diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5132080..217fb0b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -404,8 +404,6 @@ profiles:
 This way, we make sure [vim-plug](https://github.com/junegunn/vim-plug)
 is installed prior to deploying the `~/.vimrc` dotfile.
 
-Note that `pre` actions are always executed even if the dotfile is not installed.
-
 You can also define `post` actions like this:
 
 ```yaml
@@ -418,6 +416,36 @@ If you don't specify neither `post` nor `pre`, the action will be executed
 after the dotfile deployment (which is equivalent to `post`).
 Actions cannot obviously be named `pre` or `post`.
 
+Actions can even be parameterized. For example:
+```yaml
+actions:
+  echoaction: echo '{0}' > {1}
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+dotfiles:
+  f_vimrc:
+    dst: ~/.vimrc
+    src: vimrc
+    actions:
+      - echoaction "vim installed" /tmp/mydotdrop.log
+  f_xinitrc:
+    dst: ~/.xinitrc
+    src: xinitrc
+    actions:
+      - echoaction "xinitrc installed" /tmp/myotherlog.log
+profiles:
+  home:
+    dotfiles:
+    - f_vimrc
+    - f_xinitrc
+```
+
+The above will execute `echo 'vim installed' > /tmp/mydotdrop.log` when
+vimrc is installed and `echo 'xinitrc installed' > /tmp/myotherlog.log'`
+when xinitrc is installed.
+
 ## Use transformations
 
 Transformations are used to transform a dotfile before it is
diff --git a/dotdrop/action.py b/dotdrop/action.py
index ab103da..391152e 100644
--- a/dotdrop/action.py
+++ b/dotdrop/action.py
@@ -32,12 +32,23 @@ class Cmd:
 
 class Action(Cmd):
 
+    def __init__(self, key, action, *args):
+        super(Action, self).__init__(key, action)
+        self.args = args
+
     def execute(self):
         """execute the action in the shell"""
         ret = 1
-        self.log.sub('executing \"{}\"'.format(self.action))
         try:
-            ret = subprocess.call(self.action, shell=True)
+            cmd = self.action.format(*self.args)
+        except IndexError:
+            err = 'bad action: \"{}\"'.format(self.action)
+            err += ' with \"{}\"'.format(self.args)
+            self.log.warn(err)
+            return False
+        self.log.sub('executing \"{}\"'.format(cmd))
+        try:
+            ret = subprocess.call(cmd, shell=True)
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             self.log.warn('action interrupted')
         return ret == 0
diff --git a/dotdrop/config.py b/dotdrop/config.py
index 7bce422..b1e66e7 100644
--- a/dotdrop/config.py
+++ b/dotdrop/config.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ yaml config file manager
 
 import yaml
 import os
+import shlex
 
 # local import
 from dotdrop.dotfile import Dotfile
@@ -258,16 +259,29 @@ class Cfg:
             self.key_actions_pre: [],
             self.key_actions_post: [],
         }
-        for entry in entries:
+        for line in entries:
+            fields = shlex.split(line)
+            entry = fields[0]
+            args = []
+            if len(fields) > 1:
+                args = fields[1:]
             action = None
             if self.key_actions_pre in self.actions and \
                     entry in self.actions[self.key_actions_pre]:
                 key = self.key_actions_pre
-                action = self.actions[self.key_actions_pre][entry]
+                if not args:
+                    action = self.actions[self.key_actions_pre][entry]
+                else:
+                    a = self.actions[self.key_actions_pre][entry].action
+                    action = Action(key, a, *args)
             elif self.key_actions_post in self.actions and \
                     entry in self.actions[self.key_actions_post]:
                 key = self.key_actions_post
-                action = self.actions[self.key_actions_post][entry]
+                if not args:
+                    action = self.actions[self.key_actions_post][entry]
+                else:
+                    a = self.actions[self.key_actions_post][entry].action
+                    action = Action(key, a, *args)
             else:
                 self.log.warn('unknown action \"{}\"'.format(entry))
                 continue
diff --git a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
index e087348..d80e58c 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
@@ -93,18 +93,14 @@ def install(opts, conf, temporary=False):
                      debug=opts['debug'], totemp=tmpdir)
     installed = []
     for dotfile in dotfiles:
+        preactions = []
         if dotfile.actions and Cfg.key_actions_pre in dotfile.actions:
             for action in dotfile.actions[Cfg.key_actions_pre]:
-                if opts['dry']:
-                    LOG.dry('would execute action: {}'.format(action))
-                else:
-                    if opts['debug']:
-                        LOG.dbg('executing pre action {}'.format(action))
-                    action.execute()
+                preactions.append(action)
         if opts['debug']:
             LOG.dbg('installing {}'.format(dotfile))
         if hasattr(dotfile, 'link') and dotfile.link:
-            r = inst.link(t, dotfile.src, dotfile.dst)
+            r = inst.link(t, dotfile.src, dotfile.dst, actions=preactions)
         else:
             src = dotfile.src
             tmp = None
@@ -113,7 +109,7 @@ def install(opts, conf, temporary=False):
                 if not tmp:
                     continue
                 src = tmp
-            r = inst.install(t, src, dotfile.dst)
+            r = inst.install(t, src, dotfile.dst, actions=preactions)
             if tmp:
                 tmp = os.path.join(opts['dotpath'], tmp)
                 if os.path.exists(tmp):
diff --git a/dotdrop/installer.py b/dotdrop/installer.py
index a3bc11c..a5ab075 100644
--- a/dotdrop/installer.py
+++ b/dotdrop/installer.py
@@ -31,10 +31,12 @@ class Installer:
         self.diff = diff
         self.totemp = totemp
         self.comparing = False
+        self.action_executed = False
         self.log = Logger()
 
-    def install(self, templater, src, dst):
+    def install(self, templater, src, dst, actions=[]):
         """install the src to dst using a template"""
+        self.action_executed = False
         src = os.path.join(self.base, os.path.expanduser(src))
         if not os.path.exists(src):
             self.log.err('source dotfile does not exist: {}'.format(src))
@@ -48,30 +50,32 @@ class Installer:
         if self.debug:
             self.log.dbg('install {} to {}'.format(src, dst))
         if os.path.isdir(src):
-            return self._handle_dir(templater, src, dst)
-        return self._handle_file(templater, src, dst)
+            return self._handle_dir(templater, src, dst, actions=actions)
+        return self._handle_file(templater, src, dst, actions=actions)
 
-    def link(self, templater, src, dst):
+    def link(self, templater, src, dst, actions=[]):
         """set src as the link target of dst"""
+        self.action_executed = False
         src = os.path.join(self.base, os.path.expanduser(src))
         if not os.path.exists(src):
             self.log.err('source dotfile does not exist: {}'.format(src))
         dst = os.path.expanduser(dst)
         if self.totemp:
-            return self.install(templater, src, dst)
+            # ignore actions
+            return self.install(templater, src, dst, actions=[])
 
         if Templategen.is_template(src):
             if self.debug:
                 self.log.dbg('dotfile is a template')
                 self.log.dbg('install to {} and symlink'.format(self.workdir))
             tmp = self._pivot_path(dst, self.workdir, striphome=True)
-            i = self.install(templater, src, tmp)
+            i = self.install(templater, src, tmp, actions=actions)
             if not i and not os.path.exists(tmp):
                 return []
             src = tmp
-        return self._link(src, dst)
+        return self._link(src, dst, actions=actions)
 
-    def _link(self, src, dst):
+    def _link(self, src, dst, actions=[]):
         """set src as a link target of dst"""
         if os.path.lexists(dst):
             if os.path.realpath(dst) == os.path.realpath(src):
@@ -98,11 +102,12 @@ class Installer:
         if not self._create_dirs(base):
             self.log.err('creating directory for \"{}\"'.format(dst))
             return []
+        self._exec_pre_actions(actions)
         os.symlink(src, dst)
         self.log.sub('linked \"{}\" to \"{}\"'.format(dst, src))
         return [(src, dst)]
 
-    def _handle_file(self, templater, src, dst):
+    def _handle_file(self, templater, src, dst, actions=[]):
         """install src to dst when is a file"""
         if self.debug:
             self.log.dbg('generate template for {}'.format(src))
@@ -118,7 +123,7 @@ class Installer:
             self.log.err('source dotfile does not exist: \"{}\"'.format(src))
             return []
         st = os.stat(src)
-        ret = self._write(dst, content, st.st_mode)
+        ret = self._write(dst, content, st.st_mode, actions=actions)
         if ret < 0:
             self.log.err('installing \"{}\" to \"{}\"'.format(src, dst))
             return []
@@ -132,18 +137,21 @@ class Installer:
             return [(src, dst)]
         return []
 
-    def _handle_dir(self, templater, src, dst):
+    def _handle_dir(self, templater, src, dst, actions=[]):
         """install src to dst when is a directory"""
         ret = []
-        self._create_dirs(dst)
+        if not self._create_dirs(dst):
+            return []
         # handle all files in dir
         for entry in os.listdir(src):
             f = os.path.join(src, entry)
             if not os.path.isdir(f):
-                res = self._handle_file(templater, f, os.path.join(dst, entry))
+                res = self._handle_file(templater, f, os.path.join(dst, entry),
+                                        actions=actions)
                 ret.extend(res)
             else:
-                res = self._handle_dir(templater, f, os.path.join(dst, entry))
+                res = self._handle_dir(templater, f, os.path.join(dst, entry),
+                                       actions=actions)
                 ret.extend(res)
         return ret
 
@@ -154,7 +162,7 @@ class Installer:
             cur = f.read()
         return cur == content
 
-    def _write(self, dst, content, rights):
+    def _write(self, dst, content, rights, actions=[]):
         """write content to file
         return  0 for success,
                 1 when already exists
@@ -179,6 +187,7 @@ class Installer:
             return -1
         if self.debug:
             self.log.dbg('write content to {}'.format(dst))
+        self._exec_pre_actions(actions)
         try:
             with open(dst, 'wb') as f:
                 f.write(content)
@@ -218,6 +227,19 @@ class Installer:
         sub = path.lstrip(os.sep)
         return os.path.join(newdir, sub)
 
+    def _exec_pre_actions(self, actions):
+        """execute pre-actions if any"""
+        if self.action_executed:
+            return
+        for action in actions:
+            if self.dry:
+                self.log.dry('would execute action: {}'.format(action))
+            else:
+                if self.debug:
+                    self.log.dbg('executing pre action {}'.format(action))
+                action.execute()
+        self.action_executed = True
+
     def _install_to_temp(self, templater, src, dst, tmpdir):
         """install a dotfile to a tempdir"""
         tmpdst = self._pivot_path(dst, tmpdir)
diff --git a/tests-ng/actions-args.sh b/tests-ng/actions-args.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..a02eda1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests-ng/actions-args.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
+# Copyright (c) 2017, deadc0de6
+#
+# test pre/post/naked actions with arguments
+# returns 1 in case of error
+#
+
+# exit on first error
+set -e
+
+# all this crap to get current path
+rl="readlink -f"
+if ! ${rl} "${0}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  rl="realpath"
+
+  if ! hash ${rl}; then
+    echo "\"${rl}\" not found !" && exit 1
+  fi
+fi
+cur=$(dirname "$(${rl} "${0}")")
+
+#hash dotdrop >/dev/null 2>&1
+#[ "$?" != "0" ] && echo "install dotdrop to run tests" && exit 1
+
+#echo "called with ${1}"
+
+# dotdrop path can be pass as argument
+ddpath="${cur}/../"
+[ "${1}" != "" ] && ddpath="${1}"
+[ ! -d ${ddpath} ] && echo "ddpath \"${ddpath}\" is not a directory" && exit 1
+
+export PYTHONPATH="${ddpath}:${PYTHONPATH}"
+bin="python3 -m dotdrop.dotdrop"
+
+echo "dotdrop path: ${ddpath}"
+echo "pythonpath: ${PYTHONPATH}"
+
+# get the helpers
+source ${cur}/helpers
+
+echo "RUNNING $(basename $BASH_SOURCE)"
+
+################################################################
+# this is the test
+################################################################
+
+# the action temp
+tmpa=`mktemp -d`
+# the dotfile source
+tmps=`mktemp -d`
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles
+# the dotfile destination
+tmpd=`mktemp -d`
+
+# create the config file
+cfg="${tmps}/config.yaml"
+
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+actions:
+  pre:
+    preaction: echo '{0} {1}' > ${tmpa}/pre
+  post:
+    postaction: echo '{0} {1} {2}' > ${tmpa}/post
+  nakedaction: echo '{0}' > ${tmpa}/naked
+  emptyaction: echo 'empty' > ${tmpa}/empty
+  tgtaction: echo 'tgt' > ${tmpa}/{0}
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+dotfiles:
+  f_abc:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/abc
+    src: abc
+    actions:
+      - preaction test1 test2
+      - postaction test3 test4 test5
+      - nakedaction "test6 something"
+      - emptyaction
+      - tgtaction tgt
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - f_abc
+_EOF
+cat ${cfg}
+
+# create the dotfile
+echo "test" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
+
+# install
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p1
+
+# checks
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/pre ] && echo "pre arg action not found" && exit 1
+grep test1 ${tmpa}/pre >/dev/null
+grep test2 ${tmpa}/pre >/dev/null
+
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/post ] && echo "post arg action not found" && exit 1
+grep test3 ${tmpa}/post >/dev/null
+grep test4 ${tmpa}/post >/dev/null
+grep test5 ${tmpa}/post >/dev/null
+
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/naked ] && echo "naked arg action not found" && exit 1
+grep "test6 something" ${tmpa}/naked >/dev/null
+
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/empty ] && echo "empty arg action not found" && exit 1
+grep empty ${tmpa}/empty >/dev/null
+
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/tgt ] && echo "tgt arg action not found" && exit 1
+grep tgt ${tmpa}/tgt >/dev/null
+
+## CLEANING
+rm -rf ${tmps} ${tmpd} ${tmpa}
+
+echo "OK"
+exit 0
diff --git a/tests-ng/actions-pre.sh b/tests-ng/actions-pre.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..79a3ced
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests-ng/actions-pre.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
+# Copyright (c) 2017, deadc0de6
+#
+# test pre action execution
+# returns 1 in case of error
+#
+
+# exit on first error
+set -e
+
+# all this crap to get current path
+rl="readlink -f"
+if ! ${rl} "${0}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  rl="realpath"
+
+  if ! hash ${rl}; then
+    echo "\"${rl}\" not found !" && exit 1
+  fi
+fi
+cur=$(dirname "$(${rl} "${0}")")
+
+#hash dotdrop >/dev/null 2>&1
+#[ "$?" != "0" ] && echo "install dotdrop to run tests" && exit 1
+
+#echo "called with ${1}"
+
+# dotdrop path can be pass as argument
+ddpath="${cur}/../"
+[ "${1}" != "" ] && ddpath="${1}"
+[ ! -d ${ddpath} ] && echo "ddpath \"${ddpath}\" is not a directory" && exit 1
+
+export PYTHONPATH="${ddpath}:${PYTHONPATH}"
+bin="python3 -m dotdrop.dotdrop"
+
+echo "dotdrop path: ${ddpath}"
+echo "pythonpath: ${PYTHONPATH}"
+
+# get the helpers
+source ${cur}/helpers
+
+echo "RUNNING $(basename $BASH_SOURCE)"
+
+################################################################
+# this is the test
+################################################################
+
+# the action temp
+tmpa=`mktemp -d`
+# the dotfile source
+tmps=`mktemp -d`
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles
+# the dotfile destination
+tmpd=`mktemp -d`
+
+# create the config file
+cfg="${tmps}/config.yaml"
+
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+actions:
+  pre:
+    preaction: echo 'pre' > ${tmpa}/pre
+    preaction2: echo 'pre2' > ${tmpa}/pre2
+    preaction3: echo 'pre3' > ${tmpa}/pre3
+    multiple: echo 'multiple' >> ${tmpa}/multiple
+    multiple2: echo 'multiple2' >> ${tmpa}/multiple2
+  nakedaction: echo 'naked' > ${tmpa}/naked
+  nakedaction2: echo 'naked2' > ${tmpa}/naked2
+  nakedaction3: echo 'naked3' > ${tmpa}/naked3
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+dotfiles:
+  f_abc:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/abc
+    src: abc
+    actions:
+      - preaction
+      - nakedaction
+  f_link:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/link
+    src: link
+    link: true
+    actions:
+      - preaction2
+      - nakedaction2
+  d_dir:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/dir
+    src: dir
+    actions:
+      - multiple
+  d_dlink:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/dlink
+    src: dlink
+    link: true
+    actions:
+      - preaction3
+      - nakedaction3
+      - multiple2
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - f_abc
+    - f_link
+    - d_dir
+    - d_dlink
+_EOF
+cat ${cfg}
+
+# create the dotfile
+echo 'test' > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
+echo 'link' > ${tmps}/dotfiles/link
+
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles/dir
+echo 'test1' > ${tmps}/dotfiles/dir/file1
+echo 'test2' > ${tmps}/dotfiles/dir/file2
+
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles/dlink
+echo 'test3' > ${tmps}/dotfiles/dlink/dfile1
+echo 'test4' > ${tmps}/dotfiles/dlink/dfile2
+
+# install
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p1 -V
+
+# checks
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/pre ] && echo 'pre action not executed' && exit 1
+grep pre ${tmpa}/pre >/dev/null
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/naked ] && echo 'naked action not executed'  && exit 1
+grep naked ${tmpa}/naked >/dev/null
+
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/multiple ] && echo 'pre action multiple not executed' && exit 1
+grep multiple ${tmpa}/multiple >/dev/null
+[ "`wc -l ${tmpa}/multiple | awk '{print $1}'`" -gt "1" ] && echo 'pre action multiple executed twice' && exit 1
+
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/pre2 ] && echo 'pre action 2 not executed' && exit 1
+grep pre2 ${tmpa}/pre2 >/dev/null
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/naked2 ] && echo 'naked action 2 not executed'  && exit 1
+grep naked2 ${tmpa}/naked2 >/dev/null
+
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/multiple2 ] && echo 'pre action multiple 2 not executed' && exit 1
+grep multiple2 ${tmpa}/multiple2 >/dev/null
+[ "`wc -l ${tmpa}/multiple2 | awk '{print $1}'`" -gt "1" ] && echo 'pre action multiple 2 executed twice' && exit 1
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/naked3 ] && echo 'naked action 3 not executed'  && exit 1
+grep naked3 ${tmpa}/naked3 >/dev/null
+
+
+# remove the pre action result and re-run
+rm ${tmpa}/pre
+
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p1
+[ -e ${tmpa}/pre ] && exit 1
+
+## CLEANING
+rm -rf ${tmps} ${tmpd} ${tmpa}
+
+echo "OK"
+exit 0