diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 5ee93a0..34633b1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -27,8 +27,19 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Clone dependencies
         shell: bash
+        env:
+          BRANCH: ${{ github.head_ref || github.ref_name }}
         run: |
-          git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/gitkb/loop_lib.git
+          for repo in loop_lib; do
+            if git clone --depth 1 -b "$BRANCH" "https://github.com/gitkb/${repo}.git" 2>/dev/null; then
+              echo "Cloned ${repo}@${BRANCH}"
+            elif git clone --depth 1 "https://github.com/gitkb/${repo}.git"; then
+              echo "Branch ${BRANCH} not found for ${repo}; falling back to default branch"
+            else
+              echo "::error::Failed to clone ${repo}"
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          done
 
       - name: Create workspace Cargo.toml
         shell: bash
@@ -67,8 +78,19 @@ jobs:
           path: loop_cli
 
       - name: Clone dependencies
+        env:
+          BRANCH: ${{ github.head_ref || github.ref_name }}
         run: |
-          git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/gitkb/loop_lib.git
+          for repo in loop_lib; do
+            if git clone --depth 1 -b "$BRANCH" "https://github.com/gitkb/${repo}.git" 2>/dev/null; then
+              echo "Cloned ${repo}@${BRANCH}"
+            elif git clone --depth 1 "https://github.com/gitkb/${repo}.git"; then
+              echo "Branch ${BRANCH} not found for ${repo}; falling back to default branch"
+            else
+              echo "::error::Failed to clone ${repo}"
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          done
 
       - name: Create workspace Cargo.toml
         run: |
@@ -108,8 +130,19 @@ jobs:
           path: loop_cli
 
       - name: Clone dependencies
+        env:
+          BRANCH: ${{ github.head_ref || github.ref_name }}
         run: |
-          git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/gitkb/loop_lib.git
+          for repo in loop_lib; do
+            if git clone --depth 1 -b "$BRANCH" "https://github.com/gitkb/${repo}.git" 2>/dev/null; then
+              echo "Cloned ${repo}@${BRANCH}"
+            elif git clone --depth 1 "https://github.com/gitkb/${repo}.git"; then
+              echo "Branch ${BRANCH} not found for ${repo}; falling back to default branch"
+            else
+              echo "::error::Failed to clone ${repo}"
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          done
 
       - name: Create workspace Cargo.toml
         run: |
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 510f385..3704e80 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -204,6 +204,15 @@ Add aliases to your global config:
 loop --add-aliases-to-global-looprc
 ```
 
+loop runs commands without a shell, so an alias value is split into words
+(POSIX quoting, nothing expanded or run) that replace the program. An alias
+`ll="ls -la | less"` therefore runs `ls` with the arguments `-la`, `|` and
+`less`. For pipes and `&&`, ask for a shell:
+
+```bash
+loop sh -c 'ls -la | less'
+```
+
 ### Combining with Other Tools
 
 ```bash
@@ -230,7 +239,8 @@ let config = LoopConfig {
     ..Default::default()
 };
 
-let results = run(&["npm", "test"], &config)?;
+// The program and its arguments, run as given (no shell)
+run(&config, &["npm".to_string(), "test".to_string()])?;
 ```
 
 See [loop_lib documentation](../loop_lib/) for details.
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 1670f1d..8f70bb7 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use anyhow::Result;
 use clap::{CommandFactory, Parser};
 use colored::*;
-use loop_lib::{expand_directories, parse_config, run, LoopConfig};
+use loop_lib::{display_command, expand_directories, parse_config, run, LoopConfig};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 #[derive(Parser)]
@@ -50,15 +50,13 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
         std::process::exit(0);
     }
 
-    let command = cli.command.join(" ");
-
     // Parse the .meta file
     let absolute_path = std::env::current_dir()?.join(&config_path);
 
     if cli.verbose {
         println!("{}", "Verbose mode enabled".green());
         println!("\nResolved config file path: {}", absolute_path.display());
-        println!("Executing command: {command}");
+        println!("Executing command: {}", display_command(&cli.command));
     }
 
     let mut config = if config_path.exists() {
@@ -85,7 +83,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
         config.directories = dirs;
     }
 
-    run(&config, &command)?;
+    run(&config, &cli.command)?;
 
     Ok(())
 }