diff --git a/rc/status b/rc/status
index 858769a8..4ed4a733 100644
--- a/rc/status
+++ b/rc/status
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # periodically print date and load average to the bar
 
-wmiir remove /bar/status && sleep 2
-
 xwrite() {
 	file="$1"; shift
 	echo -n "$@" | wmiir write "$file"
 }
 
+wmiir remove /bar/status && sleep 2
 wmiir create /bar/status
 xwrite /bar/status/colors $WMII_NORMCOLORS
 
diff --git a/rc/welcome b/rc/welcome
index d2d97a59..4f641d3f 100644
--- a/rc/welcome
+++ b/rc/welcome
@@ -1,38 +1,38 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # display a welcome message that contains the wmii tutorial
 
-xmessage -file - <<EOF
+xmessage -file - <<'EOF'
 Welcome to wmii, the non-wimp environment of the WMI Project.
 
 This is a small step by step tutorial, intended to make you a little bit
 familiar with wmii.
 
-Note, \$MODKEY is the Alt-key by default.
+Note: $MODKEY is the Alt-key by default.
 
 Let's go!
 
-- Start two xterms by pressing \$MODKEY-t twice.
-- Switch between the three windows: \$MODKEY-j, \$MODKEY-k
-  You can also use \$MODKEY-Tab instead of \$MODKEY-j.  If you prefer the mouse,
+- Start two xterms by pressing $MODKEY-t twice.
+- Switch between the three windows: $MODKEY-j, $MODKEY-k
+  You can also use $MODKEY-Tab instead of $MODKEY-j.  If you prefer the mouse,
   then just click the desired window.
-- Create a new column with: \$MODKEY-n
-- Tag the selected client with another tag: \$MODKEY-Shift-2
+- Create a new column with: $MODKEY-n
+- Tag the selected client with another tag: $MODKEY-Shift-2
   IMPORTANT: before you do next step, note that you can select the current tag
-		  with \$MODKEY-1.
-- Select the new tag: \$MODKEY-2
-- Select the floating area: \$MODKEY-space
-- Open the programs menu: \$MODKEY-Control-p
+		  with $MODKEY-1.
+- Select the new tag: $MODKEY-2
+- Select the floating area: $MODKEY-space
+- Open the programs menu: $MODKEY-Control-p
   Type 'xclock' and press Enter.
 - Resize the xclock window: left-click on the border and, while holding the
   button down, move the cursor around.
 - Move the xclock window: left-click on the title bar and, while holding
   the button down, move the cursor around.
-- Open the actions menu: \$MODKEY-Control-a
+- Open the actions menu: $MODKEY-Control-a
   Rerun wmiirc by selecting 'wmiirc'.
 - Working with mouse efficiently:
   selecting a window: just click the desired window
-  move a window: press \$MODKEY-Button1Press
-  and resize a window: press \$MODKEY-Button3Press and resize it
+  move a window: press $MODKEY-Button1Press
+  and resize a window: press $MODKEY-Button3Press and resize it
   (this can also be done by clicking the titlebar of the window/borders respectively)
 - We'll now have a look at the internal filesystem used by wmii.  Executing
   	wmiir read /
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Let's go!
   will show you the content of the bar.
 
 We hope that these steps gave you an idea of how wmii works.  You can reread
-them at any time by pressing \$MODKEY-Control-a and selecting 'welcome'.
+them at any time by pressing $MODKEY-Control-a and selecting 'welcome'.
 
 You should now take a look at the wmii(1) man page.  An FAQ is available on
 <http://wmii.de>.
diff --git a/rc/wmiirc b/rc/wmiirc
index 25fa4144..fea92fca 100644
--- a/rc/wmiirc
+++ b/rc/wmiirc
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@ xwrite() {
 }
 
 proglist() {
-	ls -lL `echo "$@" | tr ':' ' '` | awk '!/^d/ && $1 ~ /x/ {print $NF}' | sort | uniq
+	ls -lL `echo "$@" 2>/dev/null | tr : ' '` |
+	awk 'NF>2 && !/^d/ && $1 ~ /x/ {print $NF}' | sort -u
 }
 
 # give wmiiwm a chance to start
-while ! echo Start wmiirc | wmiir write /event > /dev/null 2>&1
+while ! echo Start wmiirc | wmiir write /event >/dev/null 2>&1
 do
 	sleep 1
 done
@@ -96,14 +97,13 @@ do
 	type="$1"; shift
 	case "$type" in
 	Start)
-		if test $1 = "wmiirc"
+		if test "$1" = wmiirc
 		then
-			exit 0
-		fi
-		;;
+			exit
+		fi;;
 	NewTag)
 		wmiir create /bar/$1
-		if test $1 = "$oldtag"
+		if test "$1" = "$oldtag"
 		then
 			xwrite /bar/$1/colors $WMII_NORMCOLORS
 		else
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ do
 		then
 			xwrite /bar/$oldtag/colors $WMII_SELCOLORS
 		fi
-		xwrite /bar/$1/data "$1"
+		xwrite /bar/$1/data $1
 		xwrite /bar/$1/colors $WMII_NORMCOLORS
 		oldtag=$1;;
 	LabelClick)
@@ -127,8 +127,7 @@ do
 		$MODKEY-Control-c)
 			xwrite /ws/sel/sel/ctl kill;;
 		$MODKEY-Control-w,y)
-			wmiirc &
-			exit 0;;
+			exec wmiirc;;
 		$MODKEY-Control-q,y)
 			xwrite /ctl quit;;
 		$MODKEY-Control-p)
@@ -169,4 +168,4 @@ do
 			xwrite /ws/sel/sel/tags `echo $1 | sed 's/.*-//'`;;
 		esac;;
 	esac
-done &
+done