diff --git a/coreutils/cat.c b/coreutils/cat.c
index 3902545..7e35fa5 100644
--- a/coreutils/cat.c
+++ b/coreutils/cat.c
@@ -170,9 +170,11 @@
 {
 	unsigned opts;
 
-	IF_FEATURE_CATV(opt_complementary = "Aetv"; /* -A == -vet */)
-	/* -u is ignored ("unbuffered") */
-	opts = getopt32(argv, IF_FEATURE_CATV("etvA") IF_FEATURE_CATN("nb") "u");
+	opts = getopt32(argv, IF_FEATURE_CATV("^")
+		/* -u is ignored ("unbuffered") */
+		IF_FEATURE_CATV("etvA")IF_FEATURE_CATN("nb")"u"
+		IF_FEATURE_CATV("\0" "Aetv" /* -A == -vet */)
+	);
 	argv += optind;
 
 	/* Read from stdin if there's nothing else to do. */
diff --git a/coreutils/chmod.c b/coreutils/chmod.c
index 2174334..88989bf 100644
--- a/coreutils/chmod.c
+++ b/coreutils/chmod.c
@@ -123,8 +123,7 @@
 	}
 
 	/* Parse options */
-	opt_complementary = "-2";
-	getopt32(argv, ("-"OPT_STR) + 1); /* Reuse string */
+	getopt32(argv, "^" OPT_STR "\0" "-2");
 	argv += optind;
 
 	/* Restore option-like mode if needed */
diff --git a/coreutils/chown.c b/coreutils/chown.c
index 0c77529..985d18d 100644
--- a/coreutils/chown.c
+++ b/coreutils/chown.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 /* This is a NOEXEC applet. Be very careful! */
 
 
-#define OPT_STR     ("Rh" IF_DESKTOP("vcfLHP"))
+#define OPT_STR     "Rh" IF_DESKTOP("vcfLHP")
 #define BIT_RECURSE 1
 #define OPT_RECURSE (opt & 1)
 #define OPT_NODEREF (opt & 2)
@@ -127,11 +127,10 @@
 	int opt, flags;
 	struct param_t param;
 
-	opt_complementary = "-2";
 #if ENABLE_FEATURE_CHOWN_LONG_OPTIONS
-	opt = getopt32long(argv, OPT_STR, chown_longopts);
+	opt = getopt32long(argv, "^" OPT_STR "\0" "=2", chown_longopts);
 #else
-	opt = getopt32(argv, OPT_STR);
+	opt = getopt32(argv, "^" OPT_STR "\0" "=2");
 #endif
 	argv += optind;
 
diff --git a/coreutils/comm.c b/coreutils/comm.c
index 5be1146..4bee776 100644
--- a/coreutils/comm.c
+++ b/coreutils/comm.c
@@ -62,8 +62,7 @@
 	int i;
 	int order;
 
-	opt_complementary = "=2";
-	getopt32(argv, "123");
+	getopt32(argv, "^" "123" "\0" "=2");
 	argv += optind;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < 2; ++i) {
diff --git a/coreutils/cp.c b/coreutils/cp.c
index fe40895..5b34c27 100644
--- a/coreutils/cp.c
+++ b/coreutils/cp.c
@@ -73,15 +73,17 @@
 #endif
 	};
 
-	// Need at least two arguments
-	// Soft- and hardlinking doesn't mix
-	// -P and -d are the same (-P is POSIX, -d is GNU)
-	// -r and -R are the same
-	// -R (and therefore -r) turns on -d (coreutils does this)
-	// -a = -pdR
-	opt_complementary = "-2:l--s:s--l:Pd:rRd:Rd:apdR";
 #if ENABLE_FEATURE_CP_LONG_OPTIONS
-	flags = getopt32long(argv, FILEUTILS_CP_OPTSTR,
+	flags = getopt32long(argv, "^"
+		FILEUTILS_CP_OPTSTR
+		"\0"
+		// Need at least two arguments
+		// Soft- and hardlinking doesn't mix
+		// -P and -d are the same (-P is POSIX, -d is GNU)
+		// -r and -R are the same
+		// -R (and therefore -r) turns on -d (coreutils does this)
+		// -a = -pdR
+		"-2:l--s:s--l:Pd:rRd:Rd:apdR",
 		"archive\0"        No_argument "a"
 		"force\0"          No_argument "f"
 		"interactive\0"    No_argument "i"
diff --git a/coreutils/cut.c b/coreutils/cut.c
index 6578ce8..cdd90ab 100644
--- a/coreutils/cut.c
+++ b/coreutils/cut.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 
 
 /* option vars */
-static const char optstring[] ALIGN1 = "b:c:f:d:sn";
+#define OPT_STR "b:c:f:d:sn"
 #define CUT_OPT_BYTE_FLGS     (1 << 0)
 #define CUT_OPT_CHAR_FLGS     (1 << 1)
 #define CUT_OPT_FIELDS_FLGS   (1 << 2)
@@ -201,8 +201,11 @@
 	char *sopt, *ltok;
 	unsigned opt;
 
-	opt_complementary = "b--bcf:c--bcf:f--bcf";
-	opt = getopt32(argv, optstring, &sopt, &sopt, &sopt, &ltok);
+	opt = getopt32(argv, "^"
+			OPT_STR
+			"\0" "b--bcf:c--bcf:f--bcf",
+			&sopt, &sopt, &sopt, &ltok
+	);
 //	argc -= optind;
 	argv += optind;
 	if (!(opt & (CUT_OPT_BYTE_FLGS | CUT_OPT_CHAR_FLGS | CUT_OPT_FIELDS_FLGS)))
diff --git a/coreutils/date.c b/coreutils/date.c
index 33f2104..5b15ce7 100644
--- a/coreutils/date.c
+++ b/coreutils/date.c
@@ -192,12 +192,16 @@
 	char *filename;
 	char *isofmt_arg = NULL;
 
-	opt_complementary = "d--s:s--d"
-		IF_FEATURE_DATE_ISOFMT(":R--I:I--R");
-	opt = getopt32long(argv, "Rs:ud:r:"
-			IF_FEATURE_DATE_ISOFMT("I::D:"), date_longopts,
+	opt = getopt32long(argv, "^"
+			"Rs:ud:r:"
+			IF_FEATURE_DATE_ISOFMT("I::D:")
+			"\0"
+			"d--s:s--d"
+			IF_FEATURE_DATE_ISOFMT(":R--I:I--R"),
+			date_longopts,
 			&date_str, &date_str, &filename
-			IF_FEATURE_DATE_ISOFMT(, &isofmt_arg, &fmt_str2dt));
+			IF_FEATURE_DATE_ISOFMT(, &isofmt_arg, &fmt_str2dt)
+	);
 	argv += optind;
 	maybe_set_utc(opt);
 
diff --git a/coreutils/df.c b/coreutils/df.c
index 4d6534b..121da97 100644
--- a/coreutils/df.c
+++ b/coreutils/df.c
@@ -115,15 +115,18 @@
 
 	init_unicode();
 
-#if ENABLE_FEATURE_HUMAN_READABLE && ENABLE_FEATURE_DF_FANCY
-	opt_complementary = "k-mB:m-Bk:B-km";
-#elif ENABLE_FEATURE_HUMAN_READABLE
-	opt_complementary = "k-m:m-k";
-#endif
-	opt = getopt32(argv, "kPT"
+	opt = getopt32(argv, "^"
+			"kPT"
 			IF_FEATURE_DF_FANCY("aiB:")
 			IF_FEATURE_HUMAN_READABLE("hm")
-			IF_FEATURE_DF_FANCY(, &chp));
+			"\0"
+#if ENABLE_FEATURE_HUMAN_READABLE && ENABLE_FEATURE_DF_FANCY
+			"k-mB:m-Bk:B-km"
+#elif ENABLE_FEATURE_HUMAN_READABLE
+			"k-m:m-k"
+#endif
+			IF_FEATURE_DF_FANCY(, &chp)
+	);
 	if (opt & OPT_MEGA)
 		df_disp_hr = 1024*1024;
 
diff --git a/coreutils/dos2unix.c b/coreutils/dos2unix.c
index a3d0080..9f098e4 100644
--- a/coreutils/dos2unix.c
+++ b/coreutils/dos2unix.c
@@ -120,8 +120,7 @@
 	}
 
 	/* -u convert to unix, -d convert to dos */
-	opt_complementary = "u--d:d--u"; /* mutually exclusive */
-	o = getopt32(argv, "du");
+	o = getopt32(argv, "^" "du" "\0" "u--d:d--u"); /* mutually exclusive */
 
 	/* Do the conversion requested by an argument else do the default
 	 * conversion depending on our name.  */
diff --git a/coreutils/du.c b/coreutils/du.c
index 947c46e..d5ce46c 100644
--- a/coreutils/du.c
+++ b/coreutils/du.c
@@ -242,8 +242,11 @@
 	 * ignore -a.  This is consistent with -s being equivalent to -d 0.
 	 */
 #if ENABLE_FEATURE_HUMAN_READABLE
-	opt_complementary = "h-km:k-hm:m-hk:H-L:L-H:s-d:d-s";
-	opt = getopt32(argv, "aHkLsx" "d:+" "lc" "hm", &G.max_print_depth);
+	opt = getopt32(argv, "^"
+			"aHkLsxd:+lchm"
+			"\0" "h-km:k-hm:m-hk:H-L:L-H:s-d:d-s",
+			&G.max_print_depth
+	);
 	argv += optind;
 	if (opt & OPT_h_for_humans) {
 		G.disp_unit = 0;
@@ -255,8 +258,11 @@
 		G.disp_unit = 1024;
 	}
 #else
-	opt_complementary = "H-L:L-H:s-d:d-s";
-	opt = getopt32(argv, "aHkLsx" "d:+" "lc", &G.max_print_depth);
+	opt = getopt32(argv, "^"
+			"aHkLsxd:+lc"
+			"\0" "H-L:L-H:s-d:d-s",
+			&G.max_print_depth
+	);
 	argv += optind;
 #if !ENABLE_FEATURE_DU_DEFAULT_BLOCKSIZE_1K
 	if (opt & OPT_k_kbytes) {
diff --git a/coreutils/expand.c b/coreutils/expand.c
index fa3ff18..91084b8 100644
--- a/coreutils/expand.c
+++ b/coreutils/expand.c
@@ -174,9 +174,10 @@
 				, &opt_t
 		);
 	} else {
-		/* -t NUM sets also -a */
-		opt_complementary = "ta";
-		opt = getopt32long(argv, "ft:a",
+		opt = getopt32long(argv, "^"
+				"ft:a"
+				"\0"
+				"ta" /* -t NUM sets -a */,
 				"first-only\0"       No_argument       "i"
 				"tabs\0"             Required_argument "t"
 				"all\0"              No_argument       "a"
diff --git a/coreutils/id.c b/coreutils/id.c
index 6043bca..5a7fb9a 100644
--- a/coreutils/id.c
+++ b/coreutils/id.c
@@ -170,9 +170,12 @@
 	} else {
 		/* Don't allow -n -r -nr -ug -rug -nug -rnug -uZ -gZ -GZ*/
 		/* Don't allow more than one username */
-		opt_complementary = "?1:u--g:g--u:G--u:u--G:g--G:G--g:r?ugG:n?ugG"
-			IF_SELINUX(":u--Z:Z--u:g--Z:Z--g:G--Z:Z--G");
-		opt = getopt32(argv, "rnugG" IF_SELINUX("Z"));
+		opt = getopt32(argv, "^"
+			"rnugG" IF_SELINUX("Z")
+			"\0"
+			"?1:u--g:g--u:G--u:u--G:g--G:G--g:r?ugG:n?ugG"
+			IF_SELINUX(":u--Z:Z--u:g--Z:Z--g:G--Z:Z--G")
+		);
 	}
 
 	username = argv[optind];
diff --git a/coreutils/install.c b/coreutils/install.c
index c01750f..2e4dc25 100644
--- a/coreutils/install.c
+++ b/coreutils/install.c
@@ -140,13 +140,16 @@
 #endif
 	};
 
-	opt_complementary = "t--d:d--t:s--d:d--s" IF_FEATURE_INSTALL_LONG_OPTIONS(IF_SELINUX(":Z--\xff:\xff--Z"));
 	/* -c exists for backwards compatibility, it's needed */
 	/* -b is ignored ("make a backup of each existing destination file") */
-	opts = GETOPT32(argv, "cvb" "Ddpsg:m:o:t:" IF_SELINUX("Z:"),
-			LONGOPTS
-			&gid_str, &mode_str, &uid_str, &last
-			IF_SELINUX(, &scontext)
+	opts = GETOPT32(argv, "^"
+		"cvb" "Ddpsg:m:o:t:" IF_SELINUX("Z:")
+		"\0"
+		"t--d:d--t:s--d:d--s"
+		IF_FEATURE_INSTALL_LONG_OPTIONS(IF_SELINUX(":Z--\xff:\xff--Z")),
+		LONGOPTS
+		&gid_str, &mode_str, &uid_str, &last
+		IF_SELINUX(, &scontext)
 	);
 	argc -= optind;
 	argv += optind;
diff --git a/coreutils/link.c b/coreutils/link.c
index 6e20daf..81808b7 100644
--- a/coreutils/link.c
+++ b/coreutils/link.c
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@
 int link_main(int argc, char **argv) MAIN_EXTERNALLY_VISIBLE;
 int link_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 {
-	opt_complementary = "=2"; /* exactly 2 params */
-	getopt32(argv, "");
+	getopt32(argv, "^" "" "\0" "=2");
 	argv += optind;
 	if (link(argv[0], argv[1]) != 0) {
 		/* shared message */
diff --git a/coreutils/ln.c b/coreutils/ln.c
index fed96af..2dda5da 100644
--- a/coreutils/ln.c
+++ b/coreutils/ln.c
@@ -62,8 +62,7 @@
 	struct stat statbuf;
 	int (*link_func)(const char *, const char *);
 
-	opt_complementary = "-1"; /* min one arg */
-	opts = getopt32(argv, "sfnbS:vT", &suffix);
+	opts = getopt32(argv, "^" "sfnbS:vT" "\0" "-1", &suffix);
 
 	last = argv[argc - 1];
 	argv += optind;
diff --git a/coreutils/ls.c b/coreutils/ls.c
index 0834cdc..af5e6cb 100644
--- a/coreutils/ls.c
+++ b/coreutils/ls.c
@@ -206,18 +206,18 @@
 /* -SXvhTw  GNU options, busybox optionally supports */
 /* -T WIDTH Ignored (we don't use tabs on output) */
 /* -Z       SELinux mandated option, busybox optionally supports */
-static const char ls_options[] ALIGN1 =
-	"Cadi1lgnsxAk"       /* 12 opts, total 12 */
-	IF_FEATURE_LS_FILETYPES("Fp")    /* 2, 14 */
-	IF_FEATURE_LS_RECURSIVE("R")     /* 1, 15 */
-	IF_SELINUX("Z")                  /* 1, 16 */
-	"Q"                              /* 1, 17 */
-	IF_FEATURE_LS_TIMESTAMPS("ctu")  /* 3, 20 */
-	IF_FEATURE_LS_SORTFILES("SXrv")  /* 4, 24 */
-	IF_FEATURE_LS_FOLLOWLINKS("LH")  /* 2, 26 */
-	IF_FEATURE_HUMAN_READABLE("h")   /* 1, 27 */
+#define ls_options \
+	"Cadi1lgnsxAk"       /* 12 opts, total 12 */ \
+	IF_FEATURE_LS_FILETYPES("Fp")    /* 2, 14 */ \
+	IF_FEATURE_LS_RECURSIVE("R")     /* 1, 15 */ \
+	IF_SELINUX("Z")                  /* 1, 16 */ \
+	"Q"                              /* 1, 17 */ \
+	IF_FEATURE_LS_TIMESTAMPS("ctu")  /* 3, 20 */ \
+	IF_FEATURE_LS_SORTFILES("SXrv")  /* 4, 24 */ \
+	IF_FEATURE_LS_FOLLOWLINKS("LH")  /* 2, 26 */ \
+	IF_FEATURE_HUMAN_READABLE("h")   /* 1, 27 */ \
 	IF_FEATURE_LS_WIDTH("T:w:")      /* 2, 29 */
-;
+
 enum {
 	OPT_C = (1 << 0),
 	OPT_a = (1 << 1),
@@ -1093,24 +1093,26 @@
 #endif
 
 	/* process options */
-	opt_complementary =
-		/* -n and -g imply -l */
-		"nl:gl"
-		/* --full-time implies -l */
-		IF_FEATURE_LS_TIMESTAMPS(IF_LONG_OPTS(":\xff""l"))
-		/* http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/ls.html:
-		 * in some pairs of opts, only last one takes effect:
-		 */
-		IF_FEATURE_LS_TIMESTAMPS(IF_FEATURE_LS_SORTFILES(":t-S:S-t")) /* time/size */
-		// ":m-l:l-m" - we don't have -m
-		IF_FEATURE_LS_FOLLOWLINKS(":H-L:L-H")
-		":C-xl:x-Cl:l-xC" /* bycols/bylines/long */
-		":C-1:1-C" /* bycols/oneline */
-		":x-1:1-x" /* bylines/oneline (not in SuS, but in GNU coreutils 8.4) */
-		IF_FEATURE_LS_TIMESTAMPS(":c-u:u-c") /* mtime/atime */
-		/* -w NUM: */
-		IF_FEATURE_LS_WIDTH(":w+");
-	opt = getopt32long(argv, ls_options, ls_longopts
+	opt = getopt32long(argv, "^"
+		ls_options
+			"\0"
+			/* -n and -g imply -l */
+			"nl:gl"
+			/* --full-time implies -l */
+			IF_FEATURE_LS_TIMESTAMPS(IF_LONG_OPTS(":\xff""l"))
+			/* http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/ls.html:
+			 * in some pairs of opts, only last one takes effect:
+			 */
+			IF_FEATURE_LS_TIMESTAMPS(IF_FEATURE_LS_SORTFILES(":t-S:S-t")) /* time/size */
+			// ":m-l:l-m" - we don't have -m
+			IF_FEATURE_LS_FOLLOWLINKS(":H-L:L-H")
+			":C-xl:x-Cl:l-xC" /* bycols/bylines/long */
+			":C-1:1-C" /* bycols/oneline */
+			":x-1:1-x" /* bylines/oneline (not in SuS, but in GNU coreutils 8.4) */
+			IF_FEATURE_LS_TIMESTAMPS(":c-u:u-c") /* mtime/atime */
+			/* -w NUM: */
+			IF_FEATURE_LS_WIDTH(":w+")
+		, ls_longopts
 		IF_FEATURE_LS_WIDTH(, /*-T*/ NULL, /*-w*/ &G_terminal_width)
 		IF_FEATURE_LS_COLOR(, &color_opt)
 	);
diff --git a/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c b/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c
index bcccdd6..89d6cec 100644
--- a/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c
+++ b/coreutils/md5_sha1_sum.c
@@ -258,15 +258,14 @@
 #endif
 
 	if (ENABLE_FEATURE_MD5_SHA1_SUM_CHECK) {
-		/* -s and -w require -c */
-		opt_complementary = "s?c:w?c";
 		/* -b "binary", -t "text" are ignored (shaNNNsum compat) */
+		/* -s and -w require -c */
 #if ENABLE_SHA3SUM
 		if (applet_name[3] == HASH_SHA3)
-			flags = getopt32(argv, "scwbta:+", &sha3_width);
+			flags = getopt32(argv, "^" "scwbta:+" "\0" "s?c:w?c", &sha3_width);
 		else
 #endif
-			flags = getopt32(argv, "scwbt");
+			flags = getopt32(argv, "^" "scwbt" "\0" "s?c:w?c");
 	} else {
 #if ENABLE_SHA3SUM
 		if (applet_name[3] == HASH_SHA3)
diff --git a/coreutils/mktemp.c b/coreutils/mktemp.c
index 944eb0e..d4ff883 100644
--- a/coreutils/mktemp.c
+++ b/coreutils/mktemp.c
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@
 	if (!path || path[0] == '\0')
 		path = "/tmp";
 
-	opt_complementary = "?1"; /* 1 argument max */
-	opts = getopt32(argv, "dqtp:u", &path);
+	opts = getopt32(argv, "^" "dqtp:u" "\0" "?1"/*1 arg max*/, &path);
 
 	chp = argv[optind];
 	if (!chp) {
diff --git a/coreutils/mv.c b/coreutils/mv.c
index 7f6e9fe..10cbc50 100644
--- a/coreutils/mv.c
+++ b/coreutils/mv.c
@@ -55,8 +55,10 @@
 	 * If more than one of -f, -i, -n is specified , only the final one
 	 * takes effect (it unsets previous options).
 	 */
-	opt_complementary = "-2:f-in:i-fn:n-fi";
-	flags = getopt32long(argv, "finv",
+	flags = getopt32long(argv, "^"
+			"finv"
+			"\0"
+			"-2:f-in:i-fn:n-fi",
 			"interactive\0" No_argument "i"
 			"force\0"       No_argument "f"
 			"no-clobber\0"  No_argument "n"
diff --git a/coreutils/readlink.c b/coreutils/readlink.c
index 7f8d6b2..b8e327d 100644
--- a/coreutils/readlink.c
+++ b/coreutils/readlink.c
@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@
 	IF_FEATURE_READLINK_FOLLOW(
 		unsigned opt;
 		/* We need exactly one non-option argument.  */
-		opt_complementary = "=1";
-		opt = getopt32(argv, "fnvsq");
+		opt = getopt32(argv, "^" "fnvsq" "\0" "=1");
 		fname = argv[optind];
 	)
 	IF_NOT_FEATURE_READLINK_FOLLOW(
diff --git a/coreutils/rm.c b/coreutils/rm.c
index 5e4acab..b68a82d 100644
--- a/coreutils/rm.c
+++ b/coreutils/rm.c
@@ -46,8 +46,7 @@
 	int flags = 0;
 	unsigned opt;
 
-	opt_complementary = "f-i:i-f";
-	opt = getopt32(argv, "fiRrv");
+	opt = getopt32(argv, "^" "fiRrv" "\0" "f-i:i-f");
 	argv += optind;
 	if (opt & 1)
 		flags |= FILEUTILS_FORCE;
diff --git a/coreutils/shuf.c b/coreutils/shuf.c
index 4030415..d0caaa2 100644
--- a/coreutils/shuf.c
+++ b/coreutils/shuf.c
@@ -70,8 +70,11 @@
 	unsigned numlines;
 	char eol;
 
-	opt_complementary = "e--i:i--e"; /* mutually exclusive */
-	opts = getopt32(argv, OPT_STR, &opt_i_str, &opt_n_str, &opt_o_str);
+	opts = getopt32(argv, "^"
+			OPT_STR
+			"\0" "e--i:i--e"/* mutually exclusive */,
+			&opt_i_str, &opt_n_str, &opt_o_str
+	);
 
 	argc -= optind;
 	argv += optind;
diff --git a/coreutils/sort.c b/coreutils/sort.c
index 9860dca..ceea244 100644
--- a/coreutils/sort.c
+++ b/coreutils/sort.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
 */
 
 /* These are sort types */
-static const char OPT_STR[] ALIGN1 = "ngMucszbrdfimS:T:o:k:*t:";
+#define OPT_STR "ngMucszbrdfimS:T:o:k:*t:"
 enum {
 	FLAG_n  = 1,            /* Numeric sort */
 	FLAG_g  = 2,            /* Sort using strtod() */
@@ -378,9 +378,11 @@
 	xfunc_error_retval = 2;
 
 	/* Parse command line options */
-	/* -o and -t can be given at most once */
-	opt_complementary = "o--o:t--t"; /* -t, -o: at most one of each */
-	opts = getopt32(argv, OPT_STR, &str_ignored, &str_ignored, &str_o, &lst_k, &str_t);
+	opts = getopt32(argv, "^"
+			OPT_STR
+			"\0" "o--o:t--t"/*-t, -o: at most one of each*/,
+			&str_ignored, &str_ignored, &str_o, &lst_k, &str_t
+	);
 	/* global b strips leading and trailing spaces */
 	if (opts & FLAG_b)
 		option_mask32 |= FLAG_bb;
diff --git a/coreutils/split.c b/coreutils/split.c
index d0c6357..4e1db19 100644
--- a/coreutils/split.c
+++ b/coreutils/split.c
@@ -100,8 +100,11 @@
 
 	setup_common_bufsiz();
 
-	opt_complementary = "?2"; /* max 2 args; -a N */
-	opt = getopt32(argv, "l:b:a:+", &count_p, &count_p, &suffix_len);
+	opt = getopt32(argv, "^"
+			"l:b:a:+" /* -a N */
+			"\0" "?2"/*max 2 args*/,
+			&count_p, &count_p, &suffix_len
+	);
 
 	if (opt & SPLIT_OPT_l)
 		cnt = XATOOFF(count_p);
diff --git a/coreutils/stat.c b/coreutils/stat.c
index 4e926a9..dafbd4e 100644
--- a/coreutils/stat.c
+++ b/coreutils/stat.c
@@ -762,11 +762,13 @@
 	unsigned opts;
 	statfunc_ptr statfunc = do_stat;
 
-	opt_complementary = "-1"; /* min one arg */
-	opts = getopt32(argv, "tL"
+	opts = getopt32(argv, "^"
+		"tL"
 		IF_FEATURE_STAT_FILESYSTEM("f")
 		IF_SELINUX("Z")
-		IF_FEATURE_STAT_FORMAT("c:", &format)
+		IF_FEATURE_STAT_FORMAT("c:")
+		"\0" "-1" /* min one arg */
+		IF_FEATURE_STAT_FORMAT(,&format)
 	);
 #if ENABLE_FEATURE_STAT_FILESYSTEM
 	if (opts & OPT_FILESYS) /* -f */
diff --git a/coreutils/sync.c b/coreutils/sync.c
index 6644528..9be47ab 100644
--- a/coreutils/sync.c
+++ b/coreutils/sync.c
@@ -59,8 +59,7 @@
 		OPT_SYNCFS   = (1 << 1),
 	};
 
-	opt_complementary = "d--f:f--d";
-	opts = getopt32(argv, "df");
+	opts = getopt32(argv, "^" "df" "\0" "d--f:f--d");
 	argv += optind;
 
 	/* Handle the no-argument case. */
diff --git a/coreutils/tail.c b/coreutils/tail.c
index fd310f4..7335ba1 100644
--- a/coreutils/tail.c
+++ b/coreutils/tail.c
@@ -140,9 +140,11 @@
 #endif
 
 	/* -s NUM, -F imlies -f */
-	IF_FEATURE_FANCY_TAIL(opt_complementary = "Ff";)
-	opt = getopt32(argv, "fc:n:" IF_FEATURE_FANCY_TAIL("qs:+vF"),
-			&str_c, &str_n IF_FEATURE_FANCY_TAIL(,&sleep_period));
+	opt = getopt32(argv, IF_FEATURE_FANCY_TAIL("^")
+			"fc:n:"IF_FEATURE_FANCY_TAIL("qs:+vF")
+			IF_FEATURE_FANCY_TAIL("\0" "Ff"),
+			&str_c, &str_n IF_FEATURE_FANCY_TAIL(,&sleep_period)
+	);
 #define FOLLOW (opt & 0x1)
 #define COUNT_BYTES (opt & 0x2)
 	//if (opt & 0x1) // -f
diff --git a/coreutils/tr.c b/coreutils/tr.c
index 64e4efc..c587243 100644
--- a/coreutils/tr.c
+++ b/coreutils/tr.c
@@ -298,8 +298,8 @@
 	 * In POSIX locale, these are the same.
 	 */
 
-	opt_complementary = "-1";
-	opts = getopt32(argv, "+Ccds"); /* '+': stop at first non-option */
+	/* '+': stop at first non-option */
+	opts = getopt32(argv, "^+" "Ccds" "\0" "-1");
 	argv += optind;
 
 	str1_length = expand(*argv++, &str1);
diff --git a/coreutils/truncate.c b/coreutils/truncate.c
index f67abaf..f693570 100644
--- a/coreutils/truncate.c
+++ b/coreutils/truncate.c
@@ -50,8 +50,7 @@
 		OPT_SIZE = (1 << 1),
 	};
 
-	opt_complementary = "s:-1";
-	opts = getopt32(argv, "cs:", &size_str);
+	opts = getopt32(argv, "^" "cs:" "\0" "s:-1", &size_str);
 
 	if (!(opts & OPT_NOCREATE))
 		flags |= O_CREAT;
diff --git a/coreutils/unlink.c b/coreutils/unlink.c
index e32a974..56309b1 100644
--- a/coreutils/unlink.c
+++ b/coreutils/unlink.c
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@
 int unlink_main(int argc, char **argv) MAIN_EXTERNALLY_VISIBLE;
 int unlink_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 {
-	opt_complementary = "=1"; /* must have exactly 1 param */
-	getopt32(argv, "");
+	getopt32(argv, "^" "" "\0" "=1");
 	argv += optind;
 	xunlink(argv[0]);
 	return 0;
diff --git a/coreutils/uudecode.c b/coreutils/uudecode.c
index 4e72e86..5ef05ee 100644
--- a/coreutils/uudecode.c
+++ b/coreutils/uudecode.c
@@ -120,8 +120,7 @@
 	char *outname = NULL;
 	char *line;
 
-	opt_complementary = "?1"; /* 1 argument max */
-	getopt32(argv, "o:", &outname);
+	getopt32(argv, "^" "o:" "\0" "?1"/* 1 arg max*/, &outname);
 	argv += optind;
 
 	if (!argv[0])
@@ -196,8 +195,7 @@
 	FILE *src_stream;
 	unsigned opts;
 
-	opt_complementary = "?1"; /* 1 argument max */
-	opts = getopt32(argv, "d");
+	opts = getopt32(argv, "^" "d" "\0" "?1"/* 1 arg max*/);
 	argv += optind;
 
 	if (!argv[0])
diff --git a/coreutils/uuencode.c b/coreutils/uuencode.c
index 7164f83..d6e0774 100644
--- a/coreutils/uuencode.c
+++ b/coreutils/uuencode.c
@@ -49,8 +49,7 @@
 
 	tbl = bb_uuenc_tbl_std;
 	mode = 0666 & ~umask(0666);
-	opt_complementary = "-1:?2"; /* must have 1 or 2 args */
-	if (getopt32(argv, "m")) {
+	if (getopt32(argv, "^" "m" "\0" "-1:?2"/*must have 1 or 2 args*/)) {
 		tbl = bb_uuenc_tbl_base64;
 	}
 	argv += optind;
diff --git a/coreutils/who.c b/coreutils/who.c
index 6be3d69..cfe0c92 100644
--- a/coreutils/who.c
+++ b/coreutils/who.c
@@ -117,8 +117,7 @@
 	unsigned opt;
 	const char *fmt = "%s";
 
-	opt_complementary = "=0";
-	opt = getopt32(argv, do_who ? "aH" : "");
+	opt = getopt32(argv, do_who ? "^" "aH" "\0" "=0": "^" "" "\0" "=0");
 	if ((opt & 2) || do_w) /* -H or we are w */
 		puts("USER\t\tTTY\t\tIDLE\tTIME\t\t HOST");