diff --git a/method/__init__.py b/method/__init__.py
index 337b08c..add9c9e 100644
--- a/method/__init__.py
+++ b/method/__init__.py
@@ -918,9 +918,9 @@ class GetConfigVariable(Method):
         name = vargs['name']
         if name in w.application.config:
             value = w.application.config[name]
-            w.set_error("param %s set to %r" % (name, value))
+            w.set_error("param %r set to %r" % (name, value))
         else:
-            w.set_error("param %s is not set" % (name,))
+            w.set_error("param %r is not set" % (name,))
 
 class ViewConfigVariables(Method):
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
@@ -936,10 +936,14 @@ class SetConfigVariable(Method):
             arg('value', t=type(''), p="Variable value: ",
                 h='Configuration parameter value to use')]
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
-        name, value = vargs['name'], vargs['value']
+        name  = vargs['name']
         found = name in w.application.config
+        try:
+            value = eval(vargs['value'])
+        except:
+            value = vargs['value']
         w.application.config[name] = value
         if found:
-            w.set_error("param %s set to %r" % (name, value))
+            w.set_error("param %r set to %r" % (name, value))
         else:
-            w.set_error("previously unset param %s set to %r" % (name, value))
+            w.set_error("previously unset param %r set to %r" % (name, value))
diff --git a/method/shell.py b/method/shell.py
index 1d508e5..853bf3d 100644
--- a/method/shell.py
+++ b/method/shell.py
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ class Exec(Method):
     '''Execute a command in a shell and put the output in a new buffer'''
     show_success = True
     args = [Argument('cmd', prompt="Exec: ", datatype='shell')]
-    def _doit(self, w, path, cmd, cmdname=None, bufname=None):
+    def _doit(self, w, path, cmd, cmdname=None, bufname=None, cmddir=None):
+        if cmddir:
+            cmd = "cd %r && %s" % (cmddir, cmd)
         if path:
             try:
                 cmd = cmd % {'path': path}
diff --git a/mode/c.py b/mode/c.py
index 0dbe5a9..7c1ad05 100644
--- a/mode/c.py
+++ b/mode/c.py
@@ -209,8 +209,10 @@ class C(mode.Fundamental):
         'enumname':             ('yellow', 'default'),
     }
     config = {
-        'c.syntaxcmd': "gcc -x c -fsyntax-only %(path)s",
-        'c.makecmd':   "make",
+        'c.syntax-cmd':     "gcc -x c -fsyntax-only %(path)s",
+        'c.syntax-rel-dir': False,
+        'c.make-cmd':       "make",
+        'c.make-rel-dir':   True,
     }
     def __init__(self, w):
         mode.Fundamental.__init__(self, w)
@@ -225,15 +227,25 @@ class CCheckSyntax(method.shell.Exec):
     show_success = False
     args = []
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
-        self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, w.application.config['c.syntaxcmd'],
-                   cmdname='c-check-syntax')
+        if w.application.config['c.syntax-rel-dir']:
+            d = os.path.dirname(w.buffer.path)
+            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, w.application.config['c.syntax-cmd'],
+                       cmdname='c-check-syntax', cmddir=d)
+        else:
+            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, w.application.config['c.syntax-cmd'],
+                       cmdname='c-check-syntax')
 
 class CMake(method.shell.Exec):
     '''Build this C program (using the mode's make cmd)'''
     show_success = False
     args = []
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
-        self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, w.application.config['c.makecmd'],
-                   cmdname='c-make')
+        if w.application.config['c.make-rel-dir']:
+            d = os.path.dirname(w.buffer.path)            
+            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, w.application.config['c.make-cmd'],
+                       cmdname='c-make', cmddir=d)
+        else:
+            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, w.application.config['c.make-cmd'],
+                       cmdname='c-make')
 
 install = C.install