diff --git a/app.go b/app.go
index 751295cc..d757c298 100644
--- a/app.go
+++ b/app.go
@@ -32,6 +32,24 @@ type app struct {
 	cmdHistoryInd int
 }
 
+var gInvalidate struct {
+	sort    bool
+	pos     bool
+	dir     bool
+	navSize bool
+	mouse   bool
+	period  bool
+}
+
+func init() {
+	gInvalidate.sort = true
+	gInvalidate.pos = true
+	gInvalidate.dir = true
+	gInvalidate.navSize = true
+	gInvalidate.mouse = true
+	gInvalidate.period = true
+}
+
 func newApp(ui *ui, nav *nav) *app {
 	quitChan := make(chan struct{}, 1)
 
@@ -245,19 +263,6 @@ func (app *app) loop() {
 
 	app.ui.readExpr()
 
-	if gSelect != "" {
-		go func() {
-			lstat, err := os.Lstat(gSelect)
-			if err != nil {
-				app.ui.exprChan <- &callExpr{"echoerr", []string{err.Error()}, 1}
-			} else if lstat.IsDir() {
-				app.ui.exprChan <- &callExpr{"cd", []string{gSelect}, 1}
-			} else {
-				app.ui.exprChan <- &callExpr{"select", []string{gSelect}, 1}
-			}
-		}()
-	}
-
 	if gConfigPath != "" {
 		if _, err := os.Stat(gConfigPath); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			app.readFile(gConfigPath)
@@ -272,6 +277,30 @@ func (app *app) loop() {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// config has been read, now initialize nav with the wd
+	wd, err := os.Getwd()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("getting current directory: %s", err)
+	}
+	if gSelect != "" {
+		_, err := os.Lstat(gSelect)
+		if err != nil {
+			app.ui.exprChan <- &callExpr{"echoerr", []string{err.Error()}, 1}
+		} else if abs, err := filepath.Abs(gSelect); err == nil {
+			// if gSelect contains the /. suffix, the directory itself
+			// should be selected
+			if len(gSelect) > 2 && gSelect[len(gSelect)-2:] == "/." {
+				wd = abs
+			} else {
+				wd = filepath.Dir(abs)
+				app.ui.exprChan <- &callExpr{"select", []string{abs}, 1}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	app.nav.getDirs(wd)
+	app.nav.addJumpList()
+
+	// execute commands from args
 	for _, cmd := range gCommands {
 		p := newParser(strings.NewReader(cmd))
 
@@ -285,6 +314,49 @@ func (app *app) loop() {
 	}
 
 	for {
+
+		// process invalidate flags
+		if gInvalidate.sort {
+			app.nav.sort()
+			app.ui.sort()
+			gInvalidate.sort = false
+		}
+		if gInvalidate.pos {
+			app.nav.position()
+			gInvalidate.pos = false
+		}
+		if gInvalidate.dir {
+			app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+			app.ui.loadFileInfo(app.nav)
+			app.ui.draw(app.nav)
+			gInvalidate.dir = false
+		}
+		if gInvalidate.navSize {
+			app.ui.renew()
+			if app.nav.height != app.ui.wins[0].h {
+				app.nav.height = app.ui.wins[0].h
+				app.nav.regCache = make(map[string]*reg)
+			}
+			gInvalidate.navSize = false
+		}
+		if gInvalidate.mouse {
+			if gOpts.mouse {
+				app.ui.screen.EnableMouse()
+			} else {
+				app.ui.screen.DisableMouse()
+			}
+			gInvalidate.mouse = false
+		}
+		if gInvalidate.period {
+			if gOpts.period == 0 {
+				app.ticker.Stop()
+			} else {
+				app.ticker.Stop()
+				app.ticker = time.NewTicker(time.Duration(gOpts.period) * time.Second)
+			}
+			gInvalidate.period = false
+		}
+
 		select {
 		case <-app.quitChan:
 			if app.nav.copyTotal > 0 {
@@ -369,7 +441,12 @@ func (app *app) loop() {
 			}
 			app.ui.draw(app.nav)
 		case d := <-app.nav.dirChan:
-			app.nav.checkDir(d)
+
+			if !app.nav.checkDir(d) {
+				log.Printf("debug: dirChan skip/reload %s", d.path)
+				continue
+			}
+			log.Printf("debug: dirChan %s %t", d.path, d.loading)
 
 			if gOpts.dircache {
 				prev, ok := app.nav.dirCache[d.path]
diff --git a/eval.go b/eval.go
index bb9fe62c..c98bcd5b 100644
--- a/eval.go
+++ b/eval.go
@@ -7,12 +7,12 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
 	"unicode"
 	"unicode/utf8"
 )
 
 func (e *setExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
+	// from app only app.ui.echo*() may be used inside this function
 	switch e.opt {
 	case "anchorfind":
 		gOpts.anchorfind = true
@@ -40,91 +40,70 @@ func (e *setExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 		gOpts.dircounts = !gOpts.dircounts
 	case "dironly":
 		gOpts.dironly = true
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.nav.position()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.pos = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "nodironly":
 		gOpts.dironly = false
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.nav.position()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.pos = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "dironly!":
 		gOpts.dironly = !gOpts.dironly
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.nav.position()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.pos = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "dirfirst":
 		gOpts.sortType.option |= dirfirstSort
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "nodirfirst":
 		gOpts.sortType.option &= ^dirfirstSort
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "dirfirst!":
 		gOpts.sortType.option ^= dirfirstSort
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "drawbox":
 		gOpts.drawbox = true
-		app.ui.renew()
-		if app.nav.height != app.ui.wins[0].h {
-			app.nav.height = app.ui.wins[0].h
-			app.nav.regCache = make(map[string]*reg)
-		}
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.navSize = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "nodrawbox":
 		gOpts.drawbox = false
-		app.ui.renew()
-		if app.nav.height != app.ui.wins[0].h {
-			app.nav.height = app.ui.wins[0].h
-			app.nav.regCache = make(map[string]*reg)
-		}
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.navSize = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "drawbox!":
 		gOpts.drawbox = !gOpts.drawbox
-		app.ui.renew()
-		if app.nav.height != app.ui.wins[0].h {
-			app.nav.height = app.ui.wins[0].h
-			app.nav.regCache = make(map[string]*reg)
-		}
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.navSize = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "globsearch":
 		gOpts.globsearch = true
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "noglobsearch":
 		gOpts.globsearch = false
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "globsearch!":
 		gOpts.globsearch = !gOpts.globsearch
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "hidden":
 		gOpts.sortType.option |= hiddenSort
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.nav.position()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.pos = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "nohidden":
 		gOpts.sortType.option &= ^hiddenSort
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.nav.position()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.pos = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "hidden!":
 		gOpts.sortType.option ^= hiddenSort
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.nav.position()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.pos = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "icons":
 		gOpts.icons = true
 	case "noicons":
@@ -133,31 +112,28 @@ func (e *setExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 		gOpts.icons = !gOpts.icons
 	case "ignorecase":
 		gOpts.ignorecase = true
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "noignorecase":
 		gOpts.ignorecase = false
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "ignorecase!":
 		gOpts.ignorecase = !gOpts.ignorecase
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "ignoredia":
 		gOpts.ignoredia = true
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "noignoredia":
 		gOpts.ignoredia = false
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "ignoredia!":
 		gOpts.ignoredia = !gOpts.ignoredia
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "incfilter":
 		gOpts.incfilter = true
 	case "noincfilter":
@@ -173,21 +149,20 @@ func (e *setExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 	case "mouse":
 		if !gOpts.mouse {
 			gOpts.mouse = true
-			app.ui.screen.EnableMouse()
+			gInvalidate.mouse = true
 		}
 	case "nomouse":
 		if gOpts.mouse {
 			gOpts.mouse = false
-			app.ui.screen.DisableMouse()
+			gInvalidate.mouse = true
 		}
 	case "mouse!":
 		if gOpts.mouse {
 			gOpts.mouse = false
-			app.ui.screen.DisableMouse()
 		} else {
 			gOpts.mouse = true
-			app.ui.screen.EnableMouse()
 		}
+		gInvalidate.mouse = true
 	case "number":
 		gOpts.number = true
 	case "nonumber":
@@ -216,31 +191,28 @@ func (e *setExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 		gOpts.relativenumber = !gOpts.relativenumber
 	case "reverse":
 		gOpts.sortType.option |= reverseSort
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "noreverse":
 		gOpts.sortType.option &= ^reverseSort
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "reverse!":
 		gOpts.sortType.option ^= reverseSort
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "smartcase":
 		gOpts.smartcase = true
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "nosmartcase":
 		gOpts.smartcase = false
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "smartcase!":
 		gOpts.smartcase = !gOpts.smartcase
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "smartdia":
 		gOpts.smartdia = true
 	case "nosmartdia":
@@ -283,12 +255,7 @@ func (e *setExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 			return
 		}
 		gOpts.period = n
-		if n == 0 {
-			app.ticker.Stop()
-		} else {
-			app.ticker.Stop()
-			app.ticker = time.NewTicker(time.Duration(gOpts.period) * time.Second)
-		}
+		gInvalidate.period = true
 	case "scrolloff":
 		n, err := strconv.Atoi(e.val)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -329,10 +296,9 @@ func (e *setExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 			}
 		}
 		gOpts.hiddenfiles = toks
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.nav.position()
-		app.ui.sort()
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.pos = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "ifs":
 		gOpts.ifs = e.val
 	case "info":
@@ -377,7 +343,7 @@ func (e *setExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 		}
 		gOpts.ratios = rats
 		app.ui.wins = getWins(app.ui.screen)
-		app.ui.loadFile(app.nav, true)
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "shell":
 		gOpts.shell = e.val
 	case "shellflag":
@@ -408,8 +374,8 @@ func (e *setExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 			app.ui.echoerr("sortby: value should either be 'natural', 'name', 'size', 'time', 'atime', 'ctime' or 'ext'")
 			return
 		}
-		app.nav.sort()
-		app.ui.sort()
+		gInvalidate.sort = true
+		gInvalidate.dir = true
 	case "tempmarks":
 		if e.val != "" {
 			gOpts.tempmarks = "'" + e.val
@@ -433,7 +399,6 @@ func (e *setExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 		app.ui.echoerrf("unknown option: %s", e.opt)
 		return
 	}
-	app.ui.loadFileInfo(app.nav)
 }
 
 func (e *mapExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
@@ -442,7 +407,6 @@ func (e *mapExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 	} else {
 		gOpts.keys[e.keys] = e.expr
 	}
-	app.ui.loadFileInfo(app.nav)
 }
 
 func (e *cmapExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
@@ -451,7 +415,6 @@ func (e *cmapExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 	} else {
 		gOpts.cmdkeys[e.key] = e.expr
 	}
-	app.ui.loadFileInfo(app.nav)
 }
 
 func (e *cmdExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
@@ -460,7 +423,6 @@ func (e *cmdExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 	} else {
 		gOpts.cmds[e.name] = e.expr
 	}
-	app.ui.loadFileInfo(app.nav)
 }
 
 func preChdir(app *app) {
@@ -1294,6 +1256,7 @@ func (e *callExpr) eval(app *app, args []string) {
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Printf("getting current directory: %s", err)
 		}
+		log.Printf("todo-cd-eval %s", wd)
 
 		path = replaceTilde(path)
 		if !filepath.IsAbs(path) {
diff --git a/nav.go b/nav.go
index 12c7568e..6d1c294b 100644
--- a/nav.go
+++ b/nav.go
@@ -163,6 +163,10 @@ func normalize(s1, s2 string, ignorecase, ignoredia bool) (string, string) {
 }
 
 func (dir *dir) sort() {
+	if dir.loading {
+		log.Printf("debug: sort/dir still loading: %s", dir.path)
+		return
+	}
 	dir.sortType = gOpts.sortType
 	dir.dironly = gOpts.dironly
 	dir.hiddenfiles = gOpts.hiddenfiles
@@ -306,6 +310,10 @@ func (dir *dir) name() string {
 }
 
 func (dir *dir) sel(name string, height int) {
+	if dir.loading {
+		//log.Printf("debug: sel/dir still loading: %s", dir.path)
+		return
+	}
 	if len(dir.files) == 0 {
 		dir.ind, dir.pos = 0, 0
 		return
@@ -391,11 +399,13 @@ func (nav *nav) loadDir(path string) *dir {
 	if gOpts.dircache {
 		d, ok := nav.dirCache[path]
 		if !ok {
+			log.Printf("debug: dirCache-new: %s", path)
 			d = nav.loadDirInternal(path)
 			nav.dirCache[path] = d
 			return d
 		}
 
+		log.Printf("debug: dirCache-found: %s", path)
 		nav.checkDir(d)
 
 		return d
@@ -404,11 +414,16 @@ func (nav *nav) loadDir(path string) *dir {
 	}
 }
 
-func (nav *nav) checkDir(dir *dir) {
+func (nav *nav) checkDir(dir *dir) bool {
+	if dir.loading {
+		log.Printf("debug: skip loading: %s", dir.path)
+		return false
+	}
+
 	s, err := os.Stat(dir.path)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("getting directory info: %s", err)
-		return
+		return true
 	}
 
 	switch {
@@ -418,9 +433,10 @@ func (nav *nav) checkDir(dir *dir) {
 		// XXX: Linux builtin exFAT drivers are able to predict modifications in the future
 		// https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubuntu-meta/+bug/1872504
 		if s.ModTime().After(now) {
-			return
+			return true
 		}
 
+		log.Printf("debug: checkDir-reload: %s time", dir.path)
 		dir.loading = true
 		dir.loadTime = now
 		go func() {
@@ -429,18 +445,23 @@ func (nav *nav) checkDir(dir *dir) {
 			nd.sort()
 			nav.dirChan <- nd
 		}()
+		return false
 	case dir.sortType != gOpts.sortType ||
 		dir.dironly != gOpts.dironly ||
 		!reflect.DeepEqual(dir.hiddenfiles, gOpts.hiddenfiles) ||
 		dir.ignorecase != gOpts.ignorecase ||
 		dir.ignoredia != gOpts.ignoredia:
+		log.Printf("debug: checkDir-reload: %s opt", dir.path)
+		sd := dir
 		dir.loading = true
+		dir.loadTime = time.Now()
 		go func() {
-			dir.sort()
-			dir.loading = false
-			nav.dirChan <- dir
+			sd.sort()
+			nav.dirChan <- sd
 		}()
+		return false
 	}
+	return true
 }
 
 func (nav *nav) getDirs(wd string) {
@@ -460,10 +481,6 @@ func (nav *nav) getDirs(wd string) {
 }
 
 func newNav(height int) *nav {
-	wd, err := os.Getwd()
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Printf("getting current directory: %s", err)
-	}
 
 	nav := &nav{
 		copyBytesChan:   make(chan int64, 1024),
@@ -486,8 +503,7 @@ func newNav(height int) *nav {
 		jumpListInd:     -1,
 	}
 
-	nav.getDirs(wd)
-	nav.addJumpList()
+	// do not call nav.getDirs() as our configuration isn't set up yet
 
 	return nav
 }
@@ -573,7 +589,14 @@ func (nav *nav) exportFiles() {
 
 	currSelections := nav.currSelections()
 
-	exportFiles(currFile, currSelections, nav.currDir().path)
+	var wd string
+	if currDir := nav.currDir(); currDir != nil {
+		wd = currDir.path
+	} else {
+		wd, _ = os.Getwd()
+	}
+
+	exportFiles(currFile, currSelections, wd)
 }
 
 func (nav *nav) previewLoop(ui *ui) {
@@ -1252,19 +1275,26 @@ func (nav *nav) sync() error {
 }
 
 func (nav *nav) cd(wd string) error {
+
+	currDir := nav.currDir()
+
 	wd = replaceTilde(wd)
 	wd = filepath.Clean(wd)
 
-	if !filepath.IsAbs(wd) {
-		wd = filepath.Join(nav.currDir().path, wd)
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(wd) && currDir != nil {
+		wd = filepath.Join(currDir.path, wd)
 	}
 
 	if err := os.Chdir(wd); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cd: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	nav.getDirs(wd)
-	nav.addJumpList()
+	if currDir == nil || wd != currDir.path {
+		nav.getDirs(wd)
+		nav.addJumpList()
+	} else {
+		log.Printf("debug: skip cd: %s", wd)
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -1542,13 +1572,16 @@ func (nav *nav) writeMarks() error {
 }
 
 func (nav *nav) currDir() *dir {
+	if len(nav.dirs) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return nav.dirs[len(nav.dirs)-1]
 }
 
 func (nav *nav) currFile() (*file, error) {
-	dir := nav.dirs[len(nav.dirs)-1]
+	dir := nav.currDir()
 
-	if len(dir.files) == 0 {
+	if dir == nil || len(dir.files) == 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("empty directory")
 	}