diff --git a/vm/debug.c b/vm/debug.c
index 909cc8f710..172e889ddb 100755
--- a/vm/debug.c
+++ b/vm/debug.c
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ void factorbug(void)
 		else if(strcmp(cmd,"x") == 0)
 			exit(1);
 		else if(strcmp(cmd,"im") == 0)
-			save_image(STR_FORMAT("fep.image"));
+			save_image(STRING_LITERAL("fep.image"));
 		else if(strcmp(cmd,"data") == 0)
 			dump_objects(-1);
 		else if(strcmp(cmd,"refs") == 0)
diff --git a/vm/factor.c b/vm/factor.c
index 2f78a797d4..717322d1ad 100755
--- a/vm/factor.c
+++ b/vm/factor.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 void default_parameters(F_PARAMETERS *p)
 {
-	p->image = NULL;
+	p->image_path = NULL;
 
 	/* We make a wild guess here that if we're running on ARM, we don't
 	have a lot of memory. */
@@ -38,6 +38,41 @@ void default_parameters(F_PARAMETERS *p)
 	p->stack_traces = true;
 }
 
+INLINE bool factor_arg(const F_CHAR* str, const F_CHAR* arg, CELL* value)
+{
+	int val;
+	if(SSCANF(str,arg,&val) > 0)
+	{
+		*value = val;
+		return true;
+	}
+	else
+		return false;
+}
+
+void init_parameters_from_args(F_PARAMETERS *p, int argc, F_CHAR **argv)
+{
+	default_parameters(p);
+
+	int i;
+
+	for(i = 1; i < argc; i++)
+	{
+		if(factor_arg(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-datastack=%d"),&p->ds_size));
+		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-retainstack=%d"),&p->rs_size));
+		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-generations=%d"),&p->gen_count));
+		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-young=%d"),&p->young_size));
+		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-aging=%d"),&p->aging_size));
+		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-tenured=%d"),&p->tenured_size));
+		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-codeheap=%d"),&p->code_size));
+		else if(STRCMP(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-securegc")) == 0) p->secure_gc = true;
+		else if(STRCMP(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-fep")) == 0) p->fep = true;
+		else if(STRNCMP(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-i="),3) == 0) p->image_path = argv[i] + 3;
+		else if(STRCMP(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-console")) == 0) p->console = true;
+		else if(STRCMP(argv[i],STRING_LITERAL("-no-stack-traces")) == 0) p->stack_traces = false;
+	}
+}
+
 /* Do some initialization that we do once only */
 void do_stage1_init(void)
 {
@@ -51,7 +86,6 @@ void do_stage1_init(void)
 	fflush(stdout);
 }
 
-/* Get things started */
 void init_factor(F_PARAMETERS *p)
 {
 	/* Kilobytes */
@@ -70,8 +104,12 @@ void init_factor(F_PARAMETERS *p)
 	/* OS-specific initialization */
 	early_init();
 
-	if(p->image == NULL)
-		p->image = default_image_path();
+	if(p->image_path == NULL)
+		p->image_path = default_image_path();
+
+	const F_CHAR *executable_path = vm_executable_path();
+	if(executable_path)
+		p->executable_path = executable_path;
 
 	srand(current_micros());
 	init_ffi();
@@ -93,6 +131,10 @@ void init_factor(F_PARAMETERS *p)
 	userenv[OS_ENV] = tag_object(from_char_string(FACTOR_OS_STRING));
 	userenv[CELL_SIZE_ENV] = tag_fixnum(sizeof(CELL));
 	userenv[STACK_TRACES_ENV] = tag_boolean(p->stack_traces);
+	userenv[EXECUTABLE_ENV] = (p->executable_path ?
+		tag_object(from_native_string(p->executable_path)) : F);
+	userenv[ARGS_ENV] = F;
+	userenv[EMBEDDED_ENV] = F;
 
 	/* We can GC now */
 	gc_off = false;
@@ -101,57 +143,11 @@ void init_factor(F_PARAMETERS *p)
 		do_stage1_init();
 }
 
-INLINE bool factor_arg(const F_CHAR* str, const F_CHAR* arg, CELL* value)
+/* May allocate memory */
+void pass_args_to_factor(int argc, F_CHAR **argv)
 {
-	int val;
-	if(SSCANF(str,arg,&val) > 0)
-	{
-		*value = val;
-		return true;
-	}
-	else
-		return false;
-}
-
-void init_factor_from_args(F_CHAR *image, int argc, F_CHAR **argv, bool embedded)
-{
-	F_PARAMETERS p;
-	default_parameters(&p);
-
-	if(image) p.image = image;
-
-	CELL i;
-
-	posix_argc = argc;
-	posix_argv = safe_malloc(argc * sizeof(F_CHAR*));
-	posix_argv[0] = safe_strdup(argv[0]);
-
-	for(i = 1; i < argc; i++)
-	{
-		posix_argv[i] = safe_strdup(argv[i]);
-		if(factor_arg(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-datastack=%d"),&p.ds_size));
-		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-retainstack=%d"),&p.rs_size));
-		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-generations=%d"),&p.gen_count));
-		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-young=%d"),&p.young_size));
-		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-aging=%d"),&p.aging_size));
-		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-tenured=%d"),&p.tenured_size));
-		else if(factor_arg(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-codeheap=%d"),&p.code_size));
-		else if(STRCMP(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-securegc")) == 0)
-			p.secure_gc = true;
-		else if(STRCMP(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-fep")) == 0)
-			p.fep = true;
-		else if(STRNCMP(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-i="),3) == 0)
-			p.image = argv[i] + 3;
-		else if(STRCMP(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-console")) == 0)
-			p.console = true;
-		else if(STRCMP(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-no-stack-traces")) == 0)
-			p.stack_traces = false;
-	}
-
-	init_factor(&p);
-	nest_stacks();
-
 	F_ARRAY *args = allot_array(ARRAY_TYPE,argc,F);
+	int i;
 
 	for(i = 1; i < argc; i++)
 	{
@@ -162,23 +158,31 @@ void init_factor_from_args(F_CHAR *image, int argc, F_CHAR **argv, bool embedded
 	}
 
 	userenv[ARGS_ENV] = tag_object(args);
+}
 
-	const F_CHAR *executable_path = vm_executable_path();
-	if(!executable_path)
-		executable_path = argv[0];
-
-	userenv[EXECUTABLE_ENV] = tag_object(from_native_string(executable_path));
-	userenv[EMBEDDED_ENV] = (embedded ? T : F);
-
-	if(p.fep)
-		factorbug();
+void start_factor(F_PARAMETERS *p)
+{
+	if(p->fep) factorbug();
 
+	nest_stacks();
 	c_to_factor_toplevel(userenv[BOOT_ENV]);
 	unnest_stacks();
+}
 
-	for(i = 0; i < argc; i++)
-		free(posix_argv[i]);
-	free(posix_argv);
+void start_embedded_factor(F_PARAMETERS *p)
+{
+	userenv[EMBEDDED_ENV] = T;
+	start_factor(p);
+}
+
+void start_standalone_factor(int argc, F_CHAR **argv)
+{
+	F_PARAMETERS p;
+	default_parameters(&p);
+	init_parameters_from_args(&p,argc,argv);
+	init_factor(&p);
+	pass_args_to_factor(argc,argv);
+	start_factor(&p);
 }
 
 char *factor_eval_string(char *string)
diff --git a/vm/factor.h b/vm/factor.h
index a0632c3138..a3de31a502 100644
--- a/vm/factor.h
+++ b/vm/factor.h
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
-int posix_argc;
-F_CHAR **posix_argv;
+DLLEXPORT void default_parameters(F_PARAMETERS *p);
+DLLEXPORT void init_parameters_from_args(F_PARAMETERS *p, int argc, F_CHAR **argv);
+DLLEXPORT void init_factor(F_PARAMETERS *p);
+DLLEXPORT void pass_args_to_factor(int argc, F_CHAR **argv);
+DLLEXPORT void start_embedded_factor(F_PARAMETERS *p);
+DLLEXPORT void start_standalone_factor(int argc, F_CHAR **argv);
 
-DLLEXPORT void init_factor_from_args(F_CHAR *image, int argc, F_CHAR **argv, bool embedded);
 DLLEXPORT char *factor_eval_string(char *string);
 DLLEXPORT void factor_eval_free(char *result);
 DLLEXPORT void factor_yield(void);
diff --git a/vm/image.c b/vm/image.c
index 6fb5910392..5f4492e537 100755
--- a/vm/image.c
+++ b/vm/image.c
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@ INLINE void load_code_heap(FILE *file, F_HEADER *h, F_PARAMETERS *p)
 /* This function also initializes the data and code heaps */
 void load_image(F_PARAMETERS *p)
 {
-	FILE *file = OPEN_READ(p->image);
+	FILE *file = OPEN_READ(p->image_path);
 	if(file == NULL)
 	{
-		print_string("Cannot open image file: "); print_native_string(p->image); nl();
+		print_string("Cannot open image file: "); print_native_string(p->image_path); nl();
 		print_string(strerror(errno)); nl();
 		exit(1);
 	}
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void load_image(F_PARAMETERS *p)
 	relocate_code();
 
 	/* Store image path name */
-	userenv[IMAGE_ENV] = tag_object(from_native_string(p->image));
+	userenv[IMAGE_ENV] = tag_object(from_native_string(p->image_path));
 }
 
 /* Save the current image to disk */
diff --git a/vm/image.h b/vm/image.h
index 6e1b03af0d..e26a6bb5b4 100755
--- a/vm/image.h
+++ b/vm/image.h
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ typedef struct {
 } F_HEADER;
 
 typedef struct {
-	const F_CHAR* image;
+	const F_CHAR *image_path;
+	const F_CHAR *executable_path;
 	CELL ds_size, rs_size;
 	CELL gen_count, young_size, aging_size, tenured_size;
 	CELL code_size;
diff --git a/vm/main-unix.c b/vm/main-unix.c
index 5af454e51f..b177c58eb3 100644
--- a/vm/main-unix.c
+++ b/vm/main-unix.c
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	init_factor_from_args(NULL,argc,argv,false);
+	start_standalone_factor(argc,argv);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/vm/main-windows-ce.c b/vm/main-windows-ce.c
index e67f08abb9..fc04d455db 100644
--- a/vm/main-windows-ce.c
+++ b/vm/main-windows-ce.c
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-#include <windows.h>
-#include <stdio.h>
 #include "master.h"
 
 /* 
@@ -8,7 +6,9 @@
 
 	This would not be necessary if Windows CE had CommandLineToArgvW.
 
-	Based on MinGW's public domain char** version.  */
+	Based on MinGW's public domain char** version.
+
+*/
 
 int __argc;
 wchar_t **__argv;
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ WinMain(
 	int nCmdShow)
 {
 	parse_args(&__argc, &__argv, lpCmdLine);
-	init_factor_from_args(NULL,__argc,(LPWSTR*)__argv,false);
+	start_standalone_factor(__argc,(LPWSTR*)__argv);
 	// memory leak from malloc, wcsdup
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/vm/main-windows-nt.c b/vm/main-windows-nt.c
index ef66651846..a7bd335c82 100755
--- a/vm/main-windows-nt.c
+++ b/vm/main-windows-nt.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ int WINAPI WinMain(
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	init_factor_from_args(NULL,nArgs,szArglist,false);
+	init_factor_from_args(nArgs,szArglist);
 
 	LocalFree(szArglist);
 
diff --git a/vm/os-unix.h b/vm/os-unix.h
index b2a1735fd7..d2f34b4bc4 100755
--- a/vm/os-unix.h
+++ b/vm/os-unix.h
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ typedef char F_SYMBOL;
 #define string_to_native_alien(string) string_to_char_alien(string,true)
 #define unbox_symbol_string unbox_char_string
 
-#define STR_FORMAT(string) string
+#define STRING_LITERAL(string) string
 
 #define SSCANF sscanf
 #define STRCMP strcmp
diff --git a/vm/os-windows.h b/vm/os-windows.h
index c5a74e5b09..a9c3f6d803 100755
--- a/vm/os-windows.h
+++ b/vm/os-windows.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ typedef wchar_t F_CHAR;
 #define unbox_native_string unbox_u16_string
 #define string_to_native_alien(string) string_to_u16_alien(string,true)
 
-#define STR_FORMAT(string) L##string
+#define STRING_LITERAL(string) L##string
 
 #define MAX_UNICODE_PATH 32768
 #define DLLEXPORT __declspec(dllexport)
@@ -20,20 +20,18 @@ typedef wchar_t F_CHAR;
 #define STRNCMP wcsncmp
 #define STRDUP _wcsdup
 
-
 #ifdef WIN64
 	#define CELL_FORMAT "%Iu"
-        #define CELL_HEX_FORMAT "%Ix"
+	#define CELL_HEX_FORMAT "%Ix"
 	#define CELL_HEX_PAD_FORMAT "%016Ix"
-        #define FIXNUM_FORMAT "%Id"
+	#define FIXNUM_FORMAT "%Id"
 #else
 	#define CELL_FORMAT "%lu"
-        #define CELL_HEX_FORMAT "%lx"
+	#define CELL_HEX_FORMAT "%lx"
 	#define CELL_HEX_PAD_FORMAT "%08lx"
-        #define FIXNUM_FORMAT "%ld"
+	#define FIXNUM_FORMAT "%ld"
 #endif
 
-
 #define OPEN_READ(path) _wfopen(path,L"rb")
 #define OPEN_WRITE(path) _wfopen(path,L"wb")