diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index cb14534..9de59ac 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -945,8 +945,8 @@ def open_plain_file(path, name=None, binary=False):
 def run_app(stdscr, buffers, **kwargs):
     curses.def_shell_mode()
     a = Application(stdscr, buffers, **kwargs)
-    if kwargs.get('init_cmd'):
-        act = a.methods[kwargs['init_cmd']]
+    for name in kwargs.get('init_cmds', []):
+        act = a.methods[name]
         act.execute(a.active_window())
         a.last_action = act.name
     a.run()
@@ -979,6 +979,10 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     parser.set_defaults(cipher='none')
     parser.set_defaults(linetype='unix')
     parser.set_defaults(binary=False)
+    parser.set_defaults(cmds=[])
+
+    def exec_cb(option, opt, value, parser):
+        parser.values.cmds.append(value)
 
     parser.add_option('-b', '--binary', dest='binary', action='store_true',
                       help='open file(s) in hex binary mode')
@@ -990,8 +994,10 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                       help='jump to line NUM of the first argument')
     parser.add_option('-m', '--mode', dest='mode', metavar='MODE',
                       help='open arguments in MODE')
-    parser.add_option('-x', '--exec', dest='cmd', metavar='CMD',
-                      help='run CMD after launching')
+    #parser.add_option('-x', '--exec', dest='cmd', metavar='CMD',
+    #                  help='run CMD after launching')
+    parser.add_option('-x', '--exec', action='callback', callback=exec_cb,
+                      type='string', metavar='CMD', help='run CMD after launching')
 
     (opts, args) = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
@@ -1052,7 +1058,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     # ok, now run our app
     try:
         d = {'jump_to_line': opts.goto, 'init_mode': opts.mode,
-             'init_cmd': opts.cmd}
+             'init_cmds': opts.cmds}
         curses.wrapper(run_app, buffers, **d)
         err = 0
     except:
diff --git a/buffer/emul.py b/buffer/emul.py
index b851658..5b46ad5 100644
--- a/buffer/emul.py
+++ b/buffer/emul.py
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class XTermBuffer(Buffer, XTerm):
                     self._lock.release()
                 if efd:
                     raise Exception, "exception is ready: %s" % repr(efd)
-        except (OSError, TypeError):
+        except (OSError, TypeError, AttributeError):
             pass
         os.close(fd)
 
diff --git a/mode/shellmini.py b/mode/shellmini.py
index ce91b70..d8d3782 100644
--- a/mode/shellmini.py
+++ b/mode/shellmini.py
@@ -131,6 +131,18 @@ class OpenShell(Method):
             a.switch_buffer(b)
         f = lambda x: None
         w.application.open_mini_buffer('>>> ', f, self, None, 'shellmini')
+class OpenShellRaw(Method):
+    '''Evaluate sh expressions'''
+    def execute(self, w, **vargs):
+        a = w.application
+        if not a.has_buffer_name('*Shell*'):
+            #b = buffer.pipe.PipeBuffer('/bin/bash', [], name="*Shell*", term='xterm')
+            b = buffer.emul.XTermBuffer(a, '/bin/bash', [], name="*Shell*")
+            a.add_buffer(b)
+            window.Window(b, a)
+        b = a.bufferlist.get_buffer_by_name('*Shell*')
+        if a.window().buffer is not b:
+            a.switch_buffer(b)
 
 class ShellMini(mode.Fundamental):
     modename = 'ShellMini'
@@ -138,7 +150,7 @@ class ShellMini(mode.Fundamental):
                 ShellHistoryPrev, ShellHistoryNext,
                 ShellTab,
                 ShellPageUp, ShellPageDown, ShellGotoBeginning, ShellGotoEnd,
-                OpenShell]
+                OpenShell, OpenShellRaw]
     def __init__(self, w):
         mode.Fundamental.__init__(self, w)
         self.saved_input = ""