diff --git a/include/match.h b/include/match.h
index dbd9bb79..64a4f22b 100644
--- a/include/match.h
+++ b/include/match.h
@@ -45,3 +45,9 @@ bool match_matches_window(Match *match, i3Window *window);
  *
  */
 void match_free(Match *match);
+
+/**
+ * Interprets a ctype=cvalue pair and adds it to the given match specification.
+ *
+ */
+void match_parse_property(Match *match, const char *ctype, const char *cvalue);
diff --git a/src/commands.c b/src/commands.c
index 95784c77..c9746ba4 100644
--- a/src/commands.c
+++ b/src/commands.c
@@ -316,107 +316,7 @@ void cmd_criteria_match_windows(I3_CMD) {
  *
  */
 void cmd_criteria_add(I3_CMD, const char *ctype, const char *cvalue) {
-    DLOG("ctype=*%s*, cvalue=*%s*\n", ctype, cvalue);
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "class") == 0) {
-        current_match->class = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "instance") == 0) {
-        current_match->instance = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "window_role") == 0) {
-        current_match->window_role = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "con_id") == 0) {
-        char *end;
-        long parsed = strtol(cvalue, &end, 0);
-        if (parsed == LONG_MIN ||
-            parsed == LONG_MAX ||
-            parsed < 0 ||
-            (end && *end != '\0')) {
-            ELOG("Could not parse con id \"%s\"\n", cvalue);
-        } else {
-            current_match->con_id = (Con *)parsed;
-            DLOG("id as int = %p\n", current_match->con_id);
-        }
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "id") == 0) {
-        char *end;
-        long parsed = strtol(cvalue, &end, 0);
-        if (parsed == LONG_MIN ||
-            parsed == LONG_MAX ||
-            parsed < 0 ||
-            (end && *end != '\0')) {
-            ELOG("Could not parse window id \"%s\"\n", cvalue);
-        } else {
-            current_match->id = parsed;
-            DLOG("window id as int = %d\n", current_match->id);
-        }
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "window_type") == 0) {
-        if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "normal") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_NORMAL;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "dialog") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DIALOG;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "utility") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_UTILITY;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "toolbar") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_TOOLBAR;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "splash") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_SPLASH;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "menu") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_MENU;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "dropdown_menu") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DROPDOWN_MENU;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "popup_menu") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_POPUP_MENU;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "tooltip") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_TOOLTIP;
-        else
-            ELOG("unknown window_type value \"%s\"\n", cvalue);
-
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "con_mark") == 0) {
-        current_match->mark = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "title") == 0) {
-        current_match->title = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "urgent") == 0) {
-        if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "latest") == 0 ||
-            strcasecmp(cvalue, "newest") == 0 ||
-            strcasecmp(cvalue, "recent") == 0 ||
-            strcasecmp(cvalue, "last") == 0) {
-            current_match->urgent = U_LATEST;
-        } else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "oldest") == 0 ||
-                   strcasecmp(cvalue, "first") == 0) {
-            current_match->urgent = U_OLDEST;
-        }
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "workspace") == 0) {
-        current_match->workspace = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    ELOG("Unknown criterion: %s\n", ctype);
+    match_parse_property(current_match, ctype, cvalue);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/config_directives.c b/src/config_directives.c
index d772387d..cd0432fe 100644
--- a/src/config_directives.c
+++ b/src/config_directives.c
@@ -42,111 +42,9 @@ CFGFUN(criteria_pop_state) {
  *
  */
 CFGFUN(criteria_add, const char *ctype, const char *cvalue) {
-    DLOG("ctype=*%s*, cvalue=*%s*\n", ctype, cvalue);
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "class") == 0) {
-        current_match->class = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "instance") == 0) {
-        current_match->instance = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "window_role") == 0) {
-        current_match->window_role = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "con_id") == 0) {
-        char *end;
-        long parsed = strtol(cvalue, &end, 10);
-        if (parsed == LONG_MIN ||
-            parsed == LONG_MAX ||
-            parsed < 0 ||
-            (end && *end != '\0')) {
-            ELOG("Could not parse con id \"%s\"\n", cvalue);
-        } else {
-            current_match->con_id = (Con *)parsed;
-            DLOG("id as int = %p\n", current_match->con_id);
-        }
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "id") == 0) {
-        char *end;
-        long parsed = strtol(cvalue, &end, 10);
-        if (parsed == LONG_MIN ||
-            parsed == LONG_MAX ||
-            parsed < 0 ||
-            (end && *end != '\0')) {
-            ELOG("Could not parse window id \"%s\"\n", cvalue);
-        } else {
-            current_match->id = parsed;
-            DLOG("window id as int = %d\n", current_match->id);
-        }
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "window_type") == 0) {
-        if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "normal") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_NORMAL;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "dialog") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DIALOG;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "utility") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_UTILITY;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "toolbar") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_TOOLBAR;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "splash") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_SPLASH;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "menu") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_MENU;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "dropdown_menu") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DROPDOWN_MENU;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "popup_menu") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_POPUP_MENU;
-        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "tooltip") == 0)
-            current_match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_TOOLTIP;
-        else
-            ELOG("unknown window_type value \"%s\"\n", cvalue);
-
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "con_mark") == 0) {
-        current_match->mark = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "title") == 0) {
-        current_match->title = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "urgent") == 0) {
-        if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "latest") == 0 ||
-            strcasecmp(cvalue, "newest") == 0 ||
-            strcasecmp(cvalue, "recent") == 0 ||
-            strcasecmp(cvalue, "last") == 0) {
-            current_match->urgent = U_LATEST;
-        } else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "oldest") == 0 ||
-                   strcasecmp(cvalue, "first") == 0) {
-            current_match->urgent = U_OLDEST;
-        }
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (strcmp(ctype, "workspace") == 0) {
-        current_match->workspace = regex_new(cvalue);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    ELOG("Unknown criterion: %s\n", ctype);
+    match_parse_property(current_match, ctype, cvalue);
 }
 
-/* TODO: refactor the above criteria code into a single file (with src/commands.c). */
-
 /*******************************************************************************
  * Utility functions
  ******************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/match.c b/src/match.c
index 20af38f6..67054dae 100644
--- a/src/match.c
+++ b/src/match.c
@@ -254,3 +254,112 @@ void match_free(Match *match) {
     FREE(match->mark);
     FREE(match->window_role);
 }
+
+/*
+ * Interprets a ctype=cvalue pair and adds it to the given match specification.
+ *
+ */
+void match_parse_property(Match *match, const char *ctype, const char *cvalue) {
+    assert(match != NULL);
+    DLOG("ctype=*%s*, cvalue=*%s*\n", ctype, cvalue);
+
+    if (strcmp(ctype, "class") == 0) {
+        match->class = regex_new(cvalue);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(ctype, "instance") == 0) {
+        match->instance = regex_new(cvalue);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(ctype, "window_role") == 0) {
+        match->window_role = regex_new(cvalue);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(ctype, "con_id") == 0) {
+        char *end;
+        long parsed = strtol(cvalue, &end, 10);
+        if (parsed == LONG_MIN ||
+            parsed == LONG_MAX ||
+            parsed < 0 ||
+            (end && *end != '\0')) {
+            ELOG("Could not parse con id \"%s\"\n", cvalue);
+        } else {
+            match->con_id = (Con *)parsed;
+            DLOG("id as int = %p\n", match->con_id);
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(ctype, "id") == 0) {
+        char *end;
+        long parsed = strtol(cvalue, &end, 10);
+        if (parsed == LONG_MIN ||
+            parsed == LONG_MAX ||
+            parsed < 0 ||
+            (end && *end != '\0')) {
+            ELOG("Could not parse window id \"%s\"\n", cvalue);
+        } else {
+            match->id = parsed;
+            DLOG("window id as int = %d\n", match->id);
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(ctype, "window_type") == 0) {
+        if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "normal") == 0)
+            match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_NORMAL;
+        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "dialog") == 0)
+            match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DIALOG;
+        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "utility") == 0)
+            match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_UTILITY;
+        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "toolbar") == 0)
+            match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_TOOLBAR;
+        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "splash") == 0)
+            match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_SPLASH;
+        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "menu") == 0)
+            match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_MENU;
+        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "dropdown_menu") == 0)
+            match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DROPDOWN_MENU;
+        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "popup_menu") == 0)
+            match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_POPUP_MENU;
+        else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "tooltip") == 0)
+            match->window_type = A__NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_TOOLTIP;
+        else
+            ELOG("unknown window_type value \"%s\"\n", cvalue);
+
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(ctype, "con_mark") == 0) {
+        match->mark = regex_new(cvalue);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(ctype, "title") == 0) {
+        match->title = regex_new(cvalue);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(ctype, "urgent") == 0) {
+        if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "latest") == 0 ||
+            strcasecmp(cvalue, "newest") == 0 ||
+            strcasecmp(cvalue, "recent") == 0 ||
+            strcasecmp(cvalue, "last") == 0) {
+            match->urgent = U_LATEST;
+        } else if (strcasecmp(cvalue, "oldest") == 0 ||
+                   strcasecmp(cvalue, "first") == 0) {
+            match->urgent = U_OLDEST;
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(ctype, "workspace") == 0) {
+        match->workspace = regex_new(cvalue);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    ELOG("Unknown criterion: %s\n", ctype);
+}