diff --git a/Config.h b/Config.h
index c010671b5..82c17d63a 100644
--- a/Config.h
+++ b/Config.h
@@ -235,11 +235,11 @@
 #define BB_FEATURE_SH_STANDALONE_SHELL
 //
 //When this is enabled, busybox shell builtins can be called using full path
-//names.  This causes builtins (which includes every single busybox command
-//when you enable BB_FEATURE_SH_STANDALONE_SHELL) to override real commands on
-//the filesystem.  When this is enabled, if you run /bin/cat, it will use
-//BusyBox cat even if /bin/cat exists on the filesystem and is _not_ busybox.
-//Some systems want this, others do not.  Choose wisely.  :-)
+//names.  This causes builtins (i.e. every single busybox command) to override
+//real commands on the filesystem.  For example, if you run run /bin/cat, it
+//will use BusyBox cat even if /bin/cat exists on the filesystem and is _not_
+//busybox.  Some systems want this, others do not.  Choose wisely.  :-) This
+//only has meaning when BB_FEATURE_SH_STANDALONE_SHELL is enabled.
 //BB_FEATURE_SH_BUILTINS_ALWAYS_WIN
 //
 // Enable tab completion in the shell (not yet 
diff --git a/applets/busybox.c b/applets/busybox.c
index d356e4cae..0a3333d99 100644
--- a/applets/busybox.c
+++ b/applets/busybox.c
@@ -81,14 +81,6 @@ static void install_links(const char *busybox, int use_symbolic_links)
 
 #endif /* BB_FEATURE_INSTALLER */
 
-static int applet_name_compare(const void *x, const void *y)
-{
-	const struct BB_applet *applet1 = x;
-	const struct BB_applet *applet2 = y;
-
-	return strcmp(applet1->name, applet2->name);
-}
-
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	struct BB_applet search_applet, *applet;
diff --git a/busybox.c b/busybox.c
index d356e4cae..0a3333d99 100644
--- a/busybox.c
+++ b/busybox.c
@@ -81,14 +81,6 @@ static void install_links(const char *busybox, int use_symbolic_links)
 
 #endif /* BB_FEATURE_INSTALLER */
 
-static int applet_name_compare(const void *x, const void *y)
-{
-	const struct BB_applet *applet1 = x;
-	const struct BB_applet *applet2 = y;
-
-	return strcmp(applet1->name, applet2->name);
-}
-
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	struct BB_applet search_applet, *applet;
diff --git a/busybox.h b/busybox.h
index d947ba328..2bc1c997e 100644
--- a/busybox.h
+++ b/busybox.h
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ struct BB_applet {
 /* From busybox.c */
 extern const struct BB_applet applets[];
 
+extern int applet_name_compare(const void *x, const void *y);
+
 extern int ar_main(int argc, char **argv);
 extern int basename_main(int argc, char **argv);
 extern int bogomips_main(int argc, char **argv);
diff --git a/include/busybox.h b/include/busybox.h
index d947ba328..2bc1c997e 100644
--- a/include/busybox.h
+++ b/include/busybox.h
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ struct BB_applet {
 /* From busybox.c */
 extern const struct BB_applet applets[];
 
+extern int applet_name_compare(const void *x, const void *y);
+
 extern int ar_main(int argc, char **argv);
 extern int basename_main(int argc, char **argv);
 extern int bogomips_main(int argc, char **argv);
diff --git a/lash.c b/lash.c
index d6ac1fc17..1e0803f77 100644
--- a/lash.c
+++ b/lash.c
@@ -1152,7 +1152,7 @@ static int runCommand(struct job *newJob, struct jobSet *jobList, int inBg, int
 	int pipefds[2];				/* pipefd[0] is for reading */
 	struct builtInCommand *x;
 #ifdef BB_FEATURE_SH_STANDALONE_SHELL
-	const struct BB_applet *a = applets;
+	struct BB_applet search_applet, *applet = applets;
 #endif
 
 	nextin = 0, nextout = 1;
@@ -1214,40 +1214,44 @@ static int runCommand(struct job *newJob, struct jobSet *jobList, int inBg, int
 				}
 			}
 #ifdef BB_FEATURE_SH_STANDALONE_SHELL
-			/* Check if the command matches any busybox internal commands here */
-			while (a->name != 0) {
+			/* Check if the command matches any busybox internal
+			 * commands ("applets") here.  Following discussions from
+			 * November 2000 on busybox@opensource.lineo.com, don't use
+			 * get_last_path_component().  This way explicit (with
+			 * slashes) filenames will never be interpreted as an
+			 * applet, just like with builtins.  This way the user can
+			 * override an applet with an explicit filename reference.
+			 * The only downside to this change is that an explicit
+			 * /bin/foo invocation fill fork and exec /bin/foo, even if
+			 * /bin/foo is a symlink to busybox.
+			 */
+			search_applet.name = newJob->progs[i].argv[0];
+
 #ifdef BB_FEATURE_SH_BUILTINS_ALWAYS_WIN
-				if (strcmp(get_last_path_component(newJob->progs[i].argv[0]),
-							a->name) == 0) 
-#else
-					/* Check if the command matches any busybox internal
-					 * commands ("applets") here.  Following discussions from
-					 * November 2000 on busybox@opensource.lineo.com, don't use
-					 * get_last_path_component().  This way explicit (with
-					 * slashes) filenames will never be interpreted as an
-					 * applet, just like with builtins.  This way the user can
-					 * override an applet with an explicit filename reference.
-					 * The only downside to this change is that an explicit
-					 * /bin/foo invocation fill fork and exec /bin/foo, even if
-					 * /bin/foo is a symlink to busybox.
-					*/
-				if (strcmp(newJob->progs[i].argv[0], a->name) == 0) 
+			/* If you enable BB_FEATURE_SH_BUILTINS_ALWAYS_WIN, then
+			 * if you run /bin/cat, it will use BusyBox cat even if 
+			 * /bin/cat exists on the filesystem and is _not_ busybox.
+			 * Some systems want this, others do not.  Choose wisely.  :-)
+			 */
+			search_applet.name = get_last_path_component(search_applet.name);
 #endif
-				{
-					int argc_l;
-					char** argv=newJob->progs[i].argv;
-					for(argc_l=0;*argv!=NULL; argv++, argc_l++);
-					applet_name=a->name;
-					optind = 1;
-					exit((*(a->main)) (argc_l, newJob->progs[i].argv));
-				}
-				a++;
+
+			/* Do a binary search to find the applet entry given the name. */
+			applet = bsearch(&search_applet, applets, NUM_APPLETS,
+					sizeof(struct BB_applet), applet_name_compare);
+			if (applet != NULL) {
+				int argc_l;
+				char** argv=newJob->progs[i].argv;
+				for(argc_l=0;*argv!=NULL; argv++, argc_l++);
+				applet_name=applet->name;
+				optind = 1;
+				exit((*(applet->main)) (argc_l, newJob->progs[i].argv));
 			}
 #endif
 
 			execvp(newJob->progs[i].argv[0], newJob->progs[i].argv);
 			fatalError("%s: %s\n", newJob->progs[i].argv[0],
-					   strerror(errno));
+					strerror(errno));
 		}
 		if (outPipe[1]!=-1) {
 			close(outPipe[1]);
diff --git a/sh.c b/sh.c
index d6ac1fc17..1e0803f77 100644
--- a/sh.c
+++ b/sh.c
@@ -1152,7 +1152,7 @@ static int runCommand(struct job *newJob, struct jobSet *jobList, int inBg, int
 	int pipefds[2];				/* pipefd[0] is for reading */
 	struct builtInCommand *x;
 #ifdef BB_FEATURE_SH_STANDALONE_SHELL
-	const struct BB_applet *a = applets;
+	struct BB_applet search_applet, *applet = applets;
 #endif
 
 	nextin = 0, nextout = 1;
@@ -1214,40 +1214,44 @@ static int runCommand(struct job *newJob, struct jobSet *jobList, int inBg, int
 				}
 			}
 #ifdef BB_FEATURE_SH_STANDALONE_SHELL
-			/* Check if the command matches any busybox internal commands here */
-			while (a->name != 0) {
+			/* Check if the command matches any busybox internal
+			 * commands ("applets") here.  Following discussions from
+			 * November 2000 on busybox@opensource.lineo.com, don't use
+			 * get_last_path_component().  This way explicit (with
+			 * slashes) filenames will never be interpreted as an
+			 * applet, just like with builtins.  This way the user can
+			 * override an applet with an explicit filename reference.
+			 * The only downside to this change is that an explicit
+			 * /bin/foo invocation fill fork and exec /bin/foo, even if
+			 * /bin/foo is a symlink to busybox.
+			 */
+			search_applet.name = newJob->progs[i].argv[0];
+
 #ifdef BB_FEATURE_SH_BUILTINS_ALWAYS_WIN
-				if (strcmp(get_last_path_component(newJob->progs[i].argv[0]),
-							a->name) == 0) 
-#else
-					/* Check if the command matches any busybox internal
-					 * commands ("applets") here.  Following discussions from
-					 * November 2000 on busybox@opensource.lineo.com, don't use
-					 * get_last_path_component().  This way explicit (with
-					 * slashes) filenames will never be interpreted as an
-					 * applet, just like with builtins.  This way the user can
-					 * override an applet with an explicit filename reference.
-					 * The only downside to this change is that an explicit
-					 * /bin/foo invocation fill fork and exec /bin/foo, even if
-					 * /bin/foo is a symlink to busybox.
-					*/
-				if (strcmp(newJob->progs[i].argv[0], a->name) == 0) 
+			/* If you enable BB_FEATURE_SH_BUILTINS_ALWAYS_WIN, then
+			 * if you run /bin/cat, it will use BusyBox cat even if 
+			 * /bin/cat exists on the filesystem and is _not_ busybox.
+			 * Some systems want this, others do not.  Choose wisely.  :-)
+			 */
+			search_applet.name = get_last_path_component(search_applet.name);
 #endif
-				{
-					int argc_l;
-					char** argv=newJob->progs[i].argv;
-					for(argc_l=0;*argv!=NULL; argv++, argc_l++);
-					applet_name=a->name;
-					optind = 1;
-					exit((*(a->main)) (argc_l, newJob->progs[i].argv));
-				}
-				a++;
+
+			/* Do a binary search to find the applet entry given the name. */
+			applet = bsearch(&search_applet, applets, NUM_APPLETS,
+					sizeof(struct BB_applet), applet_name_compare);
+			if (applet != NULL) {
+				int argc_l;
+				char** argv=newJob->progs[i].argv;
+				for(argc_l=0;*argv!=NULL; argv++, argc_l++);
+				applet_name=applet->name;
+				optind = 1;
+				exit((*(applet->main)) (argc_l, newJob->progs[i].argv));
 			}
 #endif
 
 			execvp(newJob->progs[i].argv[0], newJob->progs[i].argv);
 			fatalError("%s: %s\n", newJob->progs[i].argv[0],
-					   strerror(errno));
+					strerror(errno));
 		}
 		if (outPipe[1]!=-1) {
 			close(outPipe[1]);
diff --git a/shell/lash.c b/shell/lash.c
index d6ac1fc17..1e0803f77 100644
--- a/shell/lash.c
+++ b/shell/lash.c
@@ -1152,7 +1152,7 @@ static int runCommand(struct job *newJob, struct jobSet *jobList, int inBg, int
 	int pipefds[2];				/* pipefd[0] is for reading */
 	struct builtInCommand *x;
 #ifdef BB_FEATURE_SH_STANDALONE_SHELL
-	const struct BB_applet *a = applets;
+	struct BB_applet search_applet, *applet = applets;
 #endif
 
 	nextin = 0, nextout = 1;
@@ -1214,40 +1214,44 @@ static int runCommand(struct job *newJob, struct jobSet *jobList, int inBg, int
 				}
 			}
 #ifdef BB_FEATURE_SH_STANDALONE_SHELL
-			/* Check if the command matches any busybox internal commands here */
-			while (a->name != 0) {
+			/* Check if the command matches any busybox internal
+			 * commands ("applets") here.  Following discussions from
+			 * November 2000 on busybox@opensource.lineo.com, don't use
+			 * get_last_path_component().  This way explicit (with
+			 * slashes) filenames will never be interpreted as an
+			 * applet, just like with builtins.  This way the user can
+			 * override an applet with an explicit filename reference.
+			 * The only downside to this change is that an explicit
+			 * /bin/foo invocation fill fork and exec /bin/foo, even if
+			 * /bin/foo is a symlink to busybox.
+			 */
+			search_applet.name = newJob->progs[i].argv[0];
+
 #ifdef BB_FEATURE_SH_BUILTINS_ALWAYS_WIN
-				if (strcmp(get_last_path_component(newJob->progs[i].argv[0]),
-							a->name) == 0) 
-#else
-					/* Check if the command matches any busybox internal
-					 * commands ("applets") here.  Following discussions from
-					 * November 2000 on busybox@opensource.lineo.com, don't use
-					 * get_last_path_component().  This way explicit (with
-					 * slashes) filenames will never be interpreted as an
-					 * applet, just like with builtins.  This way the user can
-					 * override an applet with an explicit filename reference.
-					 * The only downside to this change is that an explicit
-					 * /bin/foo invocation fill fork and exec /bin/foo, even if
-					 * /bin/foo is a symlink to busybox.
-					*/
-				if (strcmp(newJob->progs[i].argv[0], a->name) == 0) 
+			/* If you enable BB_FEATURE_SH_BUILTINS_ALWAYS_WIN, then
+			 * if you run /bin/cat, it will use BusyBox cat even if 
+			 * /bin/cat exists on the filesystem and is _not_ busybox.
+			 * Some systems want this, others do not.  Choose wisely.  :-)
+			 */
+			search_applet.name = get_last_path_component(search_applet.name);
 #endif
-				{
-					int argc_l;
-					char** argv=newJob->progs[i].argv;
-					for(argc_l=0;*argv!=NULL; argv++, argc_l++);
-					applet_name=a->name;
-					optind = 1;
-					exit((*(a->main)) (argc_l, newJob->progs[i].argv));
-				}
-				a++;
+
+			/* Do a binary search to find the applet entry given the name. */
+			applet = bsearch(&search_applet, applets, NUM_APPLETS,
+					sizeof(struct BB_applet), applet_name_compare);
+			if (applet != NULL) {
+				int argc_l;
+				char** argv=newJob->progs[i].argv;
+				for(argc_l=0;*argv!=NULL; argv++, argc_l++);
+				applet_name=applet->name;
+				optind = 1;
+				exit((*(applet->main)) (argc_l, newJob->progs[i].argv));
 			}
 #endif
 
 			execvp(newJob->progs[i].argv[0], newJob->progs[i].argv);
 			fatalError("%s: %s\n", newJob->progs[i].argv[0],
-					   strerror(errno));
+					strerror(errno));
 		}
 		if (outPipe[1]!=-1) {
 			close(outPipe[1]);
diff --git a/utility.c b/utility.c
index e79e44136..c23ebcd96 100644
--- a/utility.c
+++ b/utility.c
@@ -1775,6 +1775,14 @@ FILE *xfopen(const char *path, const char *mode)
 }
 #endif
 
+int applet_name_compare(const void *x, const void *y)
+{
+	const struct BB_applet *applet1 = x;
+	const struct BB_applet *applet2 = y;
+
+	return strcmp(applet1->name, applet2->name);
+}
+
 /* END CODE */
 /*
 Local Variables: