diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index abbe941..69216a9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ be excluded from the resulting uri. With the `type` parameter set to `entry` and
 an undefined `id` parameter, this template would expand to the uri
 `http://example.com/entry/`.
 
-To include curly brackets in the url, without replacement, escape the opening
-bracket: `?brackets=\\{}`. (Remember double escape characters to escape the
-escape character in JavaScript. :)
+To include curly brackets in the url, without replacement, simply escape them:
+`?brackets=\\{\\}`. (Remember double escape characters to escape the
+escape character in JavaScript.)
 
 ### Query parameters
 
diff --git a/lib/compile-test.js b/lib/compile-test.js
index 0a5682d..96f1f26 100644
--- a/lib/compile-test.js
+++ b/lib/compile-test.js
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ test('should compile optional query component', (t) => {
 
 test('should compile query continuation', (t) => {
   const template = 'http://example.com/?id=ent1{&first,max}'
-  const expected = ['http://example.com/?id=ent1', ['&', {param: 'first'}, {param: 'max'}]]
+  const expected = ['http://example.com/', '?id=ent1', ['&', {param: 'first'}, {param: 'max'}]]
 
   const ret = compile(template)
 
@@ -270,3 +270,11 @@ test('should compile filter function with equal sign in argument', (t) => {
 
   t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
 })
+
+test('should throw for unclosed parameter', (t) => {
+  const template = 'http://example.com/{type'
+
+  t.throws(() => {
+    compile(template)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/lib/compile.js b/lib/compile.js
index 2ba747a..b59c5a0 100644
--- a/lib/compile.js
+++ b/lib/compile.js
@@ -1,44 +1,24 @@
 const filters = require('./filters')
+const splitTemplate = require('./utils/splitTemplate')
+const splitComponent = require('./utils/splitComponent')
 
-const split = (template) => {
-  const array = []
-  const delimiters = /[,()]/g
-  let paran = false
-  let from = 0
-  let match
-
-  while ((match = delimiters.exec(template)) !== null) {
-    switch (match[0]) {
-      case '(':
-        paran = true
-        break
-      case ')':
-        paran = false
-        break
-      case ',':
-        if (!paran && template[delimiters.lastIndex - 2] !== '\\') {
-          array.push(template.substring(from, delimiters.lastIndex - 1).trim())
-          from = delimiters.lastIndex
-        }
-    }
+const fixEscapedCommas = (args, arg, index, array) => {
+  if (arg.substr(arg.length - 1) === '\\' && array.length > index) {
+    const next = array.splice(index + 1, 1)
+    return args.concat(arg.substr(0, arg.length - 1) + ',' + next[0])
   }
-
-  array.push(template.substring(from).trim())
-  return array
+  return args.concat(arg)
 }
 
-const compileParam = (explode) => (segment) => {
-  const {length} = segment
-
-  // Optional or not
-  const obj = (segment.substr(length - 1) === '?')
-    ? {
-      param: segment.substr(0, length - 1),
-      optional: true
-    }
-    : {param: segment}
+const setOptional = (obj) => {
+  const {length} = obj.param
+  if (obj.param.substr(length - 1) === '?') {
+    obj.param = obj.param.substr(0, length - 1)
+    obj.optional = true
+  }
+}
 
-  // Filter functions
+const setFilterFunctions = (obj) => {
   const filterParts = obj.param.split('|')
   if (filterParts.length > 1) {
     obj.param = filterParts[0]
@@ -47,27 +27,46 @@ const compileParam = (explode) => (segment) => {
         const match = /^(\w+)\(([^)]*)\)$/.exec(filter)
         const obj = {function: filters[(match && match.length > 1) ? match[1] : filter]}
         if (match && match[2]) {
-          obj.args = split(match[2]).map((filter) => filter.replace('\\,', ','))
+          obj.args = match[2].split(',')
+            .reduce(fixEscapedCommas, [])
+            .map((arg) => arg.trim())
         }
         return obj
       })
   }
+}
 
-  // Prefix modifier
-  const prefixParts = obj.param.split(':')
-  if (prefixParts.length > 1) {
-    obj.param = prefixParts[0]
-    obj.filters = [{function: filters.max, args: [prefixParts[1]]}].concat(obj.filters || [])
+const setPrefixFunction = (obj) => {
+  const index = obj.param.indexOf(':')
+  if (index > -1) {
+    const key = obj.param.substr(index + 1)
+    obj.filters = [{function: filters.max, args: [key]}]
+      .concat(obj.filters || [])
+    obj.param = obj.param.substr(0, index)
   }
+}
 
-  // Specified key
+const setKey = (obj) => {
   const keyParts = obj.param.split('=')
   if (keyParts.length > 1) {
     obj.key = keyParts[0]
     obj.param = keyParts[1]
   }
+}
+
+const compileParam = (explode = false) => (param, index) => {
+  if (index === 0) {
+    // Skip modifier
+    return param
+  }
+
+  const obj = {param}
+
+  setOptional(obj)
+  setFilterFunctions(obj)
+  setPrefixFunction(obj)
+  setKey(obj)
 
-  // Explode
   if (explode) {
     obj.explode = true
   }
@@ -75,38 +74,30 @@ const compileParam = (explode) => (segment) => {
   return obj
 }
 
-const compileComponent = (segment) => {
-  const modifier = (/^[?&/#.;]/.test(segment)) ? segment.substr(0, 1) : null
-  const list = split(segment.substr(modifier ? 1 : 0))
-  const explode = (modifier === '/' || modifier === '.')
-  if (modifier || list.length > 1) {
-    return [modifier].concat(list.map(compileParam(explode)))
+const compileComponent = (component) => {
+  const parts = splitComponent(component)
+  if (parts.length < 2) {
+    throw new TypeError(`Can't compile template with parameter '${component}'`)
   }
-  return compileParam(explode)(segment)
-}
-
-const prepareSegment = (segment) => segment.replace(/\\([{}])/g, '$1')
+  const modifier = parts[0]
 
-const compileSegment = (template, open = true) => {
-  let index = -1
-  do {
-    index = template.indexOf((open) ? '{' : '}', index + 1)
-  } while (template[index - 1] === '\\')
-
-  if (index === -1) {
-    return (template) ? [prepareSegment(template)] : []
+  if (modifier === null && parts.length === 2) {
+    return compileParam()(parts[1])
   }
 
-  let element = prepareSegment(template.substr(0, index))
-  if (!open) {
-    element = compileComponent(element)
-  }
+  const explode = (modifier === '/' || modifier === '.')
+  return parts.map(compileParam(explode))
+}
+
+const compileSegment = (segment) => {
+  const isComponent = segment[0] === '{'
+  segment = segment.replace(/\\([{}])/g, '$1')
 
-  const rest = compileSegment(template.substr(index + 1), !open)
-  if (element !== '') {
-    return [element, ...rest]
+  if (isComponent) {
+    return compileComponent(segment)
+  } else {
+    return segment
   }
-  return rest
 }
 
 /**
@@ -115,7 +106,8 @@ const compileSegment = (template, open = true) => {
  * @returns {array} An array of template segments/components
  */
 function compile (template) {
-  return compileSegment(template)
+  const segments = splitTemplate(template)
+  return segments.map(compileSegment)
 }
 
 module.exports = compile
diff --git a/lib/utils/splitComponent-test.js b/lib/utils/splitComponent-test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0e814d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/utils/splitComponent-test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+import test from 'ava'
+
+import splitComponent from './splitComponent'
+
+test('should exist', (t) => {
+  t.is(typeof splitComponent, 'function')
+})
+
+test('should return empty array when no component', (t) => {
+  const component = null
+  const expected = []
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should return empty array when no parameters', (t) => {
+  const component = '{}'
+  const expected = []
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split component into modifier and params', (t) => {
+  const component = '{id}'
+  const expected = [null, 'id']
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split several params', (t) => {
+  const component = '{first,max}'
+  const expected = [null, 'first', 'max']
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split with query modifier', (t) => {
+  const component = '{?first,max}'
+  const expected = ['?', 'first', 'max']
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split with query continuation modifier', (t) => {
+  const component = '{&first,max}'
+  const expected = ['&', 'first', 'max']
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split with path modifier', (t) => {
+  const component = '{/first,max}'
+  const expected = ['/', 'first', 'max']
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split with fragment modifier', (t) => {
+  const component = '{#first,max}'
+  const expected = ['#', 'first', 'max']
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split with dot modifier', (t) => {
+  const component = '{.first,max}'
+  const expected = ['.', 'first', 'max']
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split with path-style modifier', (t) => {
+  const component = '{;first,max}'
+  const expected = [';', 'first', 'max']
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split with filter function', (t) => {
+  const component = '{/section|max(3),user}'
+  const expected = ['/', 'section|max(3)', 'user']
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split with filter function several args', (t) => {
+  const component = '{/section,type|map(entry=entries,article=articles)}'
+  const expected = ['/', 'section', 'type|map(entry=entries,article=articles)']
+
+  const ret = splitComponent(component)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
diff --git a/lib/utils/splitComponent.js b/lib/utils/splitComponent.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d728d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/utils/splitComponent.js
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+const split = (component) => {
+  const array = []
+  const regex = /[,()]/g
+  let paran = false
+  let from = 0
+  let match
+
+  while ((match = regex.exec(component)) !== null) {
+    switch (match[0]) {
+      case '(':
+        paran = true
+        break
+      case ')':
+        paran = false
+        break
+      case ',':
+        if (!paran) {
+          array.push(component.substring(from, regex.lastIndex - 1).trim())
+          from = regex.lastIndex
+        }
+    }
+  }
+
+  array.push(component.substring(from).trim())
+
+  return array
+}
+
+function splitComponent (component) {
+  const match = /^\{([?&/#.;]?).+\}$/.exec(component)
+  if (!match) {
+    return []
+  }
+  const modifier = match[1] || null
+  component = component.substring((modifier) ? 2 : 1, component.length - 1)
+
+  return [modifier, ...split(component)]
+}
+
+module.exports = splitComponent
diff --git a/lib/utils/splitTemplate-test.js b/lib/utils/splitTemplate-test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..437a56e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/utils/splitTemplate-test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+import test from 'ava'
+
+import splitTemplate from './splitTemplate'
+
+test('should exist', (t) => {
+  t.is(typeof splitTemplate, 'function')
+})
+
+test('should return empty array when no template', (t) => {
+  const template = null
+  const expected = []
+
+  const ret = splitTemplate(template)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split template', (t) => {
+  const template = 'http://example.com/{type}/all{?first,max}'
+  const expected = [
+    'http://example.com/',
+    '{type}',
+    '/all',
+    '{?first,max}'
+  ]
+
+  const ret = splitTemplate(template)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split template starting with param', (t) => {
+  const template = '{host}/all'
+  const expected = [
+    '{host}',
+    '/all'
+  ]
+
+  const ret = splitTemplate(template)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split template with escaped brackets', (t) => {
+  const template = 'http://example.com/\\{weird\\}/all'
+  const expected = [
+    'http://example.com/\\{weird\\}/all'
+  ]
+
+  const ret = splitTemplate(template)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split template with escaped brackets and param', (t) => {
+  const template = 'http://example.com/\\{weird\\}/{type}'
+  const expected = [
+    'http://example.com/\\{weird\\}/',
+    '{type}'
+  ]
+
+  const ret = splitTemplate(template)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split template with filter functions', (t) => {
+  const template = 'http://example.com/{type|lower|map(entry=entries,article=articles)}/{id}'
+  const expected = [
+    'http://example.com/',
+    '{type|lower|map(entry=entries,article=articles)}',
+    '/',
+    '{id}'
+  ]
+
+  const ret = splitTemplate(template)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split template with filter functions and escaped brackets', (t) => {
+  const template = 'http://example.com/{keys=ids|wrap([, ", ", \\,\\{\\}])}'
+  const expected = [
+    'http://example.com/',
+    '{keys=ids|wrap([, ", ", \\,\\{\\}])}'
+  ]
+
+  const ret = splitTemplate(template)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split template at query string', (t) => {
+  const template = 'http://example.com/{type}/all?first=0'
+  const expected = [
+    'http://example.com/',
+    '{type}',
+    '/all',
+    '?first=0'
+  ]
+
+  const ret = splitTemplate(template)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split template when only query string', (t) => {
+  const template = '?first=0'
+  const expected = [
+    '?first=0'
+  ]
+
+  const ret = splitTemplate(template)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split template at hash', (t) => {
+  const template = 'http://example.com/{type}/all#content'
+  const expected = [
+    'http://example.com/',
+    '{type}',
+    '/all',
+    '#content'
+  ]
+
+  const ret = splitTemplate(template)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
+
+test('should split template at query string and hash', (t) => {
+  const template = 'http://example.com/{type}/all?first=20#content'
+  const expected = [
+    'http://example.com/',
+    '{type}',
+    '/all',
+    '?first=20',
+    '#content'
+  ]
+
+  const ret = splitTemplate(template)
+
+  t.deepEqual(ret, expected)
+})
diff --git a/lib/utils/splitTemplate.js b/lib/utils/splitTemplate.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..755e8eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/utils/splitTemplate.js
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+const returnSegment = (segment, rest = []) => {
+  let parts = [segment]
+
+  if (segment[0] !== '{') {
+    const match = segment.match(/^([^?#]+)?(\?[^#]+)?(#.+)?$/)
+    parts = match.slice(1)
+  }
+
+  return [...parts, ...rest]
+}
+
+const split = (template, open = true) => {
+  let index = -1
+  do {
+    index = template.indexOf((open) ? '{' : '}', index + 1)
+  } while (index !== -1 && template[index - 1] === '\\')
+
+  if (index === -1) {
+    return returnSegment(template)
+  }
+
+  const splitAt = (open) ? index : index + 1
+  const segment = template.substr(0, splitAt)
+  const rest = split(template.substr(splitAt), !open)
+
+  return returnSegment(segment, rest)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Split the given template into segments.
+ * @param {string} template - The template to split
+ * @returns {string[]} An array of string segments
+ */
+function splitTemplate (template) {
+  if (!template) {
+    return []
+  }
+  return split(template).filter((seg) => seg !== '' && seg !== undefined)
+}
+
+module.exports = splitTemplate