diff --git a/qutebrowser/app.py b/qutebrowser/app.py
index e5a44ad1e..ea2bdd3de 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/app.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/app.py
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ class Application(QApplication):
                     win_id = self._get_window(via_ipc, force_tab=True)
                 log.init.debug("Startup cmd {}".format(cmd))
                 commandrunner = runners.CommandRunner(win_id)
-                commandrunner.run_safely_init(cmd.lstrip(':'))
+                commandrunner.run_safely_init(cmd[1:])
             elif not cmd:
                 log.init.debug("Empty argument")
                 win_id = self._get_window(via_ipc, force_window=True)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/command.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/command.py
index 4b118714c..53e9b1fed 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/command.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/statusbar/command.py
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ class Command(misc.MinimalLineEditMixin, misc.CommandLineEdit):
         self.history.append(text)
         modeman.leave(self._win_id, usertypes.KeyMode.command, 'cmd accept')
         if text[0] in signals:
-            signals[text[0]].emit(text.lstrip(text[0]))
+            signals[text[0]].emit(text[1:])
 
     @pyqtSlot(usertypes.KeyMode)
     def on_mode_left(self, mode):