diff --git a/clite/core.js b/clite/core.js
index c4bae7e..8b08d2f 100644
--- a/clite/core.js
+++ b/clite/core.js
@@ -1063,7 +1063,26 @@ clite.shell = {
 			}
 			pptxt += p;
 		});
-		// TODO: look for command substitutions
+		txt = pptxt;
+		parts = txt.split('`');
+		pptxt = '';
+		if (parts.length == 1)
+			return txt;
+		parts.forEach(function(p,i) {
+			if (i > 0) {
+				var b = p;
+				var e = '';
+				var pi = b.indexOf('`');
+				if (pi > 0) {
+					e = b.substring(pi);
+					b = b.substring(0,pi);
+				}
+				// TODO: replace b with the output of the command in b (command substitution)
+				pptxt = b+e;
+				return;
+			}
+			pptxt += p;
+		});
 		return pptxt;
 	},
 	run:function(txt) {
@@ -1339,6 +1358,7 @@ clite.lib = {
 	// convert a string into an argument array: 'ls /etc' -> ['ls','/etc']
 	strToArgs:function(txt) {
 		var parts = [];
+		var sp = '';
 		var s = '';
 		var e = false;
 		var q = false;
@@ -1352,11 +1372,14 @@ clite.lib = {
 				}
 				break;
 			case '"':
+			case '`':
 				if (!e) {
 					if (!q) {
+						sp = txt[i];
 						q = true;
 						break;
-					}else{
+					}else if (txt[i] == sp) {
+						sp = '';
 						q = false;
 					}
 				}else{
@@ -1368,8 +1391,8 @@ clite.lib = {
 					s = '';
 					e = false;
 					q = false;
+					break;
 				}
-				break;
 			default:
 				s+=txt[i];
 				e = false;