diff --git a/i3bar/include/configuration.h b/i3bar/include/configuration.h
index 27fb518f..b86da2e0 100644
--- a/i3bar/include/configuration.h
+++ b/i3bar/include/configuration.h
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ typedef struct tray_output_t {
 } tray_output_t;
 
 typedef struct config_t {
-    int modifier;
+    uint32_t modifier;
 
     TAILQ_HEAD(bindings_head, binding_t)
     bindings;
diff --git a/i3bar/src/config.c b/i3bar/src/config.c
index 59a44aee..5e57e6d9 100644
--- a/i3bar/src/config.c
+++ b/i3bar/src/config.c
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ static int config_string_cb(void *params_, const unsigned char *val, size_t _len
         return 1;
     }
 
+    /* Kept for backwards compatibility. */
     if (!strcmp(cur_key, "modifier")) {
         DLOG("modifier = %.*s\n", len, val);
         if (len == strlen("none") && !strncmp((const char *)val, "none", strlen("none"))) {
@@ -336,6 +337,12 @@ static int config_integer_cb(void *params_, long long val) {
         return 1;
     }
 
+    if (!strcmp(cur_key, "modifier")) {
+        DLOG("modifier = %lld\n", val);
+        config.modifier = (uint32_t)val;
+        return 1;
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/i3bar/src/xcb.c b/i3bar/src/xcb.c
index 8843edbd..7bfeb12e 100644
--- a/i3bar/src/xcb.c
+++ b/i3bar/src/xcb.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ int bar_height;
 
 /* These are only relevant for XKB, which we only need for grabbing modifiers */
 int xkb_base;
-int mod_pressed = 0;
+bool mod_pressed = 0;
 
 /* Event watchers, to interact with the user */
 ev_prepare *xcb_prep;
@@ -1108,49 +1108,15 @@ void xcb_prep_cb(struct ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *watcher, int revents) {
             DLOG("received an xkb event\n");
 
             xcb_xkb_state_notify_event_t *state = (xcb_xkb_state_notify_event_t *)event;
+            const uint32_t mod = (config.modifier & 0xFFFF);
+            mod_pressed = (mod != 0 && (state->mods & mod) == mod);
             if (state->xkbType == XCB_XKB_STATE_NOTIFY && config.modifier != XCB_NONE) {
-                int modstate = state->mods & config.modifier;
-
-#define DLOGMOD(modmask, status)                        \
-    do {                                                \
-        switch (modmask) {                              \
-            case ShiftMask:                             \
-                DLOG("ShiftMask got " #status "!\n");   \
-                break;                                  \
-            case ControlMask:                           \
-                DLOG("ControlMask got " #status "!\n"); \
-                break;                                  \
-            case Mod1Mask:                              \
-                DLOG("Mod1Mask got " #status "!\n");    \
-                break;                                  \
-            case Mod2Mask:                              \
-                DLOG("Mod2Mask got " #status "!\n");    \
-                break;                                  \
-            case Mod3Mask:                              \
-                DLOG("Mod3Mask got " #status "!\n");    \
-                break;                                  \
-            case Mod4Mask:                              \
-                DLOG("Mod4Mask got " #status "!\n");    \
-                break;                                  \
-            case Mod5Mask:                              \
-                DLOG("Mod5Mask got " #status "!\n");    \
-                break;                                  \
-        }                                               \
-    } while (0)
-
-                if (modstate != mod_pressed) {
-                    if (modstate == 0) {
-                        DLOGMOD(config.modifier, released);
-                        if (!activated_mode)
-                            hide_bars();
-                    } else {
-                        DLOGMOD(config.modifier, pressed);
-                        activated_mode = false;
-                        unhide_bars();
-                    }
-                    mod_pressed = modstate;
+                if (mod_pressed) {
+                    activated_mode = false;
+                    unhide_bars();
+                } else if (!activated_mode) {
+                    hide_bars();
                 }
-#undef DLOGMOD
             }
 
             free(event);
diff --git a/include/config_directives.h b/include/config_directives.h
index 852325ba..f21ad8e1 100644
--- a/include/config_directives.h
+++ b/include/config_directives.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ CFGFUN(bar_hidden_state, const char *hidden_state);
 CFGFUN(bar_id, const char *bar_id);
 CFGFUN(bar_output, const char *output);
 CFGFUN(bar_verbose, const char *verbose);
-CFGFUN(bar_modifier, const char *modifier);
+CFGFUN(bar_modifier, const char *modifiers);
 CFGFUN(bar_wheel_up_cmd, const char *command);
 CFGFUN(bar_wheel_down_cmd, const char *command);
 CFGFUN(bar_bindsym, const char *button, const char *release, const char *command);
diff --git a/include/configuration.h b/include/configuration.h
index 87897aaf..3eccca4c 100644
--- a/include/configuration.h
+++ b/include/configuration.h
@@ -289,16 +289,7 @@ struct Barconfig {
            S_SHOW = 1 } hidden_state;
 
     /** Bar modifier (to show bar when in hide mode). */
-    enum {
-        M_NONE = 0,
-        M_CONTROL = 1,
-        M_SHIFT = 2,
-        M_MOD1 = 3,
-        M_MOD2 = 4,
-        M_MOD3 = 5,
-        M_MOD4 = 6,
-        M_MOD5 = 7
-    } modifier;
+    uint32_t modifier;
 
     TAILQ_HEAD(bar_bindings_head, Barbinding)
     bar_bindings;
diff --git a/parser-specs/config.spec b/parser-specs/config.spec
index 9cbc782b..c5c4651c 100644
--- a/parser-specs/config.spec
+++ b/parser-specs/config.spec
@@ -491,8 +491,14 @@ state BAR_ID:
       -> call cfg_bar_id($bar_id); BAR
 
 state BAR_MODIFIER:
-  modifier = 'Mod1', 'Mod2', 'Mod3', 'Mod4', 'Mod5', 'Control', 'Ctrl', 'Shift', 'none', 'off'
-      -> call cfg_bar_modifier($modifier); BAR
+  'off', 'none'
+      -> call cfg_bar_modifier(NULL); BAR
+  modifiers = 'Mod1', 'Mod2', 'Mod3', 'Mod4', 'Mod5', 'Shift', 'Control', 'Ctrl'
+      ->
+  '+'
+      ->
+  end
+      -> call cfg_bar_modifier($modifiers); BAR
 
 state BAR_WHEEL_UP_CMD:
   command = string
diff --git a/src/config_directives.c b/src/config_directives.c
index 491c840a..4a31f79e 100644
--- a/src/config_directives.c
+++ b/src/config_directives.c
@@ -479,25 +479,8 @@ CFGFUN(bar_verbose, const char *verbose) {
     current_bar->verbose = eval_boolstr(verbose);
 }
 
-CFGFUN(bar_modifier, const char *modifier) {
-    if (strcmp(modifier, "Mod1") == 0)
-        current_bar->modifier = M_MOD1;
-    else if (strcmp(modifier, "Mod2") == 0)
-        current_bar->modifier = M_MOD2;
-    else if (strcmp(modifier, "Mod3") == 0)
-        current_bar->modifier = M_MOD3;
-    else if (strcmp(modifier, "Mod4") == 0)
-        current_bar->modifier = M_MOD4;
-    else if (strcmp(modifier, "Mod5") == 0)
-        current_bar->modifier = M_MOD5;
-    else if (strcmp(modifier, "Control") == 0 ||
-             strcmp(modifier, "Ctrl") == 0)
-        current_bar->modifier = M_CONTROL;
-    else if (strcmp(modifier, "Shift") == 0)
-        current_bar->modifier = M_SHIFT;
-    else if (strcmp(modifier, "none") == 0 ||
-             strcmp(modifier, "off") == 0)
-        current_bar->modifier = M_NONE;
+CFGFUN(bar_modifier, const char *modifiers) {
+    current_bar->modifier = modifiers ? event_state_from_str(modifiers) : XCB_NONE;
 }
 
 static void bar_configure_binding(const char *button, const char *release, const char *command) {
@@ -633,7 +616,7 @@ CFGFUN(bar_start) {
     TAILQ_INIT(&(current_bar->bar_bindings));
     TAILQ_INIT(&(current_bar->tray_outputs));
     current_bar->tray_padding = 2;
-    current_bar->modifier = M_MOD4;
+    current_bar->modifier = XCB_KEY_BUT_MASK_MOD_4;
 }
 
 CFGFUN(bar_finish) {
diff --git a/src/ipc.c b/src/ipc.c
index 25da1617..eebb576e 100644
--- a/src/ipc.c
+++ b/src/ipc.c
@@ -656,32 +656,7 @@ static void dump_bar_config(yajl_gen gen, Barconfig *config) {
     }
 
     ystr("modifier");
-    switch (config->modifier) {
-        case M_NONE:
-            ystr("none");
-            break;
-        case M_CONTROL:
-            ystr("ctrl");
-            break;
-        case M_SHIFT:
-            ystr("shift");
-            break;
-        case M_MOD1:
-            ystr("Mod1");
-            break;
-        case M_MOD2:
-            ystr("Mod2");
-            break;
-        case M_MOD3:
-            ystr("Mod3");
-            break;
-        case M_MOD5:
-            ystr("Mod5");
-            break;
-        default:
-            ystr("Mod4");
-            break;
-    }
+    y(integer, config->modifier);
 
     dump_bar_bindings(gen, config);