+# unset variables that should be defined only in config file
+unset KEYSERVER
+unset CHECK_KEYSERVER
+unset KNOWN_HOSTS
+unset HASH_KNOWN_HOSTS
+unset AUTHORIZED_KEYS
+
+# load global config
+[ -r "${ETC}/monkeysphere.conf" ] && . "${ETC}/monkeysphere.conf"
+
+# set monkeysphere home directory
+MONKEYSPHERE_HOME=${MONKEYSPHERE_HOME:="${HOME}/.config/monkeysphere"}
+mkdir -p -m 0700 "$MONKEYSPHERE_HOME"
+
+# load local config
+[ -e ${MONKEYSPHERE_CONFIG:="${MONKEYSPHERE_HOME}/monkeysphere.conf"} ] && . "$MONKEYSPHERE_CONFIG"
+
+# set empty config variables with ones from the environment, or from
+# config file, or with defaults
+GNUPGHOME=${MONKEYSPHERE_GNUPGHOME:=${GNUPGHOME:="${HOME}/.gnupg"}}
+KEYSERVER=${MONKEYSPHERE_KEYSERVER:=${KEYSERVER:="subkeys.pgp.net"}}
+CHECK_KEYSERVER=${MONKEYSPHERE_CHECK_KEYSERVER:=${CHECK_KEYSERVER:="true"}}
+KNOWN_HOSTS=${MONKEYSPHERE_KNOWN_HOSTS:=${KNOWN_HOSTS:="${HOME}/.ssh/known_hosts"}}
+HASH_KNOWN_HOSTS=${MONKEYSPHERE_HASH_KNOWN_HOSTS:=${HASH_KNOWN_HOSTS:="true"}}
+AUTHORIZED_KEYS=${MONKEYSPHERE_AUTHORIZED_KEYS:=${AUTHORIZED_KEYS:="${HOME}/.ssh/authorized_keys"}}
+
+# other variables not in config file
+AUTHORIZED_USER_IDS=${MONKEYSPHERE_AUTHORIZED_USER_IDS:="${MONKEYSPHERE_HOME}/authorized_user_ids"}
+REQUIRED_HOST_KEY_CAPABILITY=${MONKEYSPHERE_REQUIRED_HOST_KEY_CAPABILITY:="a"}
+REQUIRED_USER_KEY_CAPABILITY=${MONKEYSPHERE_REQUIRED_USER_KEY_CAPABILITY:="a"}
+
+# export GNUPGHOME and make sure gpg home exists with proper
+# permissions
+export GNUPGHOME
+mkdir -p -m 0700 "$GNUPGHOME"
+
+# get subcommand