.add_options()
-		("help", "help")
-		("host,h", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&host)->default_value(""), "Host to connect to")
-		("port,p", boost::program_options::value<int>(&port)->default_value(10000), "Port to connect to")
-		("config", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&configFile)->default_value(""), "Config file")
-		;
-
-	try
-	{
-		boost::program_options::positional_options_description p;
-		p.add("config", -1);
-		boost::program_options::store(boost::program_options::command_line_parser(argc, argv).
-			options(desc).positional(p).allow_unregistered().run(), vm);
-		boost::program_options::notify(vm);
-			
-		if(vm.count("help"))
-		{
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-
-		if(vm.count("config") == 0) {
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-	}
-	catch (std::runtime_error& e)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-	catch (...)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
+	std::string error;
+	Config *cfg = Config::createFromArgs(argc, argv, error, host, port);
+	if (cfg == NULL) {
+		std::cerr << error;
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-
-	Config config(argc, argv);
-	if (!config.load(configFile)) {
-		std::cout << "Can't open " << argv[1] << " configuration file.\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-
-	Logging::initBackendLogging(&config);
+	Logging::initBackendLogging(cfg);
 
 	g_type_init();
 
@@ -896,7 +856,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	channel = g_io_channel_unix_new(m_sock);
 	g_io_add_watch_full(channel, G_PRIORITY_DEFAULT, cond, transportDataReceived, NULL, io_destroy);
 
-	np = new SpectrumNetworkPlugin(&config, host, port);
+	np = new SpectrumNetworkPlugin(cfg, host, port);
 
 	GMainLoop *m_loop;
 	m_loop = g_main_loop_new(NULL, FALSE);
diff --git a/backends/smstools3/main.cpp b/backends/smstools3/main.cpp
index 16b172ad..31a22b78 100644
--- a/backends/smstools3/main.cpp
+++ b/backends/smstools3/main.cpp
@@ -260,56 +260,16 @@ int main (int argc, char* argv[]) {
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	std::string configFile;
-	boost::program_options::variables_map vm;
-	boost::program_options::options_description desc("Usage: spectrum <config_file.cfg>\nAllowed options");
-	desc.add_options()
-		("help", "help")
-		("host,h", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&host)->default_value(""), "Host to connect to")
-		("port,p", boost::program_options::value<int>(&port)->default_value(10000), "Port to connect to")
-		("config", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&configFile)->default_value(""), "Config file")
-		;
-
-	try
-	{
-		boost::program_options::positional_options_description p;
-		p.add("config", -1);
-		boost::program_options::store(boost::program_options::command_line_parser(argc, argv).
-			options(desc).positional(p).allow_unregistered().run(), vm);
-		boost::program_options::notify(vm);
-			
-		if(vm.count("help"))
-		{
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-
-		if(vm.count("config") == 0) {
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-	}
-	catch (std::runtime_error& e)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-	catch (...)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-
-	Config config(argc, argv);
-	if (!config.load(configFile)) {
-		std::cerr << "Can't open " << argv[1] << " configuration file.\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-
-	Logging::initBackendLogging(&config);
-
 	std::string error;
-	StorageBackend *storageBackend = StorageBackend::createBackend(&config, error);
+	Config *cfg = Config::createFromArgs(argc, argv, error, host, port);
+	if (cfg == NULL) {
+		std::cerr << error;
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	Logging::initBackendLogging(cfg);
+
+	StorageBackend *storageBackend = StorageBackend::createBackend(cfg, error);
 	if (storageBackend == NULL) {
 		if (!error.empty()) {
 			std::cerr << error << "\n";
@@ -323,7 +283,7 @@ int main (int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
 	Swift::SimpleEventLoop eventLoop;
 	loop_ = &eventLoop;
-	np = new SMSNetworkPlugin(&config, &eventLoop, host, port);
+	np = new SMSNetworkPlugin(cfg, &eventLoop, host, port);
 	loop_->run();
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/backends/swiften/main.cpp b/backends/swiften/main.cpp
index 65b3fe4f..d9199aeb 100644
--- a/backends/swiften/main.cpp
+++ b/backends/swiften/main.cpp
@@ -264,57 +264,18 @@ int main (int argc, char* argv[]) {
 	}
 #endif
 
-	std::string configFile;
-	boost::program_options::variables_map vm;
-	boost::program_options::options_description desc("Usage: spectrum <config_file.cfg>\nAllowed options");
-	desc.add_options()
-		("help", "help")
-		("host,h", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&host)->default_value(""), "Host to connect to")
-		("port,p", boost::program_options::value<int>(&port)->default_value(10000), "Port to connect to")
-		("config", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&configFile)->default_value(""), "Config file")
-		;
-
-	try
-	{
-		boost::program_options::positional_options_description p;
-		p.add("config", -1);
-		boost::program_options::store(boost::program_options::command_line_parser(argc, argv).
-			options(desc).positional(p).allow_unregistered().run(), vm);
-		boost::program_options::notify(vm);
-			
-		if(vm.count("help"))
-		{
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-
-		if(vm.count("config") == 0) {
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-	}
-	catch (std::runtime_error& e)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-	catch (...)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
+	std::string error;
+	Config *cfg = Config::createFromArgs(argc, argv, error, host, port);
+	if (cfg == NULL) {
+		std::cerr << error;
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	Config config(argc, argv);
-	if (!config.load(configFile)) {
-		std::cerr << "Can't open " << argv[1] << " configuration file.\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-
-	Logging::initBackendLogging(&config);
+	Logging::initBackendLogging(cfg);
 
 	Swift::SimpleEventLoop eventLoop;
 	loop_ = &eventLoop;
-	np = new SwiftenPlugin(&config, &eventLoop, host, port);
+	np = new SwiftenPlugin(cfg, &eventLoop, host, port);
 	loop_->run();
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/backends/template/main.cpp b/backends/template/main.cpp
index 730ece10..06d2d1ba 100644
--- a/backends/template/main.cpp
+++ b/backends/template/main.cpp
@@ -113,57 +113,19 @@ int main (int argc, char* argv[]) {
 		return -1;
 	}
 #endif
-	std::string configFile;
-	boost::program_options::variables_map vm;
-	boost::program_options::options_description desc("Usage: spectrum <config_file.cfg>\nAllowed options");
-	desc.add_options()
-		("help", "help")
-		("host,h", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&host)->default_value(""), "Host to connect to")
-		("port,p", boost::program_options::value<int>(&port)->default_value(10000), "Port to connect to")
-		("config", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&configFile)->default_value(""), "Config file")
-		;
 
-	try
-	{
-		boost::program_options::positional_options_description p;
-		p.add("config", -1);
-		boost::program_options::store(boost::program_options::command_line_parser(argc, argv).
-			options(desc).positional(p).allow_unregistered().run(), vm);
-		boost::program_options::notify(vm);
-			
-		if(vm.count("help"))
-		{
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-
-		if(vm.count("config") == 0) {
-			std::cout << desc << "\n";
-			return 1;
-		}
-	}
-	catch (std::runtime_error& e)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-	catch (...)
-	{
-		std::cout << desc << "\n";
+	std::string error;
+	Config *cfg = Config::createFromArgs(argc, argv, error, host, port);
+	if (cfg == NULL) {
+		std::cerr << error;
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	Config config(argc, argv);
-	if (!config.load(configFile)) {
-		std::cerr << "Can't open " << argv[1] << " configuration file.\n";
-		return 1;
-	}
-
-	Logging::initBackendLogging(&config);
+	Logging::initBackendLogging(cfg);
 
 	Swift::SimpleEventLoop eventLoop;
 	loop_ = &eventLoop;
-	np = new TemplatePlugin(&config, &eventLoop, host, port);
+	np = new TemplatePlugin(cfg, &eventLoop, host, port);
 	loop_->run();
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/include/transport/config.h b/include/transport/config.h
index dd76bc7b..01c0786b 100644
--- a/include/transport/config.h
+++ b/include/transport/config.h
@@ -106,6 +106,8 @@ class Config {
 
 		/// This signal is emitted when config is loaded/reloaded.
 		boost::signal<void ()> onConfigReloaded;
+
+		static Config *createFromArgs(int argc, char **argv, std::string &error, std::string &host, int &port);
 	
 	private:
 		int m_argc;
diff --git a/src/config.cpp b/src/config.cpp
index a5f670b2..552c9ff9 100644
--- a/src/config.cpp
+++ b/src/config.cpp
@@ -278,4 +278,56 @@ std::string Config::getCommandLineArgs() const {
 	return commandLineArgs.str();
 }
 
+Config *Config::createFromArgs(int argc, char **argv, std::string &error, std::string &host, int &port) {
+	std::ostringstream os;
+	std::string configFile;
+	boost::program_options::variables_map vm;
+	boost::program_options::options_description desc("Usage: spectrum <config_file.cfg>\nAllowed options");
+	desc.add_options()
+		("help", "help")
+		("host,h", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&host)->default_value(""), "Host to connect to")
+		("port,p", boost::program_options::value<int>(&port)->default_value(10000), "Port to connect to")
+		("config", boost::program_options::value<std::string>(&configFile)->default_value(""), "Config file")
+		;
+
+	os << desc;
+	try
+	{
+		boost::program_options::positional_options_description p;
+		p.add("config", -1);
+		boost::program_options::store(boost::program_options::command_line_parser(argc, argv).
+			options(desc).positional(p).allow_unregistered().run(), vm);
+		boost::program_options::notify(vm);
+			
+		if(vm.count("help"))
+		{
+			error = os.str();
+			return NULL;
+		}
+
+		if(vm.count("config") == 0) {
+			error = os.str();
+			return NULL;
+		}
+	}
+	catch (std::runtime_error& e)
+	{
+		error = os.str();
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	catch (...)
+	{
+		error = os.str();
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	Config *config = new Config(argc, argv);
+	if (!config->load(configFile)) {
+		error = "Can't open " + configFile + " configuration file.\n";
+		delete config;
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return config;
+}
+
 }