diff --git a/common/pulseaudio-ctl.in b/common/pulseaudio-ctl.in
index 487d357..0f9d691 100644
--- a/common/pulseaudio-ctl.in
+++ b/common/pulseaudio-ctl.in
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ fi
 
 # stop if the above failed to set a value for PCV
 if [[ -z $PCV ]]; then
-  echo -e ${BLD}"Cannot determine which version of pactl is installed. ${RED}Aborting."${NRM}
+  echo -e "${BLD}Cannot determine which version of pactl is installed. ${RED}Aborting.${NRM}"
   exit 1
 fi
 
@@ -67,17 +67,17 @@ is_integer() {
 
 makeconfig() {
   if [[ ! -f "$SKEL" ]]; then
-    echo -e "${RED}$SKEL is missing. Reinstall this package to continue."${NRM}
+    echo -e "${RED}$SKEL is missing. Reinstall this package to continue.${NRM}"
     exit 1
   fi
 
   if [[ ! -f "$CONFIG" ]]; then
-    echo -e ${BLD}'------------------------------------------------------------'${NRM}
-    echo -e ${BLD}' No config file found so creating a fresh one in:'${NRM}
-    echo -e ${BLD}${BLU}" $CONFIG"${NRM}
+    echo -e "${BLD}------------------------------------------------------------${NRM}"
+    echo -e "${BLD} No config file found so creating a fresh one in:${NRM}"
+    echo -e "${BLD}${BLU} $CONFIG${NRM}"
     echo
-    echo -e ${BLD}" Edit this file if desired."${NRM}
-    echo -e ${BLD}'------------------------------------------------------------'${NRM}
+    echo -e "${BLD} Edit this file if desired.${NRM}"
+    echo -e "${BLD}------------------------------------------------------------${NRM}"
     install -Dm644 "$SKEL" "$CONFIG"
   fi
 }
@@ -109,10 +109,10 @@ checkconfig() {
   
   case "${BARCHART,,}" in
     y|yes|true|t|on|1|enabled|enable|use)
-      USEB=1
+      USEB=""
       ;;
     *)
-      USEB=0
+      unset USEB
       ;;
   esac
 
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ setup() {
   VARS_TO_CHECK=([SINK]="default sink" [SOURCE]="default source" [CURVOL]="current volume")
   for v in "${!VARS_TO_CHECK[@]}"; do
     if [[ -n "${!v}" ]]; then
-      [[ $(is_integer "${!v}") == '1' ]] || echo -e "${RED}Cannot determine ${VARS_TO_CHECK[$v]}."${NRM}
+      [[ $(is_integer "${!v}") == '1' ]] || echo -e "${RED}Cannot determine ${VARS_TO_CHECK[$v]}.${NRM}"
     else
       return 0
     fi
@@ -174,11 +174,43 @@ setup() {
 }
 
 kde_osd() {
-  dbus-send --session --dest="org.freedesktop.Notifications" --type="method_call" "/org/kde/osdService" "org.kde.osdService.volumeChanged" "int32:$1"
+  dbus-send \
+    --session \
+    --dest="org.freedesktop.Notifications" \
+    --type="method_call" \
+    "/org/kde/osdService" \
+    "org.kde.osdService.volumeChanged" \
+    "int32:$1"
 }
 
 kde_osd_mic() {
-  dbus-send --session --dest="org.freedesktop.Notifications" --type="method_call" "/org/kde/osdService" "org.kde.osdService.mediaPlayerVolumeChanged" "int32:$1" "string:" "string:audio-input-microphone"
+  dbus-send \
+    --session \
+    --dest="org.freedesktop.Notifications" \
+    --type="method_call" \
+    "/org/kde/osdService" \
+    "org.kde.osdService.mediaPlayerVolumeChanged" \
+    "int32:$1" \
+    "string:" \
+    "string:audio-input-microphone"
+}
+
+notify(){
+  notify-send \
+    --app-name=pulseaudio-ctl \
+    --expire-time=1000 \
+    --icon=multimedia-volume-control \
+    --hint=int:transient:1 \
+    "$@"
+}
+
+pactl_volume() {
+  local sink=${1?No sink given} vol=${2?No volume given}
+
+  case "$PCV" in
+    0|1) pactl set-sink-volume "$sink" -- "$vol%" ;;
+    2) pactl set-sink-volume "$sink" "$vol%" ;;
+  esac
 }
 
 checkconfig
@@ -192,39 +224,40 @@ case "$1" in
     # raise volume by $PERC % or set it to the upper threshold
     # in cases where external apps have pushed it above
     [[ "$(( $PERC + $CURVOL ))" -gt "$UPPER_THRESHOLD" ]] && PERC="$(( $UPPER_THRESHOLD - $CURVOL ))"
-    [[ "$CURVOL" -ge $UPPER_THRESHOLD ]] && pactl set-sink-volume "$SINK" $UPPER_THRESHOLD% ||
-      case "$PCV" in
-          0|1) pactl set-sink-volume "$SINK" -- +$PERC% ;;
-          2) pactl set-sink-volume "$SINK" +$PERC% ;;
-      esac
+    if [[ "$CURVOL" -ge $UPPER_THRESHOLD ]]; then
+      pactl set-sink-volume "$SINK" $UPPER_THRESHOLD%
+    else
+      pactl_volume "$SINK" "+${PERC}"
+    fi
 
     refreshcurvol
     refreshbarvolperc
     if [[ $USEN -eq 1 ]]; then
-      [[ $USEB -eq 1 ]] &&
-        notify-send -a pulseaudio-ctl -t 1000 -i multimedia-volume-control --hint=int:transient:1 --hint=int:value:$UPPER_THRESHOLD_AWARE_VOL --hint=string:synchronous:volume "Volume up $PERC %" "" ||
-        notify-send -a pulseaudio-ctl -t 1000 --hint=int:transient:1 "Volume up $PERC%" "Current is $CURVOL %" --icon=multimedia-volume-control
+      notify \
+        "Volume up $PERC %" \
+        ${USEB-"Current is $CURVOL %"} \
+        ${USEB+"--hint=int:value:$UPPER_THRESHOLD_AWARE_VOL"} \
+        ${USEB+"--hint=string:synchronous:volume"}
     fi
     [[ $USEK -eq 1 ]] &&
-      kde_osd $CURVOL
+      kde_osd "$CURVOL"
     ;;
   D|d|[D,d]own|[D,d]o)
     # lowers volume by $PERC %
     [[ "$PERC" -gt "$CURVOL" ]] && PERC="$CURVOL"
-    [[ "$CURVOL" -le 0 ]] && exit 0 ||
-      case "$PCV" in
-        0|1) pactl set-sink-volume "$SINK" -- -$PERC% ;;
-        2) pactl set-sink-volume "$SINK" -$PERC% ;;
-      esac
+    [[ "$CURVOL" -le 0 ]] && exit 0
+    pactl_volume "$SINK" "-${PERC}"
     refreshcurvol
     refreshbarvolperc
     if [[ $USEN -eq 1 ]]; then
-      [[ $USEB -eq 1 ]] &&
-        notify-send -a pulseaudio-ctl -t 1000 -i multimedia-volume-control --hint=int:transient:1 --hint=int:value:$UPPER_THRESHOLD_AWARE_VOL --hint=string:synchronous:volume "Volume down $PERC %" "" ||
-        notify-send -a pulseaudio-ctl -t 1000 --hint=int:transient:1 "Volume down $PERC%" "Current is $CURVOL %" --icon=multimedia-volume-control
+      notify \
+        "Volume down $PERC %" \
+        ${USEB-"Current is $CURVOL %"} \
+        ${USEB+"--hint=int:value:$UPPER_THRESHOLD_AWARE_VOL"} \
+        ${USEB+"--hint=string:synchronous:volume"}
     fi
     [[ $USEK -eq 1 ]] &&
-      kde_osd $CURVOL
+      kde_osd "$CURVOL"
     ;;
   M|m|[M,m]u|[M,m]ute)
     # mutes/unmutes the volume entirely
@@ -235,13 +268,13 @@ case "$1" in
     pactl set-sink-mute "$SINK" "$NEW_MUTE"
     MUTED=$(pacmd list-sinks|grep -A 15 '* index'|awk '/muted:/{ print $2 }')
     [[ $USEN -eq 1 ]] &&
-      notify-send -a pulseaudio-ctl -t 1000 --hint=int:transient:1 "Mute toggle" "Muted: $MUTED" --icon=audio-volume-muted
+      notify --icon=audio-volume-muted "Mute toggle" "Muted: $MUTED"
     if [[ $USEK -eq 1 ]]; then
       if [[ $MUTED == "yes" ]]; then
         kde_osd 0
       else
         refreshcurvol
-        kde_osd $CURVOL
+        kde_osd "$CURVOL"
       fi
     fi
     ;;
@@ -254,58 +287,52 @@ case "$1" in
     pactl set-source-mute "$SOURCE" "$NEW_MUTE"
     SOURCE_MUTED=$(pacmd list-sources|grep -A 15 '* index'|awk '/muted:/{ print $2 }')
     [[ $USEN -eq 1 ]] &&
-      notify-send -a pulseaudio-ctl -t 1000 --hint=int:transient:1 "Mute toggle" "Muted: $SOURCE_MUTED" --icon=audio-volume-muted
+      notify --icon=audio-volume-muted "Mute toggle" "Muted: $SOURCE_MUTED"
     if [[ $USEK -eq 1 ]]; then
       if [[ $SOURCE_MUTED == "yes" ]]; then
         kde_osd_mic 0
       else
         refreshsrcvol
-        kde_osd_mic $SRCVOL
+        kde_osd_mic "$SRCVOL"
       fi
     fi
     ;;
   set)
     NEWVOL="${2%%%}"
-    [[ "$NEWVOL" -gt $UPPER_THRESHOLD ]] && exit 0 ||
-      [[ "$NEWVOL" -le 0 ]] && exit 0 ||
-      case "$PCV" in
-        0|1) pactl set-sink-volume "$SINK" -- $NEWVOL% ;;
-        2) pactl set-sink-volume "$SINK" $NEWVOL% ;;
-      esac
+    [[ "$NEWVOL" -gt $UPPER_THRESHOLD ]] && exit 0
+    [[ "$NEWVOL" -le 0 ]] && exit 0
+    pactl_volume "$SINK" "$NEWVOL"
     refreshcurvol
     [[ $USEN -eq 1 ]] &&
-      notify-send -a pulseaudio-ctl -t 1000 --hint=int:transient:1 "Volume set" "Level: $CURVOL" --icon=multimedia-volume-control
+      notify "Volume set" "Level: $CURVOL"
     [[ $USEK -eq 1 ]] &&
-      kde_osd $CURVOL
+      kde_osd "$CURVOL"
     ;;
   atmost)
     NEWVOL="${2%%%}"
-    [[ "$CURVOL" -le "$NEWVOL" ]] && exit 0 ||
-      [[ "$NEWVOL" -ge $UPPER_THRESHOLD ]] && exit 0 ||
-      [[ "$NEWVOL" -le 0 ]] && exit 0 ||
-      case "$PCV" in
-        0|1) pactl set-sink-volume "$SINK" -- $NEWVOL% ;;
-        2) pactl set-sink-volume "$SINK" $NEWVOL% ;;
-      esac
+    [[ "$CURVOL" -le "$NEWVOL" ]] && exit 0
+    [[ "$NEWVOL" -ge $UPPER_THRESHOLD ]] && exit 0
+    [[ "$NEWVOL" -le 0 ]] && exit 0
+    pactl_volume "$SINK" "$NEWVOL"
     refreshcurvol
     [[ $USEN -eq 1 ]] &&
-      notify-send -a pulseaudio-ctl -t 1000 --hint=int:transient:1 "Atmost set" "Level: $CURVOL" --icon=multimedia-volume-control
+      notify "Atmost set" "Level: $CURVOL"
     [[ $USEK -eq 1 ]] &&
-      kde_osd $CURVOL
+      kde_osd "$CURVOL"
     ;;
   C|c|[C,c]urrent)
     # useful only for scripting
-    echo $CURVOL%
+    echo "$CURVOL%"
     ;;
   [F,f]s|[F,f]ull-[S,s]tatus)
     # useful for scripting.
     # returns current volume and sink and source mute state
-    echo $CURVOL $MUTED $SOURCE_MUTED
+    echo "$CURVOL" "$MUTED" "$SOURCE_MUTED"
     ;;
   *)
     # send to notify-send if enabled
     [[ $USEN -eq 1 ]] &&
-      notify-send -a pulseaudio-ctl -t 8000 --hint=int:transient:1 "Pulseaudio Settings" "Volume level     : $CURVOL %\nIs sink muted    : $MUTED\nIs source muted  : $SOURCE_MUTED\nDetected sink    : $SINK\nDetected source  : $SOURCE\nPulse version    : $PAVERSION" --icon=multimedia-volume-control
+      notify -t 8000 "Pulseaudio Settings" "Volume level     : $CURVOL %\nIs sink muted    : $MUTED\nIs source muted  : $SOURCE_MUTED\nDetected sink    : $SINK\nDetected source  : $SOURCE\nPulse version    : $PAVERSION"
     # add pretty colors for mute status for CLI only
     [[ "$MUTED" = "yes" ]] && MUTED="${NRM}${RED}$MUTED${NRM}" ||
       MUTED="${NRM}${GRN}$MUTED${NRM}"