diff --git a/i3status/bar.go b/i3status/bar.go
index 69a74c1..6be3465 100644
--- a/i3status/bar.go
+++ b/i3status/bar.go
@@ -7,11 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
-type Widget interface {
-	Start()
-	SetChannels(chan Message, chan Entry)
-}
-
 type Bar struct {
 	Input    chan Message
 	Messages map[string]Message
@@ -44,6 +39,9 @@ func (b *Bar) barLoop() {
 
 func (b *Bar) readLoop() {
 	var i string
+	if len(b.subs) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
 	for {
 		fmt.Fscanf(b.In, "%s", &i)
 		for _, c := range b.subs {
diff --git a/i3status/base_widget.go b/i3status/base_widget.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ae15c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/i3status/base_widget.go
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+package i3status
+
+import (
+	"strconv"
+	"time"
+)
+
+type BaseWidget struct {
+	Output   chan Message
+	Input    chan Entry
+	Refresh  time.Duration
+	Instance int
+}
+
+func (w *BaseWidget) SetChannels(out chan Message, in chan Entry) {
+	w.Output = out
+	w.Input = in
+}
+
+func NewBaseWidget() *BaseWidget {
+	instanceCount++
+	w := BaseWidget{
+		Output:   nil,
+		Input:    nil,
+		Refresh:  1000,
+		Instance: instanceCount,
+	}
+	return &w
+}
+
+func (w *BaseWidget) basicLoop() {
+	msg := NewMessage()
+	msg.FullText = "Basic Widget"
+	msg.Name = "Basic"
+	msg.Color = "#ffffff"
+	msg.Instance = strconv.Itoa(w.Instance)
+	for {
+		w.Output <- *msg
+		time.Sleep(w.Refresh * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+}
+
+func (w *BaseWidget) readLoop() {
+	for {
+		<-w.Input
+	}
+}
+
+func (w *BaseWidget) Start() {
+	go w.basicLoop()
+	go w.readLoop()
+}
diff --git a/i3status/widget.go b/i3status/widget.go
index b7bef56..a8b2e39 100644
--- a/i3status/widget.go
+++ b/i3status/widget.go
@@ -1,54 +1,8 @@
 package i3status
 
-import (
-	"strconv"
-	"time"
-)
-
-type BaseWidget struct {
-	Output   chan Message
-	Input    chan Entry
-	Refresh  time.Duration
-	Instance int
+type Widget interface {
+	Start()
+	SetChannels(chan Message, chan Entry)
 }
 
 var instanceCount int
-
-func (w *BaseWidget) SetChannels(out chan Message, in chan Entry) {
-	w.Output = out
-	w.Input = in
-}
-
-func NewBaseWidget() *BaseWidget {
-	instanceCount++
-	w := BaseWidget{
-		Output:   nil,
-		Input:    nil,
-		Refresh:  1000,
-		Instance: instanceCount,
-	}
-	return &w
-}
-
-func (w *BaseWidget) basicLoop() {
-	msg := NewMessage()
-	msg.FullText = "Basic Widget"
-	msg.Name = "Basic"
-	msg.Color = "#ffffff"
-	msg.Instance = strconv.Itoa(w.Instance)
-	for {
-		w.Output <- *msg
-		time.Sleep(w.Refresh * time.Millisecond)
-	}
-}
-
-func (w *BaseWidget) readLoop() {
-	for {
-		<-w.Input
-	}
-}
-
-func (w *BaseWidget) Start() {
-	go w.basicLoop()
-	go w.readLoop()
-}
diff --git a/test/widget_test.go b/test/base_widget_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from test/widget_test.go
rename to test/base_widget_test.go