diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 49936d5..e20f5c2 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -171,6 +171,8 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "34d21f9bf1b425d2968943631ec91202fe5e837264063503708b83013f8fc938"
 dependencies = [
  "clap_builder",
+ "clap_derive",
+ "once_cell",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -195,6 +197,18 @@ dependencies = [
  "clap",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "clap_derive"
+version = "4.2.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "3f9644cd56d6b87dbe899ef8b053e331c0637664e9e21a33dfcdc36093f5c5c4"
+dependencies = [
+ "heck",
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "syn 2.0.16",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "clap_lex"
 version = "0.4.1"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index d358f2e..7699ca2 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ edition = "2021"
 async-stream = "0.3.5"
 async-trait = "0.1.68"
 atty = "0.2"
-clap = "4.2.7"
+clap = { version = "4.2.7", features = ["derive"] }
 clap_complete = "4.2.3"
 clicolors-control = "1"
 console = "0.15.5"
diff --git a/src/command/apply.rs b/src/command/apply.rs
index 626022a..ba58e2b 100644
--- a/src/command/apply.rs
+++ b/src/command/apply.rs
@@ -4,16 +4,16 @@ use std::str::FromStr;
 
 use clap::{
     builder::{ArgPredicate, PossibleValuesParser, ValueParser},
-    value_parser, Arg, ArgMatches, Command as ClapCommand,
+    value_parser, Arg, ArgMatches, Command as ClapCommand, FromArgMatches,
 };
 
-use crate::error::ColmenaError;
 use crate::nix::deployment::{
     Deployment, EvaluationNodeLimit, EvaluatorType, Goal, Options, ParallelismLimit,
 };
 use crate::nix::NodeFilter;
 use crate::progress::SimpleProgressOutput;
 use crate::util;
+use crate::{error::ColmenaError, nix::hive::HiveArgs};
 
 pub fn register_deploy_args(command: ClapCommand) -> ClapCommand {
     command
@@ -160,7 +160,11 @@ Same as the targets for switch-to-configuration, with the following extra pseudo
 }
 
 pub async fn run(_global_args: &ArgMatches, local_args: &ArgMatches) -> Result<(), ColmenaError> {
-    let hive = util::hive_from_args(local_args).await?;
+    let hive = HiveArgs::from_arg_matches(local_args)
+        .unwrap()
+        .into_hive()
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
 
     let ssh_config = env::var("SSH_CONFIG_FILE").ok().map(PathBuf::from);
 
diff --git a/src/command/apply_local.rs b/src/command/apply_local.rs
index 6111e98..5b01ebd 100644
--- a/src/command/apply_local.rs
+++ b/src/command/apply_local.rs
@@ -2,14 +2,17 @@ use regex::Regex;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::str::FromStr;
 
-use clap::{builder::PossibleValuesParser, Arg, ArgMatches, Command as ClapCommand};
+use clap::{
+    builder::PossibleValuesParser, Arg, ArgMatches, Command as ClapCommand, FromArgMatches,
+};
 use tokio::fs;
 
 use crate::error::ColmenaError;
+
 use crate::nix::deployment::{Deployment, Goal, Options, TargetNode};
+use crate::nix::hive::HiveArgs;
 use crate::nix::{host::Local as LocalHost, NodeName};
 use crate::progress::SimpleProgressOutput;
-use crate::util;
 
 pub fn subcommand() -> ClapCommand {
     ClapCommand::new("apply-local")
@@ -89,7 +92,11 @@ pub async fn run(_global_args: &ArgMatches, local_args: &ArgMatches) -> Result<(
         }
     }
 
-    let hive = util::hive_from_args(local_args).await.unwrap();
+    let hive = HiveArgs::from_arg_matches(local_args)
+        .unwrap()
+        .into_hive()
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
     let hostname = {
         let s = if local_args.contains_id("node") {
             local_args.get_one::<String>("node").unwrap().to_owned()
diff --git a/src/command/eval.rs b/src/command/eval.rs
index 0fc271a..0667444 100644
--- a/src/command/eval.rs
+++ b/src/command/eval.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
-use clap::{value_parser, Arg, ArgMatches, Command as ClapCommand};
+use clap::{value_parser, Arg, ArgMatches, Command as ClapCommand, FromArgMatches};
 
 use crate::error::ColmenaError;
-use crate::util;
+use crate::nix::hive::HiveArgs;
 
 pub fn subcommand() -> ClapCommand {
     subcommand_gen("eval")
@@ -48,7 +48,11 @@ pub async fn run(global_args: &ArgMatches, local_args: &ArgMatches) -> Result<()
         );
     }
 
-    let hive = util::hive_from_args(local_args).await?;
+    let hive = HiveArgs::from_arg_matches(local_args)
+        .unwrap()
+        .into_hive()
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
 
     if !(local_args.contains_id("expression") ^ local_args.contains_id("expression_file")) {
         log::error!("Either an expression (-E) or a .nix file containing an expression should be specified, not both.");
diff --git a/src/command/exec.rs b/src/command/exec.rs
index b723f6b..05131c5 100644
--- a/src/command/exec.rs
+++ b/src/command/exec.rs
@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@ use std::env;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
-use clap::{value_parser, Arg, ArgMatches, Command as ClapCommand};
+use clap::{value_parser, Arg, ArgMatches, Command as ClapCommand, FromArgMatches};
 use futures::future::join_all;
 use tokio::sync::Semaphore;
 
 use crate::error::ColmenaError;
 use crate::job::{JobMonitor, JobState, JobType};
+use crate::nix::hive::HiveArgs;
 use crate::nix::NodeFilter;
 use crate::progress::SimpleProgressOutput;
 use crate::util;
@@ -60,7 +61,11 @@ It's recommended to use -- to separate Colmena options from the command to run.
 }
 
 pub async fn run(_global_args: &ArgMatches, local_args: &ArgMatches) -> Result<(), ColmenaError> {
-    let hive = util::hive_from_args(local_args).await?;
+    let hive = HiveArgs::from_arg_matches(local_args)
+        .unwrap()
+        .into_hive()
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
     let ssh_config = env::var("SSH_CONFIG_FILE").ok().map(PathBuf::from);
 
     // FIXME: Just get_one::<NodeFilter>
diff --git a/src/command/repl.rs b/src/command/repl.rs
index 5e1e93e..e9c58ad 100644
--- a/src/command/repl.rs
+++ b/src/command/repl.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 use std::io::Write;
 
-use clap::{ArgMatches, Command as ClapCommand};
+use clap::{ArgMatches, Command as ClapCommand, FromArgMatches};
 use tempfile::Builder as TempFileBuilder;
 use tokio::process::Command;
 
 use crate::error::ColmenaError;
+use crate::nix::hive::HiveArgs;
 use crate::nix::info::NixCheck;
-use crate::util;
 
 pub fn subcommand() -> ClapCommand {
     ClapCommand::new("repl")
@@ -24,7 +24,11 @@ pub async fn run(_global_args: &ArgMatches, local_args: &ArgMatches) -> Result<(
     let nix_check = NixCheck::detect().await;
     let nix_version = nix_check.version().expect("Could not detect Nix version");
 
-    let hive = util::hive_from_args(local_args).await?;
+    let hive = HiveArgs::from_arg_matches(local_args)
+        .unwrap()
+        .into_hive()
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
 
     let expr = hive.get_repl_expression();
 
diff --git a/src/nix/flake.rs b/src/nix/flake.rs
index 4e7f72d..5f410ea 100644
--- a/src/nix/flake.rs
+++ b/src/nix/flake.rs
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ impl Flake {
     }
 
     /// Creates a flake from a Flake URI.
-    pub async fn from_uri(uri: String) -> ColmenaResult<Self> {
+    pub async fn from_uri(uri: impl AsRef<str>) -> ColmenaResult<Self> {
         NixCheck::require_flake_support().await?;
 
-        let metadata = FlakeMetadata::resolve(&uri).await?;
+        let metadata = FlakeMetadata::resolve(uri.as_ref()).await?;
 
         Ok(Self {
             metadata,
diff --git a/src/nix/hive/mod.rs b/src/nix/hive/mod.rs
index 8831cc8..d8a897b 100644
--- a/src/nix/hive/mod.rs
+++ b/src/nix/hive/mod.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ mod tests;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::convert::AsRef;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+use std::str::FromStr;
 
+use clap::Args;
 use tokio::process::Command;
 use tokio::sync::OnceCell;
 use validator::Validate;
@@ -16,11 +18,93 @@ use super::{
     Flake, MetaConfig, NixExpression, NixFlags, NodeConfig, NodeFilter, NodeName,
     ProfileDerivation, SerializedNixExpression, StorePath,
 };
-use crate::error::ColmenaResult;
+use crate::error::{ColmenaError, ColmenaResult};
 use crate::job::JobHandle;
 use crate::util::{CommandExecution, CommandExt};
 use assets::Assets;
 
+#[derive(Debug, Args)]
+pub struct HiveArgs {
+    #[arg(short = 'f', long, value_name = "CONFIG")]
+    config: Option<HivePath>,
+    #[arg(long)]
+    show_trace: bool,
+    #[arg(long)]
+    impure: bool,
+    #[arg(long, value_parser = crate::util::parse_key_val::<String, String>)]
+    nix_option: Vec<(String, String)>,
+}
+
+impl HiveArgs {
+    pub async fn into_hive(self) -> ColmenaResult<Hive> {
+        let path = match self.config {
+            Some(path) => path,
+            None => {
+                // traverse upwards until we find hive.nix
+                let mut cur = std::env::current_dir()?;
+                let mut file_path = None;
+
+                loop {
+                    let flake = cur.join("flake.nix");
+                    if flake.is_file() {
+                        file_path = Some(flake);
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    let legacy = cur.join("hive.nix");
+                    if legacy.is_file() {
+                        file_path = Some(legacy);
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    match cur.parent() {
+                        Some(parent) => {
+                            cur = parent.to_owned();
+                        }
+                        None => {
+                            break;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+
+                if file_path.is_none() {
+                    log::error!(
+                        "Could not find `hive.nix` or `flake.nix` in {:?} or any parent directory",
+                        std::env::current_dir()?
+                    );
+                }
+
+                HivePath::from_path(file_path.unwrap()).await?
+            }
+        };
+
+        match &path {
+            HivePath::Legacy(p) => {
+                log::info!("Using configuration: {}", p.to_string_lossy());
+            }
+            HivePath::Flake(flake) => {
+                log::info!("Using flake: {}", flake.uri());
+            }
+        }
+
+        let mut hive = Hive::new(path).await?;
+
+        if self.show_trace {
+            hive.set_show_trace(true);
+        }
+
+        if self.impure {
+            hive.set_impure(true);
+        }
+
+        for (name, value) in self.nix_option {
+            hive.add_nix_option(name, value);
+        }
+
+        Ok(hive)
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum HivePath {
     /// A Nix Flake.
@@ -32,6 +116,29 @@ pub enum HivePath {
     Legacy(PathBuf),
 }
 
+impl FromStr for HivePath {
+    type Err = ColmenaError;
+
+    fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        // TODO: check for escaped colon maybe?
+
+        let path = std::path::Path::new(s);
+        let handle = tokio::runtime::Handle::try_current()
+            .expect("We should always be executed after we have a runtime");
+
+        if !path.exists() && s.contains(':') {
+            // Treat as flake URI
+            let flake = handle.block_on(Flake::from_uri(s))?;
+
+            log::info!("Using flake: {}", flake.uri());
+
+            Ok(Self::Flake(flake))
+        } else {
+            handle.block_on(HivePath::from_path(path))
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Hive {
     /// Path to the hive.
diff --git a/src/util.rs b/src/util.rs
index e131788..93fee77 100644
--- a/src/util.rs
+++ b/src/util.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 use std::convert::TryFrom;
-use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::error::Error;
+
 use std::process::Stdio;
 
 use async_trait::async_trait;
-use clap::{parser::ValueSource as ClapValueSource, Arg, ArgMatches, Command as ClapCommand};
+use clap::{Arg, Command as ClapCommand};
 use futures::future::join3;
 use serde::de::DeserializeOwned;
 use tokio::io::{AsyncBufReadExt, AsyncRead, BufReader};
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ use tokio::process::Command;
 use super::error::{ColmenaError, ColmenaResult};
 use super::job::JobHandle;
 use super::nix::deployment::TargetNodeMap;
-use super::nix::{Flake, Hive, HivePath, StorePath};
+use super::nix::StorePath;
 
 const NEWLINE: u8 = 0xa;
 
@@ -192,104 +193,18 @@ impl CommandExt for CommandExecution {
     }
 }
 
-pub async fn hive_from_args(args: &ArgMatches) -> ColmenaResult<Hive> {
-    let path = match args.value_source("config").unwrap() {
-        ClapValueSource::DefaultValue => {
-            // traverse upwards until we find hive.nix
-            let mut cur = std::env::current_dir()?;
-            let mut file_path = None;
-
-            loop {
-                let flake = cur.join("flake.nix");
-                if flake.is_file() {
-                    file_path = Some(flake);
-                    break;
-                }
-
-                let legacy = cur.join("hive.nix");
-                if legacy.is_file() {
-                    file_path = Some(legacy);
-                    break;
-                }
-
-                match cur.parent() {
-                    Some(parent) => {
-                        cur = parent.to_owned();
-                    }
-                    None => {
-                        break;
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-
-            if file_path.is_none() {
-                log::error!(
-                    "Could not find `hive.nix` or `flake.nix` in {:?} or any parent directory",
-                    std::env::current_dir()?
-                );
-            }
-
-            file_path.unwrap()
-        }
-        ClapValueSource::CommandLine => {
-            let path = args
-                .get_one::<String>("config")
-                .expect("The config arg should exist")
-                .to_owned();
-            let fpath = PathBuf::from(&path);
-
-            if !fpath.exists() && path.contains(':') {
-                // Treat as flake URI
-                let flake = Flake::from_uri(path).await?;
-                log::info!("Using flake: {}", flake.uri());
-
-                let hive_path = HivePath::Flake(flake);
-
-                return hive_from_path(hive_path, args).await;
-            }
-
-            fpath
-        }
-        x => panic!("Unexpected value source for config: {:?}", x),
-    };
-
-    let hive_path = HivePath::from_path(path).await?;
-
-    hive_from_path(hive_path, args).await
-}
-
-pub async fn hive_from_path(hive_path: HivePath, args: &ArgMatches) -> ColmenaResult<Hive> {
-    match &hive_path {
-        HivePath::Legacy(p) => {
-            log::info!("Using configuration: {}", p.to_string_lossy());
-        }
-        HivePath::Flake(flake) => {
-            log::info!("Using flake: {}", flake.uri());
-        }
-    }
-
-    let mut hive = Hive::new(hive_path).await?;
-
-    if args.get_flag("show-trace") {
-        hive.set_show_trace(true);
-    }
-
-    if args.get_flag("impure") {
-        hive.set_impure(true);
-    }
-
-    if let Some(opts) = args.get_many::<String>("nix-option") {
-        let iter = opts;
-
-        let names = iter.clone().step_by(2);
-        let values = iter.clone().skip(1).step_by(2);
-
-        for (name, value) in names.zip(values) {
-            hive.add_nix_option(name.to_owned(), value.to_owned());
-        }
-    }
-
-    Ok(hive)
+/// Parse a single key-value pair
+pub fn parse_key_val<T, U>(s: &str) -> Result<(T, U), Box<dyn Error + Send + Sync + 'static>>
+where
+    T: std::str::FromStr,
+    T::Err: Error + Send + Sync + 'static,
+    U: std::str::FromStr,
+    U::Err: Error + Send + Sync + 'static,
+{
+    let pos = s
+        .find('=')
+        .ok_or_else(|| format!("invalid KEY=value: no `=` found in `{s}`"))?;
+    Ok((s[..pos].parse()?, s[pos + 1..].parse()?))
 }
 
 pub fn register_selector_args(command: ClapCommand) -> ClapCommand {