diff --git a/doc/remote.txt b/doc/remote.txt
index 587bda7a5..dfe92ba32 100644
--- a/doc/remote.txt
+++ b/doc/remote.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ When invoking ELinks with the -remote argument, it does not start a new
 instance, but instead connects to an already running ELinks, making it
 possible to control that ELinks instance. The -remote command line switch
 takes a command consisting of the action to invoke and any parameters to the
-action.  Here is an example for opening freshmeat.net in a new tab:
+action. Commands must begin with a nonempty sequence of ASCII alphabetic
+characters followed by optional whitespace and an opening parenthesis. They
+must end with a closing parenthesis optionally followed by whitespace. Here is
+an example for opening freshmeat.net in a new tab:
 
 	$ elinks -remote "openURL(http://freshmeat.net/, new-tab)"
 
diff --git a/src/config/cmdline.c b/src/config/cmdline.c
index 98b561afd..13a171114 100644
--- a/src/config/cmdline.c
+++ b/src/config/cmdline.c
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ remote_cmd(struct option *o, unsigned char ***argv, int *argc)
 		{ "xfeDoCommand", REMOTE_METHOD_XFEDOCOMMAND },
 		{ NULL,		  REMOTE_METHOD_NOT_SUPPORTED },
 	};
-	unsigned char *command, *arg, *argend = NULL;
+	unsigned char *command, *arg, *argend;
 	int method, len = 0;
 
 	if (*argc < 1) return gettext("Parameter expected");
@@ -228,20 +228,27 @@ remote_cmd(struct option *o, unsigned char ***argv, int *argc)
 	while (isalpha(command[len]))
 		len++;
 
-	arg = strchr(&command[len], '(');
-	if (arg) {
-		arg++;
-		skip_space(arg);
+	/* Find the begining and end of the argument list. */
 
-		argend = strchr(arg, ')');
-	}
+	arg = command + len;
+	skip_space(arg);
 
-	if (!argend) {
+	argend = arg + strlen(arg);
+	skipback_whitespace(arg, argend);
+	if (argend > arg)
+		argend--;
+
+	/* Decide whether to use the "extended" --remote format where
+	 * all URLs following should be opened in tabs. */
+	if (*arg != '(' || *argend != ')') {
 		/* Just open any passed URLs in new tabs */
 		remote_session_flags |= SES_REMOTE_NEW_TAB;
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	/* Skip parenthesis and surrounding whitespace. */
+	arg++;
+	skip_space(arg);
 	skipback_whitespace(arg, argend);
 
 	for (method = 0; remote_methods[method].name; method++) {