diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index 512f7c0..2e27904 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#include <X11/X.h>
+#include <X11/Xlib.h>
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <limits.h>
@@ -472,6 +474,85 @@ bool atobool(char *arr)
     return false;
 }
 
+unsigned int wm_string_to_mask(const char* str)
+{
+    int ret;
+    ret = strncmp(str, "Shift", CONFIG_ARGLEN_MAX);
+    if (ret == 0) return ShiftMask;
+
+    ret = strncmp(str, "Control", CONFIG_ARGLEN_MAX);
+    if (ret == 0) return ControlMask;
+
+    ret = strncmp(str, "Ctrl", CONFIG_ARGLEN_MAX);
+    if (ret == 0) return ControlMask;
+
+    ret = strncmp(str, "Caps", CONFIG_ARGLEN_MAX);
+    if (ret == 0) return LockMask;
+
+    ret = strncmp(str, "CapsLock", CONFIG_ARGLEN_MAX);
+    if (ret == 0) return LockMask;
+
+    ret = strncmp(str, "Alt", CONFIG_ARGLEN_MAX);
+    if (ret == 0) return Mod1Mask;
+
+    ret = strncmp(str, "Win", CONFIG_ARGLEN_MAX);
+    if (ret == 0) return Mod4Mask;
+
+    ret = strncmp(str, "Windows", CONFIG_ARGLEN_MAX);
+    if (ret == 0) return Mod4Mask;
+
+    ret = strncmp(str, "Super", CONFIG_ARGLEN_MAX);
+    if (ret == 0) return Mod4Mask;
+
+    fprintf(stderr, "wm: encountered invalid modifier token %s\n. exiting.",
+            str);
+    abort();
+}
+
+KeySym* wm_keybind_str_to_mask_keysym(const char* kb_argv)
+{
+    KeySym *ret = calloc(2, sizeof(KeySym));
+    char* str = strdup(kb_argv);
+    char tokens[CONFIG_ARGC_MAX][CONFIG_ARGLEN_MAX];
+
+    char *token = strtok(str, "+");
+
+    long token_count = 0;
+    while(token != NULL) {
+        token_count++;
+        if (token_count >= CONFIG_ARGC_MAX) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "wm: maximum number of arguments (%d) exceeded."
+                    "exiting.\n", CONFIG_ARGC_MAX);
+            abort();
+        }
+
+        strncpy(tokens[token_count - 1], token, CONFIG_ARGLEN_MAX);
+
+        token = strtok(NULL, "+");
+    }
+
+    DEBUG_PRINT("str: %s token count: %d\n", kb_argv, token_count);
+
+    ret[0] = wm_string_to_mask(tokens[0]);
+
+    for (size_t i = 1; i < token_count - 1; i++) {
+        ret[0] |= wm_string_to_mask(tokens[i]);
+    }
+
+    KeySym keysym = XStringToKeysym(tokens[token_count - 1]);
+    if (keysym == NoSymbol) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "wm: encountered invalid keybind token %s\n. exiting.",
+                tokens[token_count-1]);
+        abort();
+    }
+
+    ret[1] = keysym;
+
+    free(str);
+
+    return ret;
+}
+
 // TODO
 Keybind wm_config_parse_bind_command(ConfigCommand *command)
 {
diff --git a/src/config.h b/src/config.h
index 39b1084..25e1d43 100644
--- a/src/config.h
+++ b/src/config.h
@@ -94,6 +94,14 @@ void wm_configcommand_copy(ConfigCommand *dest, const ConfigCommand *src);
 void wm_configcommand_argv_parse(ConfigCommand *command);
 void wm_configcommand_free(ConfigCommand *command);
 bool atobool(char *arr);
+
+/* Converts string to Key mask (see X.h:218-228). */
+unsigned int wm_string_to_mask(const char* str);
+
+/* The first element is the mask, the second element is the
+ * key. The returned array needs to be freed. */
+KeySym* wm_keybind_str_to_mask_keysym(const char* kb_argv);
+
 Keybind wm_config_parse_bind_command(ConfigCommand *command);
 
 #endif // CONFIG_H