diff --git a/asyncgit/src/sync/utils.rs b/asyncgit/src/sync/utils.rs
index ecb45813..f1ecc4ff 100644
--- a/asyncgit/src/sync/utils.rs
+++ b/asyncgit/src/sync/utils.rs
@@ -144,6 +144,29 @@ pub fn stage_addremoved(repo_path: &str, path: &Path) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// get string from config
+pub fn get_config_string(
+    repo_path: &str,
+    key: &str,
+) -> Result<Option<String>> {
+    let repo = repo(repo_path)?;
+    let cfg = repo.config()?;
+
+    // this code doesnt match what the doc says regarding what
+    // gets returned when but it actually works
+    let entry_res = cfg.get_entry(key);
+
+    let entry = match entry_res {
+        Ok(ent) => ent,
+        Err(_) => return Ok(None),
+    };
+
+    if !entry.has_value() {
+        Ok(None)
+    } else {
+        Ok(entry.value().map(|s| s.to_string()))
+    }
+}
 /// helper function
 pub(crate) fn bytes2string(bytes: &[u8]) -> Result<String> {
     Ok(String::from_utf8(bytes.to_vec())?)
@@ -177,7 +200,23 @@ mod tests {
             false
         );
     }
+    #[test]
+    fn test_get_config() {
+        let bad_dir_cfg =
+            get_config_string("oodly_noodly", "this.doesnt.exist");
+        assert!(bad_dir_cfg.is_err());
 
+        let (_td, repo) = repo_init().unwrap();
+        let path = repo.path();
+        let rpath = path.as_os_str().to_str().unwrap();
+        let bad_cfg = get_config_string(rpath, "this.doesnt.exist");
+        assert!(bad_cfg.is_ok());
+        assert!(bad_cfg.unwrap().is_none());
+        // repo init sets user.name
+        let good_cfg = get_config_string(rpath, "user.name");
+        assert!(good_cfg.is_ok());
+        assert!(good_cfg.unwrap().is_some());
+    }
     #[test]
     fn test_staging_one_file() {
         let file_path = Path::new("file1.txt");
diff --git a/src/components/externaleditor.rs b/src/components/externaleditor.rs
index e11c5817..b20b2f78 100644
--- a/src/components/externaleditor.rs
+++ b/src/components/externaleditor.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ use crate::{
     ui::{self, style::SharedTheme},
 };
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Result};
-use asyncgit::{sync::utils::repo_work_dir, CWD};
+use asyncgit::{
+    sync::utils::get_config_string, sync::utils::repo_work_dir, CWD,
+};
 use crossterm::{
     event::Event,
     terminal::{EnterAlternateScreen, LeaveAlternateScreen},
@@ -66,26 +68,43 @@ impl ExternalEditorComponent {
 
         let editor = env::var("GIT_EDITOR")
             .ok()
+            .or_else(|| get_config_string(CWD, "core.editor").ok()?)
             .or_else(|| env::var("VISUAL").ok())
             .or_else(|| env::var("EDITOR").ok())
             .unwrap_or_else(|| String::from("vi"));
 
         // TODO: proper handling arguments containing whitespaces
         // This does not do the right thing if the input is `editor --something "with spaces"`
-        let mut editor = editor.split_whitespace();
 
-        let command = editor.next().ok_or_else(|| {
-            anyhow!("unable to read editor command")
-        })?;
+        // deal with "editor name with spaces" p1 p2 p3
+        // and with "editor_no_spaces" p1 p2 p3
+        // does not address spaces in pn
+        let mut echars = editor.chars().peekable();
 
-        let mut editor: Vec<&OsStr> =
-            editor.map(|s| OsStr::new(s)).collect();
+        let command: String = if *echars.peek().ok_or_else(|| {
+            anyhow!("editor configuration set to empty string")
+        })? == '\"'
+        {
+            echars
+                .by_ref()
+                .skip(1)
+                .take_while(|c| *c != '\"')
+                .collect()
+        } else {
+            echars.by_ref().take_while(|c| *c != ' ').collect()
+        };
 
-        editor.push(path.as_os_str());
+        let remainder_str = echars.collect::<String>();
+        let remainder = remainder_str.split_whitespace();
 
-        Command::new(command)
+        let mut args: Vec<&OsStr> =
+            remainder.map(|s| OsStr::new(s)).collect();
+
+        args.push(path.as_os_str());
+
+        Command::new(command.clone())
             .current_dir(work_dir)
-            .args(editor)
+            .args(args)
             .status()
             .map_err(|e| anyhow!("\"{}\": {}", command, e))?;