diff --git a/src/flag.rs b/src/flag.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b2e1be3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/flag.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+
+pub const EMPTY_CONTEXT:	[&str;2]	=	[ "-E", "--empty"];
+pub const HELP:				[&str;2]	=	[ "-h", "--help" ];
+pub const QUIET:			[&str;2]	=	[ "-q", "--quiet" ];
+pub const VERSION:			[&str;2]	=	[ "-V", "--version" ];
+
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index dba1c20..8c9da05 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ use termion::{
 	style
 };
 
+mod flag;
 mod global;
 mod helper;
 mod util;
@@ -28,49 +29,62 @@ mod util;
 pub const VERSION: &str = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
 
 fn main() {
-	let args = Arguments::from_env();
+	let mut args = Arguments::from_env();
 
-	//	build eval context
-	let mut context = context_map! {
-		//	globals
-		"c"		=>	global::LIGHT_SPEED,
-		"e"		=>	global::EULER,
-		"phi"	=>	global::GOLDEN_RATIO,
-		"pi"	=>	global::PI,
-		"√2"	=>	global::ROOT_TWO,
+	//	handle breaking flags
+	if args.contains(flag::HELP) {
+		help_text();
+		return;
+	}
+	if args.contains(flag::VERSION) {
+		version_text();
+		return;
+	}
 
-		//	math functions
-		"fix"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::fix(arg)),
-		"log"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::logarithm(arg)),
-		"sqrt"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::square_root(arg)),
+	//	build context and handle empty flag
+	let mut context =
+		if !args.contains(flag::EMPTY_CONTEXT) {
+			context_map! {
+				//	globals
+				"c"		=>	global::LIGHT_SPEED,
+				"e"		=>	global::EULER,
+				"phi"	=>	global::GOLDEN_RATIO,
+				"pi"	=>	global::PI,
+				"√2"	=>	global::ROOT_TWO,
 
-		//	data science functions
-		"avg"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::average(arg)),
+				//	math functions
+				"fix"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::fix(arg)),
+				"log"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::logarithm(arg)),
+				"sqrt"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::square_root(arg)),
 
-		//	radix functions
-		"bin"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::binary(arg)),
-		"hex"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::hexadecimal(arg)),
-		"oct"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::octal(arg)),
+				//	data science functions
+				"avg"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::average(arg)),
 
-		//	character aliases
-		"ϕ"		=>	global::GOLDEN_RATIO,
-		"π"		=>	global::PI,
-		"√"		=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::square_root(arg))
-	}.unwrap();
+				//	radix functions
+				"bin"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::binary(arg)),
+				"hex"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::hexadecimal(arg)),
+				"oct"	=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::octal(arg)),
+
+				//	character aliases
+				"ϕ"		=>	global::GOLDEN_RATIO,
+				"π"		=>	global::PI,
+				"√"		=>	Function::new(|arg| helper::square_root(arg))
+			}.unwrap()
+		} else {
+			HashMapContext::new()
+		};
 
 	//	collect args and evaluate if present
 	let expressions = args.finish();
 	if expressions.len() > 0 {
 		for expression in expressions {
 			let expression: String = expression.to_string_lossy().into();
-			match expression.as_str() {
-				"help"	=>	help_text(),
-				_		=>	do_eval(expression, &mut context)
-			}
+			do_eval(expression, &mut context)
 		}
 	} else {
 		//	enter interactive mode if no args are given
-		println!("{}quickmaths v{}{}\n{}Interactive Mode{}", style::Bold, VERSION, style::Reset, style::Faint, style::Reset);
+		version_text();
+		println!("{}Interactive Mode{}", style::Faint, style::Reset);
 		loop {
 			print!("> ");
 			stdout().flush().unwrap();
@@ -135,16 +149,17 @@ fn reset() {
 	stdout().flush().unwrap();
 }
 
+fn version_text() {
+	println!("qm v{VERSION}");
+}
+
 fn help_text() {
+	version_text();
 	println!(
-		"{bold}quickmaths v{version}{reset}
-Valerie Wolfe <sleeplessval@gmail.com>
+"Valerie Wolfe <sleeplessval@gmail.com>
 A mathematical expression evaluator written in Rust.
 
 usage:
-   qm [EXPRESSION]...",
-		bold = style::Bold,
-		reset = style::Reset,
-		version = crate::VERSION
+   qm [EXPRESSION]..."
 	);
 }