diff --git a/common/list.c b/common/list.c
index 66d52f700..bd9abcd82 100644
--- a/common/list.c
+++ b/common/list.c
@@ -147,3 +147,61 @@ void list_stable_sort(list_t *list, int compare(const void *a, const void *b)) {
 		list_inplace_sort(list, 0, list->length - 1, compare);
 	}
 }
+
+void list_sortedset_insert(list_t *list, void *item,
+		int compare(const void *item_left, const void *item_right),
+		void *replace(void *old_item, void* new_item)) {
+	if (list->length <= 0) {
+		list_add(list, item);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	size_t lower = 0;
+	size_t upper = (size_t)list->length - 1;
+	while (lower <= upper && upper != (size_t)-1) {
+		size_t div = (lower + upper) / 2;
+		int cv = compare(list->items[div], item);
+		if (cv < 0) {
+			lower = div + 1;
+		} else if (cv > 0) {
+			upper = div - 1;
+		} else {
+			list->items[div] = replace(list->items[div], item);
+			return;
+		}
+	}
+	list_insert(list, lower, item);
+}
+
+int list_sortedset_find(list_t *list,
+		int compare(const void *item, const void *cmp_to),
+		const void *cmp_to) {
+	if (list->length <= 0) {
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	size_t lower = 0;
+	size_t upper = (size_t)list->length - 1;
+	while (lower <= upper && upper != (size_t)-1) {
+		size_t div = (lower + upper) / 2;
+		int cv = compare(list->items[div], cmp_to);
+		if (cv < 0) {
+			lower = div + 1;
+		} else if (cv > 0) {
+			upper = div - 1;
+		} else {
+			return div;
+		}
+	}
+	return -1;
+}
+
+int list_is_sortedset(list_t *list,
+		int compare(const void *left, const void *right)) {
+	for (size_t i = 1; i < (size_t)list->length; i++) {
+		if (compare(list->items[i - 1], list->items[i]) >= 0) {
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
+	return 1;
+}
diff --git a/include/list.h b/include/list.h
index 5a0d7d809..e610bb7e9 100644
--- a/include/list.h
+++ b/include/list.h
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ void list_free(list_t *list);
 void list_foreach(list_t *list, void (*callback)(void* item));
 void list_add(list_t *list, void *item);
 void list_insert(list_t *list, int index, void *item);
+// Insert an item into the list which is already sorted strictly ascending
+// according to 'compare'. 'replace' is called when displacing an old item
+// and returns the item which will take its place.
+void list_sortedset_insert(list_t *list, void* item,
+		int compare(const void *item_left, const void *item_right),
+		void *replace(void *old_item, void* new_item));
 void list_del(list_t *list, int index);
 void list_cat(list_t *list, list_t *source);
 // See qsort. Remember to use *_qsort functions as compare functions,
@@ -20,6 +26,11 @@ void list_qsort(list_t *list, int compare(const void *left, const void *right));
 // Return index for first item in list that returns 0 for given compare
 // function or -1 if none matches.
 int list_seq_find(list_t *list, int compare(const void *item, const void *cmp_to), const void *cmp_to);
+// Requires a list sorted strictly ascending according to 'compare';
+// returns the index of the matching item, or -1 is no such item exists
+int list_sortedset_find(list_t *list, int compare(const void *item, const void *cmp_to), const void *cmp_to);
+// Check if a list is sorted strictly ascending according to compare
+int list_is_sortedset(list_t *list, int compare(const void *left, const void *right));
 // stable sort since qsort is not guaranteed to be stable
 void list_stable_sort(list_t *list, int compare(const void *a, const void *b));
 // swap two elements in a list
diff --git a/include/sway/config.h b/include/sway/config.h
index f660a269e..aac89622f 100644
--- a/include/sway/config.h
+++ b/include/sway/config.h
@@ -26,12 +26,14 @@ struct sway_variable {
  * A key binding and an associated command.
  */
 struct sway_binding {
-	int order;
-	bool release;
-	bool locked;
-	bool bindcode;
-	list_t *keys; // sorted in ascending order
+	// key part
+	uint32_t *keys; // sorted in ascending order
+	size_t length;
 	uint32_t modifiers;
+	bool release;
+	// value part
+	int order;
+	bool locked;
 	char *command;
 };
 
@@ -467,14 +469,8 @@ int workspace_output_cmp_workspace(const void *a, const void *b);
 
 int sway_binding_cmp(const void *a, const void *b);
 
-int sway_binding_cmp_qsort(const void *a, const void *b);
-
-int sway_binding_cmp_keys(const void *a, const void *b);
-
 void free_sway_binding(struct sway_binding *sb);
 
-struct sway_binding *sway_binding_dup(struct sway_binding *sb);
-
 void load_swaybars();
 
 void invoke_swaybar(struct bar_config *bar);
diff --git a/sway/commands/bind.c b/sway/commands/bind.c
index 83e9e432a..342960e59 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bind.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bind.c
@@ -20,53 +20,55 @@ void free_sway_binding(struct sway_binding *binding) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (binding->keys) {
-		free_flat_list(binding->keys);
-	}
+	free(binding->keys);
 	free(binding->command);
 	free(binding);
 }
 
+static void *replace_binding(void *old_item, void *new_item) {
+	struct sway_binding *old_binding = (struct sway_binding *)old_item;
+	struct sway_binding *new_binding = (struct sway_binding *)new_item;
+	wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "overwriting old binding command '%s' with command '%s'",
+		old_binding->command, new_binding->command);
+	free_sway_binding(old_binding);
+	return new_item;
+}
+
 /**
- * Returns true if the bindings have the same key and modifier combinations.
- * Note that keyboard layout is not considered, so the bindings might actually
- * not be equivalent on some layouts.
+ * Comparison function for bindings.
+ *
+ * Returns -1 if a < b, 0 if a == b, and 1 is a > b
  */
-static bool binding_key_compare(struct sway_binding *binding_a,
-		struct sway_binding *binding_b) {
+int sway_binding_cmp(const void *a, const void *b) {
+	const struct sway_binding *binding_a = (const struct sway_binding *)a;
+	const struct sway_binding *binding_b = (const struct sway_binding *)b;
+
 	if (binding_a->release != binding_b->release) {
-		return false;
+		return binding_a->release < binding_b->release ? -1 : 1;
 	}
 
-	if (binding_a->bindcode != binding_b->bindcode) {
-		return false;
+	if (binding_a->modifiers != binding_b->modifiers) {
+		return binding_a->modifiers < binding_b->modifiers ? -1 : 1;
 	}
 
-	if (binding_a->modifiers ^ binding_b->modifiers) {
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	if (binding_a->keys->length != binding_b->keys->length) {
-		return false;
+	if (binding_a->length != binding_b->length) {
+		return binding_a->length < binding_b->length ? -1 : 1;
 	}
 
 	// Keys are sorted
-	int keys_len = binding_a->keys->length;
-	for (int i = 0; i < keys_len; ++i) {
-		uint32_t key_a = *(uint32_t *)binding_a->keys->items[i];
-		uint32_t key_b = *(uint32_t *)binding_b->keys->items[i];
-		if (key_a != key_b) {
-			return false;
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < binding_a->length; ++i) {
+		if (binding_a->keys[i] != binding_b->keys[i]) {
+			return binding_a->keys[i] < binding_b->keys[i] ? -1 : 1;
 		}
 	}
 
-	return true;
+	return 0;
 }
 
-static int key_qsort_cmp(const void *keyp_a, const void *keyp_b) {
-	uint32_t key_a = **(uint32_t **)keyp_a;
-	uint32_t key_b = **(uint32_t **)keyp_b;
-	return (key_a < key_b) ? -1 : ((key_a > key_b) ? 1 : 0);
+static int key_qsort_cmp(const void *pkey_a, const void *pkey_b) {
+	uint32_t a = *(uint32_t *)pkey_a;
+	uint32_t b = *(uint32_t *)pkey_b;
+	return (a < b) ? -1 : ((a > b) ? 1 : 0);
 }
 
 static struct cmd_results *cmd_bindsym_or_bindcode(int argc, char **argv,
@@ -83,11 +85,11 @@ static struct cmd_results *cmd_bindsym_or_bindcode(int argc, char **argv,
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, bindtype,
 				"Unable to allocate binding");
 	}
-	binding->keys = create_list();
+	binding->keys = NULL;
+	binding->length = 0;
 	binding->modifiers = 0;
 	binding->release = false;
 	binding->locked = false;
-	binding->bindcode = bindcode;
 
 	// Handle --release and --locked
 	while (argc > 0) {
@@ -111,19 +113,31 @@ static struct cmd_results *cmd_bindsym_or_bindcode(int argc, char **argv,
 	binding->command = join_args(argv + 1, argc - 1);
 
 	list_t *split = split_string(argv[0], "+");
+	int nonmodifiers = 0;
 	for (int i = 0; i < split->length; ++i) {
 		// Check for a modifier key
 		uint32_t mod;
 		if ((mod = get_modifier_mask_by_name(split->items[i])) > 0) {
 			binding->modifiers |= mod;
 			continue;
+		} else {
+			nonmodifiers++;
+		}
+	}
+	binding->keys = (uint32_t *)calloc(nonmodifiers, sizeof (uint32_t));
+	if (!binding->keys) {
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, bindtype,
+				"Unable to allocate binding key list");
+	}
+	for (int i = 0; i < split->length; ++i) {
+		// Check for a modifier key
+		if (get_modifier_mask_by_name(split->items[i]) > 0) {
+			continue;
 		}
 
-		xkb_keycode_t keycode;
-		xkb_keysym_t keysym;
 		if (bindcode) {
 			// parse keycode
-			keycode = (int)strtol(split->items[i], NULL, 10);
+			xkb_keycode_t keycode = strtol(split->items[i], NULL, 10);
 			if (!xkb_keycode_is_legal_ext(keycode)) {
 				error =
 					cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "bindcode",
@@ -132,9 +146,10 @@ static struct cmd_results *cmd_bindsym_or_bindcode(int argc, char **argv,
 				list_free(split);
 				return error;
 			}
+			binding->keys[binding->length++] = (uint32_t)keycode;
 		} else {
 			// Check for xkb key
-			 keysym = xkb_keysym_from_name(split->items[i],
+			xkb_keysym_t keysym = xkb_keysym_from_name(split->items[i],
 					XKB_KEYSYM_CASE_INSENSITIVE);
 
 			// Check for mouse binding
@@ -149,28 +164,14 @@ static struct cmd_results *cmd_bindsym_or_bindcode(int argc, char **argv,
 				free_flat_list(split);
 				return ret;
 			}
+			binding->keys[binding->length++] = (uint32_t)keysym;
 		}
-		uint32_t *key = calloc(1, sizeof(uint32_t));
-		if (!key) {
-			free_sway_binding(binding);
-			free_flat_list(split);
-			return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, bindtype,
-					"Unable to allocate binding");
-		}
-
-		if (bindcode) {
-			*key = (uint32_t)keycode;
-		} else {
-			*key = (uint32_t)keysym;
-		}
-
-		list_add(binding->keys, key);
 	}
 	free_flat_list(split);
 	binding->order = binding_order++;
 
 	// sort ascending
-	list_qsort(binding->keys, key_qsort_cmp);
+	qsort(binding->keys, binding->length, sizeof(uint32_t), key_qsort_cmp);
 
 	list_t *mode_bindings;
 	if (bindcode) {
@@ -179,22 +180,7 @@ static struct cmd_results *cmd_bindsym_or_bindcode(int argc, char **argv,
 		mode_bindings = config->current_mode->keysym_bindings;
 	}
 
-	// overwrite the binding if it already exists
-	bool overwritten = false;
-	for (int i = 0; i < mode_bindings->length; ++i) {
-		struct sway_binding *config_binding = mode_bindings->items[i];
-		if (binding_key_compare(binding, config_binding)) {
-			wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "overwriting old binding with command '%s'",
-				config_binding->command);
-			free_sway_binding(config_binding);
-			mode_bindings->items[i] = binding;
-			overwritten = true;
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (!overwritten) {
-		list_add(mode_bindings, binding);
-	}
+	list_sortedset_insert(mode_bindings, binding, sway_binding_cmp, replace_binding);
 
 	wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "%s - Bound %s to command %s",
 		bindtype, argv[0], binding->command);
diff --git a/sway/input/keyboard.c b/sway/input/keyboard.c
index ede38519c..71e139c60 100644
--- a/sway/input/keyboard.c
+++ b/sway/input/keyboard.c
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@ static void update_shortcut_state(struct sway_shortcut_state *state,
 	bool last_key_was_a_modifier = raw_modifiers != state->last_raw_modifiers;
 	state->last_raw_modifiers = raw_modifiers;
 
-    if (last_key_was_a_modifier && state->last_keycode) {
-        // Last pressed key before this one was a modifier
-        state_erase_key(state, state->last_keycode);
-    }
+	if (last_key_was_a_modifier && state->last_keycode) {
+		// Last pressed key before this one was a modifier
+		state_erase_key(state, state->last_keycode);
+	}
 
 	if (event->state == WLR_KEY_PRESSED) {
 		// Add current key to set; there may be duplicates
@@ -86,36 +86,25 @@ static void update_shortcut_state(struct sway_shortcut_state *state,
 static void get_active_binding(const struct sway_shortcut_state *state,
 		list_t *bindings, struct sway_binding **current_binding,
 		uint32_t modifiers, bool release, bool locked) {
-	for (int i = 0; i < bindings->length; ++i) {
-		struct sway_binding *binding = bindings->items[i];
+	struct sway_binding match_binding = {
+			(uint32_t *)state->pressed_keys, state->npressed, modifiers, release,
+			0, false, NULL
+	};
 
-		if (modifiers ^ binding->modifiers ||
-				state->npressed != (size_t)binding->keys->length ||
-				locked > binding->locked ||
-				release != binding->release) {
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		bool match = true;
-		for (size_t j = 0; j < state->npressed; j++) {
-			uint32_t key = *(uint32_t *)binding->keys->items[j];
-			if (key != state->pressed_keys[j]) {
-				match = false;
-				break;
-			}
-		}
-		if (!match) {
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		if (*current_binding && *current_binding != binding) {
-			wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "encountered duplicate bindings %d and %d",
-					(*current_binding)->order, binding->order);
-		} else {
-			*current_binding = binding;
-		}
+	int index = list_sortedset_find(bindings, sway_binding_cmp, &match_binding);
+	if (index < 0) {
 		return;
 	}
+	struct sway_binding *binding = bindings->items[index];
+	if (locked > binding->locked) {
+		return;
+	}
+	if (*current_binding && *current_binding != binding) {
+		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "encountered duplicate bindings %d and %d",
+				(*current_binding)->order, binding->order);
+	} else {
+		*current_binding = binding;
+	}
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/sway/tree/workspace.c b/sway/tree/workspace.c
index 2a2d834a5..ea9f33a0b 100644
--- a/sway/tree/workspace.c
+++ b/sway/tree/workspace.c
@@ -106,6 +106,88 @@ static bool workspace_valid_on_output(const char *output_name,
 	return true;
 }
 
+static void workspace_name_from_binding(const struct sway_binding * binding,
+		const char* output_name, int *min_order, char **earliest_name) {
+	char *cmdlist = strdup(binding->command);
+	char *dup = cmdlist;
+	char *name = NULL;
+
+	// workspace n
+	char *cmd = argsep(&cmdlist, " ");
+	if (cmdlist) {
+		name = argsep(&cmdlist, ",;");
+	}
+
+	if (strcmp("workspace", cmd) == 0 && name) {
+		char *_target = strdup(name);
+		_target = do_var_replacement(_target);
+		strip_quotes(_target);
+		while (isspace(*_target)) {
+			memmove(_target, _target+1, strlen(_target+1));
+		}
+		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Got valid workspace command for target: '%s'",
+				_target);
+
+		// Make sure that the command references an actual workspace
+		// not a command about workspaces
+		if (strcmp(_target, "next") == 0 ||
+			strcmp(_target, "prev") == 0 ||
+			strcmp(_target, "next_on_output") == 0 ||
+			strcmp(_target, "prev_on_output") == 0 ||
+			strcmp(_target, "number") == 0 ||
+			strcmp(_target, "back_and_forth") == 0 ||
+			strcmp(_target, "current") == 0)
+		{
+			free(_target);
+			free(dup);
+			return;
+		}
+
+		// If the command is workspace number <name>, isolate the name
+		if (strncmp(_target, "number ", strlen("number ")) == 0) {
+			size_t length = strlen(_target) - strlen("number ") + 1;
+			char *temp = malloc(length);
+			strncpy(temp, _target + strlen("number "), length - 1);
+			temp[length - 1] = '\0';
+			free(_target);
+			_target = temp;
+			wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Isolated name from workspace number: '%s'", _target);
+
+			// Make sure the workspace number doesn't already exist
+			if (workspace_by_number(_target)) {
+				free(_target);
+				free(dup);
+				return;
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Make sure that the workspace doesn't already exist
+		if (workspace_by_name(_target)) {
+			free(_target);
+			free(dup);
+			return;
+		}
+
+		// make sure that the workspace can appear on the given
+		// output
+		if (!workspace_valid_on_output(output_name, _target)) {
+			free(_target);
+			free(dup);
+			return;
+		}
+
+		if (binding->order < *min_order) {
+			*min_order = binding->order;
+			free(*earliest_name);
+			*earliest_name = _target;
+			wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Workspace: Found free name %s", _target);
+		} else {
+			free(_target);
+		}
+	}
+	free(dup);
+}
+
 char *workspace_next_name(const char *output_name) {
 	wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Workspace: Generating new workspace name for output %s",
 			output_name);
@@ -113,89 +195,15 @@ char *workspace_next_name(const char *output_name) {
 	// if none are found/available then default to a number
 	struct sway_mode *mode = config->current_mode;
 
-	// TODO: iterate over keycode bindings too
 	int order = INT_MAX;
 	char *target = NULL;
 	for (int i = 0; i < mode->keysym_bindings->length; ++i) {
-		struct sway_binding *binding = mode->keysym_bindings->items[i];
-		char *cmdlist = strdup(binding->command);
-		char *dup = cmdlist;
-		char *name = NULL;
-
-		// workspace n
-		char *cmd = argsep(&cmdlist, " ");
-		if (cmdlist) {
-			name = argsep(&cmdlist, ",;");
-		}
-
-		if (strcmp("workspace", cmd) == 0 && name) {
-			char *_target = strdup(name);
-			_target = do_var_replacement(_target);
-			strip_quotes(_target);
-			while (isspace(*_target)) {
-				memmove(_target, _target+1, strlen(_target+1));
-			}
-			wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Got valid workspace command for target: '%s'",
-					_target);
-
-			// Make sure that the command references an actual workspace
-			// not a command about workspaces
-			if (strcmp(_target, "next") == 0 ||
-				strcmp(_target, "prev") == 0 ||
-				strcmp(_target, "next_on_output") == 0 ||
-				strcmp(_target, "prev_on_output") == 0 ||
-				strcmp(_target, "number") == 0 ||
-				strcmp(_target, "back_and_forth") == 0 ||
-				strcmp(_target, "current") == 0)
-			{
-				free(_target);
-				free(dup);
-				continue;
-			}
-
-			// If the command is workspace number <name>, isolate the name
-			if (strncmp(_target, "number ", strlen("number ")) == 0) {
-				size_t length = strlen(_target) - strlen("number ") + 1;
-				char *temp = malloc(length);
-				strncpy(temp, _target + strlen("number "), length - 1);
-				temp[length - 1] = '\0';
-				free(_target);
-				_target = temp;
-				wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Isolated name from workspace number: '%s'", _target);
-
-				// Make sure the workspace number doesn't already exist
-				if (workspace_by_number(_target)) {
-					free(_target);
-					free(dup);
-					continue;
-				}
-			}
-
-			// Make sure that the workspace doesn't already exist
-			if (workspace_by_name(_target)) {
-				free(_target);
-				free(dup);
-				continue;
-			}
-
-			// make sure that the workspace can appear on the given
-			// output
-			if (!workspace_valid_on_output(output_name, _target)) {
-				free(_target);
-				free(dup);
-				continue;
-			}
-
-			if (binding->order < order) {
-				order = binding->order;
-				free(target);
-				target = _target;
-				wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Workspace: Found free name %s", _target);
-			} else {
-				free(_target);
-			}
-		}
-		free(dup);
+		workspace_name_from_binding(mode->keysym_bindings->items[i],
+				output_name, &order, &target);
+	}
+	for (int i = 0; i < mode->keycode_bindings->length; ++i) {
+		workspace_name_from_binding(mode->keycode_bindings->items[i],
+				output_name, &order, &target);
 	}
 	if (target != NULL) {
 		return target;