diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 834f84b2..45a3338e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -5,17 +5,7 @@ makefiles = \
   src/libmain/local.mk \
   src/libexpr/local.mk \
   src/nix/local.mk \
-  src/nix-store/local.mk \
-  src/nix-instantiate/local.mk \
-  src/nix-env/local.mk \
-  src/nix-daemon/local.mk \
-  src/nix-collect-garbage/local.mk \
-  src/nix-copy-closure/local.mk \
-  src/nix-prefetch-url/local.mk \
   src/resolve-system-dependencies/local.mk \
-  src/nix-channel/local.mk \
-  src/nix-build/local.mk \
-  src/build-remote/local.mk \
   scripts/local.mk \
   corepkgs/local.mk \
   misc/systemd/local.mk \
diff --git a/local.mk b/local.mk
index 5d7e0fb2..4b380176 100644
--- a/local.mk
+++ b/local.mk
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ dist-files += configure config.h.in nix.spec perl/configure
 
 clean-files += Makefile.config
 
-GLOBAL_CXXFLAGS += -I . -I src -I src/libutil -I src/libstore -I src/libmain -I src/libexpr
+GLOBAL_CXXFLAGS += -I . -I src -I src/libutil -I src/libstore -I src/libmain -I src/libexpr -I src/nix
 
 $(foreach i, config.h $(call rwildcard, src/lib*, *.hh), \
   $(eval $(call install-file-in, $(i), $(includedir)/nix, 0644)))
diff --git a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
index 38dbe3e5..abf3669b 100644
--- a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
+++ b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "store-api.hh"
 #include "derivations.hh"
 #include "local-store.hh"
+#include "legacy.hh"
 
 using namespace nix;
 using std::cin;
@@ -37,11 +38,9 @@ static AutoCloseFD openSlotLock(const Machine & m, unsigned long long slot)
     return openLockFile(fmt("%s/%s-%d", currentLoad, escapeUri(m.storeUri), slot), true);
 }
 
-int main (int argc, char * * argv)
+static int _main(int argc, char * * argv)
 {
-    return handleExceptions(argv[0], [&]() {
-        initNix();
-
+    {
         logger = makeJSONLogger(*logger);
 
         /* Ensure we don't get any SSH passphrase or host key popups. */
@@ -80,7 +79,7 @@ int main (int argc, char * * argv)
 
         if (machines.empty()) {
             std::cerr << "# decline-permanently\n";
-            return;
+            return 0;
         }
 
         string drvPath;
@@ -90,8 +89,8 @@ int main (int argc, char * * argv)
 
             try {
                 auto s = readString(source);
-                if (s != "try") return;
-            } catch (EndOfFile &) { return; }
+                if (s != "try") return 0;
+            } catch (EndOfFile &) { return 0; }
 
             auto amWilling = readInt(source);
             auto neededSystem = readString(source);
@@ -253,6 +252,8 @@ connected:
             copyPaths(ref<Store>(sshStore), store, missing, NoRepair, NoCheckSigs, NoSubstitute);
         }
 
-        return;
-    });
+        return 0;
+    }
 }
+
+static RegisterLegacyCommand s1("build-remote", _main);
diff --git a/src/build-remote/local.mk b/src/build-remote/local.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 50b0409d..00000000
--- a/src/build-remote/local.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-programs += build-remote
-
-build-remote_DIR := $(d)
-
-build-remote_INSTALL_DIR := $(libexecdir)/nix
-
-build-remote_LIBS = libmain libformat libstore libutil
-
-build-remote_SOURCES := $(d)/build-remote.cc
diff --git a/src/nix-build/local.mk b/src/nix-build/local.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index a2d1c91d..00000000
--- a/src/nix-build/local.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-programs += nix-build
-
-nix-build_DIR := $(d)
-
-nix-build_SOURCES := $(d)/nix-build.cc
-
-nix-build_LIBS = libmain libexpr libstore libutil libformat
-
-$(eval $(call install-symlink, nix-build, $(bindir)/nix-shell))
diff --git a/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc b/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
index b78f3d9e..618895d3 100755
--- a/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
+++ b/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "get-drvs.hh"
 #include "common-eval-args.hh"
 #include "attr-path.hh"
+#include "legacy.hh"
 
 using namespace nix;
 using namespace std::string_literals;
@@ -66,11 +67,8 @@ std::vector<string> shellwords(const string & s)
     return res;
 }
 
-void mainWrapped(int argc, char * * argv)
+static void _main(int argc, char * * argv)
 {
-    initNix();
-    initGC();
-
     auto dryRun = false;
     auto runEnv = std::regex_search(argv[0], std::regex("nix-shell$"));
     auto pure = false;
@@ -504,9 +502,5 @@ void mainWrapped(int argc, char * * argv)
     }
 }
 
-int main(int argc, char * * argv)
-{
-    return handleExceptions(argv[0], [&]() {
-        return mainWrapped(argc, argv);
-    });
-}
+static RegisterLegacyCommand s1("nix-build", _main);
+static RegisterLegacyCommand s2("nix-shell", _main);
diff --git a/src/nix-channel/local.mk b/src/nix-channel/local.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index c14e8c35..00000000
--- a/src/nix-channel/local.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-programs += nix-channel
-
-nix-channel_DIR := $(d)
-
-nix-channel_LIBS = libmain libformat libstore libutil
-
-nix-channel_SOURCES := $(d)/nix-channel.cc
diff --git a/src/nix-channel/nix-channel.cc b/src/nix-channel/nix-channel.cc
index 2083d3df..8b66cc7e 100755
--- a/src/nix-channel/nix-channel.cc
+++ b/src/nix-channel/nix-channel.cc
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 #include "shared.hh"
 #include "globals.hh"
 #include "download.hh"
+#include "store-api.hh"
+#include "legacy.hh"
+
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <regex>
-#include "store-api.hh"
 #include <pwd.h>
 
 using namespace nix;
@@ -157,11 +159,9 @@ static void update(const StringSet & channelNames)
     replaceSymlink(profile, channelLink);
 }
 
-int main(int argc, char ** argv)
+static int _main(int argc, char ** argv)
 {
-    return handleExceptions(argv[0], [&]() {
-        initNix();
-
+    {
         // Figure out the name of the `.nix-channels' file to use
         auto home = getHome();
         channelsList = home + "/.nix-channels";
@@ -255,5 +255,9 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv)
                 runProgram(settings.nixBinDir + "/nix-env", false, envArgs);
                 break;
         }
-    });
+
+        return 0;
+    }
 }
+
+static RegisterLegacyCommand s1("nix-channel", _main);
diff --git a/src/nix-collect-garbage/local.mk b/src/nix-collect-garbage/local.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 02d14cf6..00000000
--- a/src/nix-collect-garbage/local.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-programs += nix-collect-garbage
-
-nix-collect-garbage_DIR := $(d)
-
-nix-collect-garbage_SOURCES := $(d)/nix-collect-garbage.cc
-
-nix-collect-garbage_LIBS = libmain libstore libutil libformat
diff --git a/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc b/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc
index 37fe22f4..d4060ac9 100644
--- a/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc
+++ b/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "profiles.hh"
 #include "shared.hh"
 #include "globals.hh"
+#include "legacy.hh"
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include <cerrno>
@@ -48,12 +49,10 @@ void removeOldGenerations(std::string dir)
     }
 }
 
-int main(int argc, char * * argv)
+static int _main(int argc, char * * argv)
 {
-    bool removeOld = false;
-
-    return handleExceptions(argv[0], [&]() {
-        initNix();
+    {
+        bool removeOld = false;
 
         GCOptions options;
 
@@ -90,5 +89,9 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
             PrintFreed freed(true, results);
             store->collectGarbage(options, results);
         }
-    });
+
+        return 0;
+    }
 }
+
+static RegisterLegacyCommand s1("nix-collect-garbage", _main);
diff --git a/src/nix-copy-closure/local.mk b/src/nix-copy-closure/local.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 5018ab97..00000000
--- a/src/nix-copy-closure/local.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-programs += nix-copy-closure
-
-nix-copy-closure_DIR := $(d)
-
-nix-copy-closure_LIBS = libmain libformat libstore libutil
-
-nix-copy-closure_SOURCES := $(d)/nix-copy-closure.cc
diff --git a/src/nix-copy-closure/nix-copy-closure.cc b/src/nix-copy-closure/nix-copy-closure.cc
index dfb1b8fc..fdcde8b0 100755
--- a/src/nix-copy-closure/nix-copy-closure.cc
+++ b/src/nix-copy-closure/nix-copy-closure.cc
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 #include "shared.hh"
 #include "store-api.hh"
+#include "legacy.hh"
 
 using namespace nix;
 
-int main(int argc, char ** argv)
+static int _main(int argc, char ** argv)
 {
-    return handleExceptions(argv[0], [&]() {
-        initNix();
-
+    {
         auto gzip = false;
         auto toMode = true;
         auto includeOutputs = false;
@@ -61,5 +60,9 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv)
         from->computeFSClosure(storePaths2, closure, false, includeOutputs);
 
         copyPaths(from, to, closure, NoRepair, NoCheckSigs, useSubstitutes);
-    });
+
+        return 0;
+    }
 }
+
+static RegisterLegacyCommand s1("nix-copy-closure", _main);
diff --git a/src/nix-daemon/local.mk b/src/nix-daemon/local.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 5a447446..00000000
--- a/src/nix-daemon/local.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-programs += nix-daemon
-
-nix-daemon_DIR := $(d)
-
-nix-daemon_SOURCES := $(d)/nix-daemon.cc
-
-nix-daemon_LIBS = libmain libstore libutil libformat
-
-nix-daemon_LDFLAGS = -pthread
-
-ifeq ($(OS), SunOS)
-        nix-daemon_LDFLAGS += -lsocket
-endif
diff --git a/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc b/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
index 423ba15e..8368c326 100644
--- a/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
+++ b/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "monitor-fd.hh"
 #include "derivations.hh"
 #include "finally.hh"
+#include "legacy.hh"
 
 #include <algorithm>
 
@@ -1058,11 +1059,9 @@ static void daemonLoop(char * * argv)
 }
 
 
-int main(int argc, char * * argv)
+static int _main(int argc, char * * argv)
 {
-    return handleExceptions(argv[0], [&]() {
-        initNix();
-
+    {
         auto stdio = false;
 
         parseCmdLine(argc, argv, [&](Strings::iterator & arg, const Strings::iterator & end) {
@@ -1122,7 +1121,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
                         if (res == -1)
                             throw SysError("splicing data from stdin to daemon socket");
                         else if (res == 0)
-                            return;
+                            return 0;
                     }
                 }
             } else {
@@ -1131,5 +1130,9 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
         } else {
             daemonLoop(argv);
         }
-    });
+
+        return 0;
+    }
 }
+
+static RegisterLegacyCommand s1("nix-daemon", _main);
diff --git a/src/nix-env/local.mk b/src/nix-env/local.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index e80719cd..00000000
--- a/src/nix-env/local.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-programs += nix-env
-
-nix-env_DIR := $(d)
-
-nix-env_SOURCES := $(wildcard $(d)/*.cc)
-
-nix-env_LIBS = libexpr libmain libstore libutil libformat
diff --git a/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc b/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
index f9c8a8d3..56ed75da 100644
--- a/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
+++ b/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "json.hh"
 #include "value-to-json.hh"
 #include "xml-writer.hh"
+#include "legacy.hh"
 
 #include <cerrno>
 #include <ctime>
@@ -1311,12 +1312,9 @@ static void opVersion(Globals & globals, Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
 }
 
 
-int main(int argc, char * * argv)
+static int _main(int argc, char * * argv)
 {
-    return handleExceptions(argv[0], [&]() {
-        initNix();
-        initGC();
-
+    {
         Strings opFlags, opArgs;
         Operation op = 0;
         RepairFlag repair = NoRepair;
@@ -1428,5 +1426,9 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
         op(globals, opFlags, opArgs);
 
         globals.state->printStats();
-    });
+
+        return 0;
+    }
 }
+
+static RegisterLegacyCommand s1("nix-env", _main);
diff --git a/src/nix-instantiate/local.mk b/src/nix-instantiate/local.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 7d1bc5ec..00000000
--- a/src/nix-instantiate/local.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-programs += nix-instantiate
-
-nix-instantiate_DIR := $(d)
-
-nix-instantiate_SOURCES := $(d)/nix-instantiate.cc
-
-nix-instantiate_LIBS = libexpr libmain libstore libutil libformat
diff --git a/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate.cc b/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate.cc
index eb6d34dd..a736caa8 100644
--- a/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate.cc
+++ b/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate.cc
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "util.hh"
 #include "store-api.hh"
 #include "common-eval-args.hh"
+#include "legacy.hh"
 
 #include <map>
 #include <iostream>
@@ -83,12 +84,9 @@ void processExpr(EvalState & state, const Strings & attrPaths,
 }
 
 
-int main(int argc, char * * argv)
+static int _main(int argc, char * * argv)
 {
-    return handleExceptions(argv[0], [&]() {
-        initNix();
-        initGC();
-
+    {
         Strings files;
         bool readStdin = false;
         bool fromArgs = false;
@@ -171,7 +169,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
                 if (p == "") throw Error(format("unable to find '%1%'") % i);
                 std::cout << p << std::endl;
             }
-            return;
+            return 0;
         }
 
         if (readStdin) {
@@ -190,5 +188,9 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
         }
 
         state->printStats();
-    });
+
+        return 0;
+    }
 }
+
+static RegisterLegacyCommand s1("nix-instantiate", _main);
diff --git a/src/nix-prefetch-url/local.mk b/src/nix-prefetch-url/local.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index 3e773540..00000000
--- a/src/nix-prefetch-url/local.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-programs += nix-prefetch-url
-
-nix-prefetch-url_DIR := $(d)
-
-nix-prefetch-url_SOURCES := $(d)/nix-prefetch-url.cc
-
-nix-prefetch-url_LIBS = libmain libexpr libstore libutil libformat
diff --git a/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc b/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
index a3b02572..ddb72491 100644
--- a/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
+++ b/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "eval-inline.hh"
 #include "common-eval-args.hh"
 #include "attr-path.hh"
+#include "legacy.hh"
 
 #include <iostream>
 
@@ -44,12 +45,9 @@ string resolveMirrorUri(EvalState & state, string uri)
 }
 
 
-int main(int argc, char * * argv)
+static int _main(int argc, char * * argv)
 {
-    return handleExceptions(argv[0], [&]() {
-        initNix();
-        initGC();
-
+    {
         HashType ht = htSHA256;
         std::vector<string> args;
         bool printPath = getEnv("PRINT_PATH") != "";
@@ -221,5 +219,9 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
         std::cout << printHash16or32(hash) << std::endl;
         if (printPath)
             std::cout << storePath << std::endl;
-    });
+
+        return 0;
+    }
 }
+
+static RegisterLegacyCommand s1("nix-prefetch-url", _main);
diff --git a/src/nix-store/local.mk b/src/nix-store/local.mk
deleted file mode 100644
index ade0b233..00000000
--- a/src/nix-store/local.mk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-programs += nix-store
-
-nix-store_DIR := $(d)
-
-nix-store_SOURCES := $(wildcard $(d)/*.cc)
-
-nix-store_LIBS = libmain libstore libutil libformat
-
-nix-store_LDFLAGS = -lbz2 -pthread $(SODIUM_LIBS)
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index e245bd64..a9ad1476 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "util.hh"
 #include "worker-protocol.hh"
 #include "graphml.hh"
+#include "legacy.hh"
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include <algorithm>
@@ -993,11 +994,9 @@ static void opVersion(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
 /* Scan the arguments; find the operation, set global flags, put all
    other flags in a list, and put all other arguments in another
    list. */
-int main(int argc, char * * argv)
+static int _main(int argc, char * * argv)
 {
-    return handleExceptions(argv[0], [&]() {
-        initNix();
-
+    {
         Strings opFlags, opArgs;
         Operation op = 0;
 
@@ -1084,5 +1083,9 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
             store = openStore();
 
         op(opFlags, opArgs);
-    });
+
+        return 0;
+    }
 }
+
+static RegisterLegacyCommand s1("nix-store", _main);
diff --git a/src/nix/local.mk b/src/nix/local.mk
index f76da194..16893631 100644
--- a/src/nix/local.mk
+++ b/src/nix/local.mk
@@ -2,10 +2,25 @@ programs += nix
 
 nix_DIR := $(d)
 
-nix_SOURCES := $(wildcard $(d)/*.cc) $(wildcard src/linenoise/*.cpp)
+nix_SOURCES := \
+  $(wildcard $(d)/*.cc) \
+  $(wildcard src/linenoise/*.cpp) \
+  $(wildcard src/build-remote/*.cc) \
+  $(wildcard src/nix-build/*.cc) \
+  $(wildcard src/nix-channel/*.cc) \
+  $(wildcard src/nix-collect-garbage/*.cc) \
+  $(wildcard src/nix-copy-closure/*.cc) \
+  $(wildcard src/nix-daemon/*.cc) \
+  $(wildcard src/nix-env/*.cc) \
+  $(wildcard src/nix-instantiate/*.cc) \
+  $(wildcard src/nix-prefetch-url/*.cc) \
+  $(wildcard src/nix-store/*.cc) \
 
 nix_LIBS = libexpr libmain libstore libutil libformat
 
-nix_LDFLAGS = -pthread
+nix_LDFLAGS = -pthread $(SODIUM_LIBS)
 
-$(eval $(call install-symlink, nix, $(bindir)/nix-hash))
+$(foreach name, \
+  nix-build nix-channel nix-collect-garbage nix-copy-closure nix-daemon nix-env nix-hash nix-instantiate nix-prefetch-rul nix-shell nix-shore, \
+  $(eval $(call install-symlink, nix, $(bindir)/$(name))))
+$(eval $(call install-symlink, $(bindir)/nix, $(libexecdir)/nix/build-remote))
diff --git a/src/nix/main.cc b/src/nix/main.cc
index 69791e22..64c1dc35 100644
--- a/src/nix/main.cc
+++ b/src/nix/main.cc
@@ -67,9 +67,6 @@ struct NixArgs : virtual MultiCommand, virtual MixCommonArgs
 
 void mainWrapped(int argc, char * * argv)
 {
-    verbosity = lvlError;
-    settings.verboseBuild = false;
-
     /* The chroot helper needs to be run before any threads have been
        started. */
     if (argc > 0 && argv[0] == chrootHelperName) {
@@ -88,6 +85,9 @@ void mainWrapped(int argc, char * * argv)
         if (legacy) return legacy(argc, argv);
     }
 
+    verbosity = lvlError;
+    settings.verboseBuild = false;
+
     NixArgs args;
 
     args.parseCmdline(argvToStrings(argc, argv));