diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index cd3671605..1c6c72668 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ rusqlite = { version = "0.19", features = ["bundled"] }
 addr = "0.2.0"
 r2d2_sqlite = "0.11.0"
 r2d2 = "0.8.5"
+strum = "0.15.0"
+strum_macros = "0.15.0"
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 tempfile = "3.0"
diff --git a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
index a82aa51b4..527c37c44 100644
--- a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
+++ b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_set_config(
     assert!(!key.is_null(), "invalid key");
     let context = &*context;
 
-    context::dc_set_config(context, dc_tools::as_str(key), as_opt_str(value))
+    config::set(context, dc_tools::as_str(key), as_opt_str(value))
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_get_config(
     assert!(!key.is_null(), "invalid key");
     let context = &*context;
 
-    into_cstring(context::dc_get_config(context, dc_tools::as_str(key)))
+    into_cstring(config::get(context, dc_tools::as_str(key)))
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
diff --git a/examples/repl/cmdline.rs b/examples/repl/cmdline.rs
index 5182d7005..3b5d4ee91 100644
--- a/examples/repl/cmdline.rs
+++ b/examples/repl/cmdline.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use deltachat::config;
 use deltachat::constants::*;
 use deltachat::context::*;
 use deltachat::dc_array::*;
@@ -481,7 +482,7 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_cmdline(context: &Context, line: &str) -> Result<(), failure::E
         },
         "auth" => {
             if 0 == S_IS_AUTH {
-                let is_pw = dc_get_config(context, "mail_pw");
+                let is_pw = config::get(context, "mail_pw");
                 if arg1 == is_pw {
                     S_IS_AUTH = 1;
                 } else {
@@ -602,13 +603,13 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_cmdline(context: &Context, line: &str) -> Result<(), failure::E
         "set" => {
             ensure!(!arg1.is_empty(), "Argument <key> missing.");
             ensure!(
-                0 != dc_set_config(context, &arg1, Some(&arg2)),
+                0 != config::set(context, &arg1, Some(&arg2)),
                 "Set config failed"
             );
         }
         "get" => {
             ensure!(!arg1.is_empty(), "Argument <key> missing.");
-            let val = dc_get_config(context, &arg1);
+            let val = config::get(context, &arg1);
             println!("{}={}", arg1, val);
         }
         "info" => {
diff --git a/examples/repl/main.rs b/examples/repl/main.rs
index 3e42a2aaa..5d887670b 100644
--- a/examples/repl/main.rs
+++ b/examples/repl/main.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use std::borrow::Cow::{self, Borrowed, Owned};
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, RwLock};
 
+use deltachat::config;
 use deltachat::constants::*;
 use deltachat::context::*;
 use deltachat::dc_configure::*;
@@ -514,7 +515,7 @@ unsafe fn handle_cmd(line: &str, ctx: Arc<RwLock<Context>>) -> Result<ExitResult
             dc_configure(&ctx.read().unwrap());
         }
         "oauth2" => {
-            let addr = dc_get_config(&ctx.read().unwrap(), "addr");
+            let addr = config::get(&ctx.read().unwrap(), "addr");
             if addr.is_empty() {
                 println!("oauth2: set addr first.");
             } else {
diff --git a/examples/simple.rs b/examples/simple.rs
index a7a03df9e..5a5acbaa9 100644
--- a/examples/simple.rs
+++ b/examples/simple.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use std::sync::{Arc, RwLock};
 use std::{thread, time};
 use tempfile::tempdir;
 
+use deltachat::config;
 use deltachat::constants::Event;
 use deltachat::context::*;
 use deltachat::dc_chat::*;
@@ -85,8 +86,8 @@ fn main() {
         let args = std::env::args().collect::<Vec<String>>();
         assert_eq!(args.len(), 2, "missing password");
         let pw = args[1].clone();
-        dc_set_config(&ctx, "addr", Some("d@testrun.org"));
-        dc_set_config(&ctx, "mail_pw", Some(&pw));
+        config::set(&ctx, "addr", Some("d@testrun.org"));
+        config::set(&ctx, "mail_pw", Some(&pw));
         dc_configure(&ctx);
 
         thread::sleep(duration);
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..356a392b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,212 @@
+use std::str::FromStr;
+
+use strum::{EnumProperty, IntoEnumIterator};
+use strum_macros::{AsRefStr, Display, EnumIter, EnumProperty, EnumString};
+
+use crate::constants::DC_VERSION_STR;
+use crate::context::Context;
+use crate::dc_job::*;
+use crate::dc_stock::*;
+use crate::dc_tools::*;
+use crate::sql;
+use crate::x::*;
+
+/// The available configuration keys.
+#[derive(
+    Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Display, EnumString, AsRefStr, EnumIter, EnumProperty,
+)]
+#[strum(serialize_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum Config {
+    Addr,
+    MailServer,
+    MailUser,
+    MailPw,
+    MailPort,
+    SendServer,
+    SendUser,
+    SendPw,
+    SendPort,
+    ServerFlags,
+    #[strum(props(default = "INBOX"))]
+    ImapFolder,
+    Displayname,
+    Selfstatus,
+    Selfavatar,
+    #[strum(props(default = "1"))]
+    E2eeEnabled,
+    #[strum(props(default = "1"))]
+    MdnsEnabled,
+    InboxWatch,
+    #[strum(props(default = "1"))]
+    SentboxWatch,
+    #[strum(props(default = "1"))]
+    MvboxWatch,
+    #[strum(props(default = "1"))]
+    MvboxMove,
+    #[strum(props(default = "0"))]
+    ShowEmails,
+    SaveMimeHeaders,
+    ConfiguredAddr,
+    ConfiguredMailServer,
+    ConfiguredMailUser,
+    ConfiguredMailPw,
+    ConfiguredMailPort,
+    ConfiguredSendServer,
+    ConfiguredSendUser,
+    ConfiguredSendPw,
+    ConfiguredSendPort,
+    ConfiguredServerFlags,
+    Configured,
+}
+
+// deprecated
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Display, EnumString, AsRefStr, EnumIter)]
+pub enum SysConfig {
+    #[strum(serialize = "sys.version")]
+    Version,
+    #[strum(serialize = "sys.msgsize_max_recommended")]
+    MsgsizeMaxRecommended,
+    #[strum(serialize = "sys.config_keys")]
+    ConfigKeys,
+}
+
+/// Get a configuration key.
+/// Returns "" when the key is invalid, or no default was found.
+pub fn get(context: &Context, key: impl AsRef<str>) -> String {
+    let key = key.as_ref();
+
+    if key.starts_with("sys.") {
+        return get_sys_config_str(key);
+    }
+
+    match Config::from_str(key) {
+        Ok(config_key) => {
+            let value = match config_key {
+                Config::Selfavatar => {
+                    let rel_path = sql::get_config(context, &context.sql, key, None);
+                    rel_path.map(|p| {
+                        let v = unsafe { dc_get_abs_path(context, to_cstring(p).as_ptr()) };
+                        let r = to_string(v);
+                        unsafe { free(v as *mut _) };
+                        r
+                    })
+                }
+                _ => sql::get_config(context, &context.sql, key, None),
+            };
+
+            if value.is_some() {
+                return value.unwrap();
+            }
+
+            // Default values
+            match config_key {
+                Config::Selfstatus => {
+                    let s = unsafe { dc_stock_str(context, 13) };
+                    let res = to_string(s);
+                    unsafe { free(s as *mut _) };
+                    res
+                }
+                _ => config_key
+                    .get_str("default")
+                    .unwrap_or_default()
+                    .to_string(),
+            }
+        }
+        Err(_) => "".into(),
+    }
+}
+
+fn get_sys_config_str(key: impl AsRef<str>) -> String {
+    match SysConfig::from_str(key.as_ref()) {
+        Ok(SysConfig::Version) => std::str::from_utf8(DC_VERSION_STR).unwrap().into(),
+        Ok(SysConfig::MsgsizeMaxRecommended) => format!("{}", 24 * 1024 * 1024 / 4 * 3),
+        Ok(SysConfig::ConfigKeys) => get_config_keys_str(),
+        Err(_) => "".into(),
+    }
+}
+
+fn get_config_keys_str() -> String {
+    let keys = Config::iter().fold(String::new(), |mut acc, key| {
+        acc += key.as_ref();
+        acc += " ";
+        acc
+    });
+
+    let sys_keys = SysConfig::iter().fold(String::new(), |mut acc, key| {
+        acc += key.as_ref();
+        acc += " ";
+        acc
+    });
+
+    format!(" {} {} ", keys, sys_keys)
+}
+
+/// Set the given config key.
+/// Returns `1` on success and `0` on failure.
+pub fn set(context: &Context, key: impl AsRef<str>, value: Option<&str>) -> libc::c_int {
+    let mut ret = 0;
+
+    // regular keys
+    match Config::from_str(key.as_ref()) {
+        Ok(Config::Selfavatar) if value.is_some() => {
+            let mut rel_path = unsafe { dc_strdup(to_cstring(value.unwrap()).as_ptr()) };
+            if 0 != unsafe { dc_make_rel_and_copy(context, &mut rel_path) } {
+                ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, Some(as_str(rel_path)));
+            }
+            unsafe { free(rel_path as *mut libc::c_void) };
+        }
+        Ok(Config::InboxWatch) => {
+            ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, value);
+            unsafe { dc_interrupt_imap_idle(context) };
+        }
+        Ok(Config::SentboxWatch) => {
+            ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, value);
+            unsafe { dc_interrupt_sentbox_idle(context) };
+        }
+        Ok(Config::MvboxWatch) => {
+            ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, value);
+            unsafe { dc_interrupt_mvbox_idle(context) };
+        }
+        Ok(Config::Selfstatus) => {
+            let def = unsafe { dc_stock_str(context, 13) };
+            let val = if value.is_none() || value.unwrap() == as_str(def) {
+                None
+            } else {
+                value
+            };
+
+            ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, val);
+            unsafe { free(def as *mut libc::c_void) };
+        }
+        Ok(_) => {
+            ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, value);
+        }
+        Err(_) => {}
+    }
+    ret
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    use std::str::FromStr;
+    use std::string::ToString;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_to_string() {
+        assert_eq!(Config::MailServer.to_string(), "mail_server");
+        assert_eq!(Config::from_str("mail_server"), Ok(Config::MailServer));
+
+        assert_eq!(SysConfig::ConfigKeys.to_string(), "sys.config_keys");
+        assert_eq!(
+            SysConfig::from_str("sys.config_keys"),
+            Ok(SysConfig::ConfigKeys)
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_default_prop() {
+        assert_eq!(Config::ImapFolder.get_str("default"), Some("INBOX"));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/context.rs b/src/context.rs
index 3496e2b6d..0d7304ae4 100644
--- a/src/context.rs
+++ b/src/context.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ use crate::dc_lot::dc_lot_t;
 use crate::dc_move::*;
 use crate::dc_msg::*;
 use crate::dc_receive_imf::*;
-use crate::dc_stock::*;
 use crate::dc_tools::*;
 use crate::imap::*;
 use crate::key::*;
@@ -20,49 +19,6 @@ use crate::sql::{self, Sql};
 use crate::types::*;
 use crate::x::*;
 
-const CONFIG_KEYS: [&'static str; 33] = [
-    "addr",
-    "mail_server",
-    "mail_user",
-    "mail_pw",
-    "mail_port",
-    "send_server",
-    "send_user",
-    "send_pw",
-    "send_port",
-    "server_flags",
-    "imap_folder",
-    "displayname",
-    "selfstatus",
-    "selfavatar",
-    "e2ee_enabled",
-    "mdns_enabled",
-    "inbox_watch",
-    "sentbox_watch",
-    "mvbox_watch",
-    "mvbox_move",
-    "show_emails",
-    "save_mime_headers",
-    "configured_addr",
-    "configured_mail_server",
-    "configured_mail_user",
-    "configured_mail_pw",
-    "configured_mail_port",
-    "configured_send_server",
-    "configured_send_user",
-    "configured_send_pw",
-    "configured_send_port",
-    "configured_server_flags",
-    "configured",
-];
-
-// deprecated
-const SYS_CONFIG_KEYS: [&'static str; 3] = [
-    "sys.version",
-    "sys.msgsize_max_recommended",
-    "sys.config_keys",
-];
-
 #[repr(C)]
 pub struct Context {
     pub userdata: *mut libc::c_void,
@@ -412,129 +368,10 @@ pub unsafe fn dc_get_blobdir(context: &Context) -> *mut libc::c_char {
     dc_strdup(*context.blobdir.clone().read().unwrap())
 }
 
-pub fn dc_set_config(context: &Context, key: impl AsRef<str>, value: Option<&str>) -> libc::c_int {
-    let mut ret = 0;
-
-    if !is_settable_config_key(key.as_ref()) {
-        return 0;
-    }
-
-    match key.as_ref() {
-        "selfavatar" if value.is_some() => {
-            let mut rel_path = unsafe { dc_strdup(to_cstring(value.unwrap()).as_ptr()) };
-            if 0 != unsafe { dc_make_rel_and_copy(context, &mut rel_path) } {
-                ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, Some(as_str(rel_path)));
-            }
-            unsafe { free(rel_path as *mut libc::c_void) };
-        }
-        "inbox_watch" => {
-            ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, value);
-            unsafe { dc_interrupt_imap_idle(context) };
-        }
-        "sentbox_watch" => {
-            ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, value);
-            unsafe { dc_interrupt_sentbox_idle(context) };
-        }
-        "mvbox_watch" => {
-            ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, value);
-            unsafe { dc_interrupt_mvbox_idle(context) };
-        }
-        "selfstatus" => {
-            let def = unsafe { dc_stock_str(context, 13) };
-            let val = if value.is_none() || value.unwrap() == as_str(def) {
-                None
-            } else {
-                value
-            };
-
-            ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, val);
-            unsafe { free(def as *mut libc::c_void) };
-        }
-        _ => {
-            ret = sql::set_config(context, &context.sql, key, value);
-        }
-    }
-    ret
-}
-
 /* ******************************************************************************
  * INI-handling, Information
  ******************************************************************************/
 
-fn is_settable_config_key(key: impl AsRef<str>) -> bool {
-    CONFIG_KEYS
-        .into_iter()
-        .find(|c| **c == key.as_ref())
-        .is_some()
-}
-
-pub fn dc_get_config(context: &Context, key: impl AsRef<str>) -> String {
-    if key.as_ref().starts_with("sys") {
-        return get_sys_config_str(key.as_ref());
-    }
-
-    if !is_gettable_config_key(key.as_ref()) {
-        return "".into();
-    }
-
-    let value = match key.as_ref() {
-        "selfavatar" => {
-            let rel_path = sql::get_config(context, &context.sql, key.as_ref(), None);
-            rel_path.map(|p| {
-                let v = unsafe { dc_get_abs_path(context, to_cstring(p).as_ptr()) };
-                let r = to_string(v);
-                unsafe { free(v as *mut _) };
-                r
-            })
-        }
-        _ => sql::get_config(context, &context.sql, key.as_ref(), None),
-    };
-
-    if value.is_some() {
-        return value.unwrap();
-    }
-
-    match key.as_ref() {
-        "e2ee_enabled" => "1".into(),
-        "mdns_enabled" => "1".into(),
-        "imap_folder" => "INBOX".into(),
-        "inbox_watch" => "1".into(),
-        "sentbox_watch" | "mvbox_watch" | "mvbox_move" => "1".into(),
-        "show_emails" => "0".into(),
-        "selfstatus" => {
-            let s = unsafe { dc_stock_str(context, 13) };
-            let res = to_string(s);
-            unsafe { free(s as *mut _) };
-            res
-        }
-        _ => "".into(),
-    }
-}
-
-fn is_gettable_config_key(key: impl AsRef<str>) -> bool {
-    SYS_CONFIG_KEYS
-        .into_iter()
-        .find(|c| **c == key.as_ref())
-        .is_some()
-        || is_settable_config_key(key)
-}
-
-fn get_sys_config_str(key: impl AsRef<str>) -> String {
-    match key.as_ref() {
-        "sys.version" => std::str::from_utf8(DC_VERSION_STR).unwrap().into(),
-        "sys.msgsize_max_recommended" => format!("{}", 24 * 1024 * 1024 / 4 * 3),
-        "sys.config_keys" => get_config_keys_str(),
-        _ => "".into(),
-    }
-}
-
-fn get_config_keys_str() -> String {
-    let keys = &CONFIG_KEYS[..].join(" ");
-    let sys_keys = &SYS_CONFIG_KEYS[..].join(" ");
-
-    format!(" {} {} ", keys, sys_keys)
-}
-
 pub unsafe fn dc_get_info(context: &Context) -> *mut libc::c_char {
     let unset = "0";
     let l = dc_loginparam_read(context, &context.sql, "");
diff --git a/src/dc_contact.rs b/src/dc_contact.rs
index 93f3a9942..ab249c719 100644
--- a/src/dc_contact.rs
+++ b/src/dc_contact.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::aheader::EncryptPreference;
+use crate::config;
 use crate::constants::Event;
 use crate::context::Context;
-use crate::context::*;
 use crate::dc_array::*;
 use crate::dc_e2ee::*;
 use crate::dc_loginparam::*;
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ pub fn dc_contact_get_profile_image(contact: *const dc_contact_t) -> *mut libc::
     }
 
     if unsafe { (*contact).id } == 1 {
-        let avatar = dc_get_config(unsafe { (*contact).context }, "selfavatar");
+        let avatar = config::get(unsafe { (*contact).context }, "selfavatar");
         if !avatar.is_empty() {
             image_abs = unsafe { dc_strdup(to_cstring(avatar).as_ptr()) };
         }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 354fec256..13ec3304b 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ extern crate rusqlite;
 mod log;
 
 pub mod aheader;
+pub mod config;
 pub mod constants;
 pub mod context;
 pub mod error;
diff --git a/tests/stress.rs b/tests/stress.rs
index 6291e4735..02b9c9375 100644
--- a/tests/stress.rs
+++ b/tests/stress.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use std::ffi::CString;
 use mmime::mailimf_types::*;
 use tempfile::{tempdir, TempDir};
 
+use deltachat::config;
 use deltachat::constants::*;
 use deltachat::context::*;
 use deltachat::dc_array::*;
@@ -247,7 +248,7 @@ unsafe fn stress_functions(context: &Context) {
         free(fn1 as *mut libc::c_void);
     }
 
-    let res = dc_get_config(context, "sys.config_keys");
+    let res = config::get(context, "sys.config_keys");
 
     assert!(!res.contains(" probably_never_a_key "));
     assert!(res.contains(" addr "));