diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index cfb793d..f3960dc 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -225,7 +225,25 @@ int p2pool_test()
 static p2pool::Params get_params(int argc, char* argv[]) noexcept
 {
 	try {
-		p2pool::Params params(argc, argv);
+		std::vector<std::vector<std::string_view>> args;
+		args.reserve(argc);
+
+		// Group command-line parameters by the pattern "--name [data1 data2 ... data_n]"
+		// Each parameter starting with "--" can have 0 or more values attached to it
+		for (int i = 1; i < argc; ++i) {
+			std::string_view arg = argv[i];
+
+			if ((arg.size() > 2) && (arg[0] == '-') && (arg[1] == '-')) {
+				// Store the parameter name without the "--" prefix
+				arg.remove_prefix(2);
+				args.emplace_back(std::vector<std::string_view>(1, std::move(arg)));
+			}
+			else if (!args.empty()) {
+				args.back().emplace_back(std::move(arg));
+			}
+		}
+
+		p2pool::Params params(args);
 
 		if (params.valid()) {
 			return params;
@@ -246,7 +264,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	}
 
 	for (int i = 1; i < argc; ++i) {
-		if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--help") || !strcmp(argv[i], "/help") || !strcmp(argv[i], "-h") || !strcmp(argv[i], "/h")) {
+		if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--help") || !strcmp(argv[i], "/help") || !strcmp(argv[i], "-h") || !strcmp(argv[i], "/h") || !strcmp(argv[i], "/?")) {
 			p2pool_usage();
 			return 0;
 		}
@@ -261,6 +279,19 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 		}
 	}
 
+#if defined(_WIN32) && defined(_MSC_VER) && !defined(NDEBUG)
+	SymInitialize(GetCurrentProcess(), NULL, TRUE);
+#endif
+
+	__nss_module_disable_loading();
+
+	memory_tracking_start();
+
+	// Create the default libuv loop and initialize libuv here
+	// It will call the important stuff like WSAStartup and many other things
+	// Some P2Pool code will not work without libuv initialized, so the code above this line must be minimal
+	uv_default_loop();
+
 	const p2pool::Params params = get_params(argc, argv);
 
 	if (!params.m_dataDir.empty()) {
@@ -271,17 +302,6 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 		std::filesystem::create_directories(params.m_dataDir, err);
 	}
 
-#if defined(_WIN32) && defined(_MSC_VER) && !defined(NDEBUG)
-	SymInitialize(GetCurrentProcess(), NULL, TRUE);
-#endif
-
-	__nss_module_disable_loading();
-
-	memory_tracking_start();
-
-	// Create default loop here
-	uv_default_loop();
-
 	p2pool::log::start(params);
 
 	p2pool::init_crypto_cache();
diff --git a/src/params.cpp b/src/params.cpp
index 8e9c827..9279e46 100644
--- a/src/params.cpp
+++ b/src/params.cpp
@@ -30,13 +30,21 @@ namespace p2pool {
 static constexpr uint64_t MIN_STRATUM_BAN_TIME = UINT64_C(1);
 static constexpr uint64_t MAX_STRATUM_BAN_TIME = (UINT64_C(1) << 34) - 1;
 
-Params::Params(int argc, char* const argv[])
+Params::Params(const std::vector<std::vector<std::string_view>>& args)
 {
-	for (int i = 1; i < argc; ++i) {
+	auto has1 = [](const auto& v) { return (v.size() > 1) && !v[1].empty();};
+	auto has2 = [](const auto& v) { return (v.size() > 2) && !v[2].empty();};
+
+	for (const auto& arg : args) {
+		// Ignore empty parameters
+		if (arg.empty() || arg[0].empty()) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		bool ok = false;
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--host") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			const char* address = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "host") && has1(arg)) {
+			const char* address = arg[1].data();
 
 			if (m_hosts.empty()) {
 				m_hosts.emplace_back();
@@ -50,31 +58,31 @@ Params::Params(int argc, char* const argv[])
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--rpc-port") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
+		if ((arg[0] == "rpc-port") && has1(arg)) {
 			if (m_hosts.empty()) {
 				m_hosts.emplace_back();
 			}
 
-			m_hosts.back().m_rpcPort = static_cast<int32_t>(std::min(std::max(strtoul(argv[++i], nullptr, 10), 1UL), 65535UL));
+			m_hosts.back().m_rpcPort = static_cast<int32_t>(std::min(std::max(strtoul(arg[1].data(), nullptr, 10), 1UL), 65535UL));
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--zmq-port") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
+		if ((arg[0] == "zmq-port") && has1(arg)) {
 			if (m_hosts.empty()) {
 				m_hosts.emplace_back();
 			}
 
-			m_hosts.back().m_zmqPort = static_cast<int32_t>(std::min(std::max(strtoul(argv[++i], nullptr, 10), 1UL), 65535UL));
+			m_hosts.back().m_zmqPort = static_cast<int32_t>(std::min(std::max(strtoul(arg[1].data(), nullptr, 10), 1UL), 65535UL));
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--light-mode") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "light-mode") {
 			m_lightMode = true;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--wallet") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			const char* s = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "wallet") && has1(arg)) {
+			const char* s = arg[1].data();
 
 			if (!m_mainWallet.decode(s)) {
 				LOGERR(1, "Wallet " << s << " failed to decode");
@@ -83,8 +91,8 @@ Params::Params(int argc, char* const argv[])
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--subaddress") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			const char* s = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "subaddress") && has1(arg)) {
+			const char* s = arg[1].data();
 
 			if (!m_subaddress.decode(s)) {
 				LOGERR(1, "Subaddress " << s << " failed to decode");
@@ -93,115 +101,115 @@ Params::Params(int argc, char* const argv[])
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--stratum") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_stratumAddresses = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "stratum") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_stratumAddresses = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--stratum-ban-time") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_stratumBanTime = strtoull(argv[++i], nullptr, 10);
+		if ((arg[0] == "stratum-ban-time") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_stratumBanTime = strtoull(arg[1].data(), nullptr, 10);
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--p2p") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_p2pAddresses = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "p2p") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_p2pAddresses = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--addpeers") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_p2pPeerList = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "addpeers") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_p2pPeerList = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--loglevel") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			const int level = std::min(std::max<int>(static_cast<int>(strtol(argv[++i], nullptr, 10)), 0), log::MAX_GLOBAL_LOG_LEVEL);
+		if ((arg[0] == "loglevel") && has1(arg)) {
+			const int level = std::min(std::max<int>(static_cast<int>(strtol(arg[1].data(), nullptr, 10)), 0), log::MAX_GLOBAL_LOG_LEVEL);
 			log::GLOBAL_LOG_LEVEL = level;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--data-dir") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_dataDir = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "data-dir") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_dataDir = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--log-file") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_logFilePath = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "log-file") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_logFilePath = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--sidechain-config") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_sidechainConfig = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "sidechain-config") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_sidechainConfig = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--data-api") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_apiPath = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "data-api") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_apiPath = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--local-api") == 0) || (strcmp(argv[i], "--stratum-api") == 0)) {
+		if ((arg[0] == "local-api") || (arg[0] == "stratum-api")) {
 			m_localStats = true;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--no-cache") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "no-cache") {
 			m_blockCache = false;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--no-color") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "no-color") {
 			log::CONSOLE_COLORS = false;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
 #ifdef WITH_RANDOMX
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--no-randomx") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "no-randomx") {
 			m_disableRandomX = true;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 #endif
 
-		if ((!strcmp(argv[i], "--out-peers") || !strcmp(argv[i], "--outpeers")) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_maxOutgoingPeers = std::min(std::max(strtoul(argv[++i], nullptr, 10), 10UL), 450UL);
+		if (((arg[0] == "out-peers") || (arg[0] == "outpeers")) && has1(arg)) {
+			m_maxOutgoingPeers = std::min(std::max(strtoul(arg[1].data(), nullptr, 10), 10UL), 450UL);
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((!strcmp(argv[i], "--in-peers") || !strcmp(argv[i], "--inpeers")) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_maxIncomingPeers = std::min(std::max(strtoul(argv[++i], nullptr, 10), 10UL), 450UL);
+		if (((arg[0] == "in-peers") || (arg[0] == "inpeers")) && has1(arg)) {
+			m_maxIncomingPeers = std::min(std::max(strtoul(arg[1].data(), nullptr, 10), 10UL), 450UL);
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--start-mining") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_minerThreads = std::min(std::max(strtoul(argv[++i], nullptr, 10), 1UL), 64UL);
+		if ((arg[0] == "start-mining") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_minerThreads = std::min(std::max(strtoul(arg[1].data(), nullptr, 10), 1UL), 64UL);
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--mini") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "mini") {
 			m_mini = true;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--nano") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "nano") {
 			m_nano = true;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--no-autodiff") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "no-autodiff") {
 			m_autoDiff = false;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--rpc-login") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
+		if ((arg[0] == "rpc-login") && has1(arg)) {
 			if (m_hosts.empty()) {
 				m_hosts.emplace_back();
 			}
 
-			m_hosts.back().m_rpcLogin = argv[++i];
+			m_hosts.back().m_rpcLogin = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
 #ifdef WITH_TLS
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--rpc-ssl") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "rpc-ssl") {
 			if (m_hosts.empty()) {
 				m_hosts.emplace_back();
 			}
@@ -210,94 +218,90 @@ Params::Params(int argc, char* const argv[])
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--rpc-ssl-fingerprint") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
+		if ((arg[0] == "rpc-ssl-fingerprint") && has1(arg)) {
 			if (m_hosts.empty()) {
 				m_hosts.emplace_back();
 			}
 
-			m_hosts.back().m_rpcSSL_Fingerprint = argv[++i];
+			m_hosts.back().m_rpcSSL_Fingerprint = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 #endif
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--socks5") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_socks5Proxy = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "socks5") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_socks5Proxy = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--no-dns") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "no-dns") {
 			m_dns = false;
 			disable_resolve_host = true;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--p2p-external-port") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_p2pExternalPort = static_cast<int32_t>(std::min(std::max(strtoul(argv[++i], nullptr, 10), 1UL), 65535UL));
+		if ((arg[0] == "p2p-external-port") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_p2pExternalPort = static_cast<int32_t>(std::min(std::max(strtoul(arg[1].data(), nullptr, 10), 1UL), 65535UL));
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
 #ifdef WITH_UPNP
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--no-upnp") == 0) || (strcmp(argv[i], "--no-igd") == 0)) {
+		if ((arg[0] == "no-upnp") || (arg[0] == "no-igd")) {
 			m_upnp = false;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--upnp-stratum") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "upnp-stratum") {
 			m_upnpStratum = true;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 #endif
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--merge-mine") == 0) && (i + 2 < argc)) {
-			m_mergeMiningHosts.emplace_back(argv[i + 1], argv[i + 2]);
-			i += 2;
+		if ((arg[0] == "merge-mine") && has1(arg) && has2(arg)) {
+			m_mergeMiningHosts.emplace_back(arg[1], arg[2]);
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
 #ifdef WITH_TLS
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--tls-cert") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_tlsCert = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "tls-cert") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_tlsCert = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--tls-cert-key") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_tlsCertKey = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "tls-cert-key") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_tlsCertKey = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 #endif
 
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--no-stratum-http") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "no-stratum-http") {
 			m_enableStratumHTTP = false;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
 #ifdef WITH_MERGE_MINING_DONATION
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--adkf") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_authorKeyFile = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "adkf") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_authorKeyFile = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 #endif
 
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--full-validation") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "full-validation") {
 			m_enableFullValidation = true;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if ((strcmp(argv[i], "--onion-address") == 0) && (i + 1 < argc)) {
-			m_onionAddress = argv[++i];
+		if ((arg[0] == "onion-address") && has1(arg)) {
+			m_onionAddress = arg[1];
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
-		if (strcmp(argv[i], "--no-clearnet-p2p") == 0) {
+		if (arg[0] == "no-clearnet-p2p") {
 			m_noClearnetP2P = true;
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
 		if (!ok) {
-			// Wait to avoid log messages overlapping with printf() calls and making a mess on screen
-			std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(10));
-
-			fprintf(stderr, "Unknown command line parameter %s\n\n", argv[i]);
+			fprintf(stderr, "Unknown or invalid command line parameter \"%s\"\n\n", arg[0].data());
 			p2pool_usage();
 			throw std::exception();
 		}
diff --git a/src/params.h b/src/params.h
index 2c0af0e..340b466 100644
--- a/src/params.h
+++ b/src/params.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ struct Params
 	FORCEINLINE Params() {}
 #endif
 
-	Params(int argc, char* const argv[]);
+	Params(const std::vector<std::vector<std::string_view>>& args);
 
 	bool valid() const;
 
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ struct Params
 
 	struct MergeMiningHost
 	{
-		MergeMiningHost(const char* host, const char* wallet) : m_host(host), m_wallet(wallet) {}
+		template<typename T>
+		FORCEINLINE MergeMiningHost(const T& host, const T& wallet) : m_host(host), m_wallet(wallet) {}
 
 		std::string m_host;
 		std::string m_wallet;