diff --git a/src/config/format.rs b/src/config/format.rs
index 0188c2b..ee8ab39 100644
--- a/src/config/format.rs
+++ b/src/config/format.rs
@@ -27,6 +27,30 @@ impl From<Sexp> for LispType
     }
 }
 
+
+impl From<&Sexp> for LispType
+{
+    fn from(from: &Sexp) -> Self
+    {
+	match from {
+	    Sexp::Atom(atom) => atom.into(),
+	    Sexp::List(_) => Self::List
+	}
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<&Atom> for LispType
+{
+    fn from(from: &Atom) -> Self
+    {
+	match from {
+	    Atom::F(_) => Self::Float,
+	    Atom::I(_) => Self::Integer,
+	    Atom::S(_) => Self::String,
+	}
+    }
+}
+
 impl From<Atom> for LispType
 {
     fn from(from: Atom) -> Self
@@ -175,3 +199,55 @@ impl TryIntoExt for Atom
     }
     
 }
+
+
+// To avoid some `clone()`s
+pub trait TryGetExt: Sized
+{
+    fn try_get_list(&self) -> Result<&[Sexp], Error>;
+    fn try_get_atom(&self) -> Result<&Atom, Error>;
+
+    fn try_get_string(&self) -> Result<&String, Error>;
+    fn try_get_int(&self) -> Result<&i64, Error>;
+    fn try_get_float(&self) -> Result<&f64, Error>;
+}
+
+impl TryGetExt for Sexp
+{
+    fn try_get_list(&self) -> Result<&[Sexp], Error>
+    {
+	match self {
+	    Self::List(list) => Ok(&list[..]),
+	    other => Err(Error::bad_type(LispType::List, other)),
+	}
+    }
+    fn try_get_atom(&self) -> Result<&Atom, Error>
+    {
+	match self {
+	    Self::Atom(atom) => Ok(atom),
+	    other => Err(Error::bad_type(LispType::Atom, other)),
+	}
+    }
+
+    fn try_get_string(&self) -> Result<&String, Error>
+    {
+	match self {
+	    Self::Atom(Atom::S(string)) => Ok(string),
+	    other => Err(Error::bad_type(LispType::String, other)),
+	}
+    }
+    fn try_get_int(&self) -> Result<&i64, Error>
+    {
+	match self {
+	    Self::Atom(Atom::I(int)) => Ok(int),
+	    other => Err(Error::bad_type(LispType::Integer, other)),
+	}
+    }
+    fn try_get_float(&self) -> Result<&f64, Error>
+    {	
+	match self {
+	    Self::Atom(Atom::F(float)) => Ok(float),
+	    other => Err(Error::bad_type(LispType::Float, other)),
+	}
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/config/parse.rs b/src/config/parse.rs
index 8555970..fac0c9c 100644
--- a/src/config/parse.rs
+++ b/src/config/parse.rs
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ use sexp::{
 
 fn get_atom_string<'a>(maybe_atom: &'a Sexp) -> Result<&'a String, Error>
 {
-    match &maybe_atom {
+    match maybe_atom {
         Sexp::Atom(Atom::S(string)) => Ok(string),
-        &opt => Err(Error::bad_type(LispType::String, opt.to_owned())),
+        opt => Err(Error::bad_type(LispType::String, opt)),
     }
 }
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ pub async fn global(to: &mut Config, path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> Result<(), error
 	    let sexp = sexp.try_into_list()?;
 
 	    let (car,cdr) = sexp.try_split()?;
-	    let car = car.clone()/* <- i'm too lazy to make ref versions of these `try_into_*` functions, so this will do*/.try_into_string()?;
+	    let car = car.try_get_string()?;
             match car.to_lowercase().trim() {
                 "jobs-dir" => add_job(to, cdr),
                 "debug" => set_debug(to ,cdr),
@@ -84,8 +84,6 @@ pub async fn global(to: &mut Config, path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> Result<(), error
             }?;
         }
 	Ok(())
-            
-            
     } else {
         Err(Error::NotFound(path.to_owned()))
     }