diff --git a/test/test-process-input b/test/test-process-input
index 707900c..2e54150 100755
--- a/test/test-process-input
+++ b/test/test-process-input
@@ -29,22 +29,24 @@ process-input "foo bar" 2>/dev/null <<< "" && {
 # test data
 scene_opendoor="opendoor"
 doorspeak="Yo. I'm a door."
+
+multiactions="
+        MSG foo
+        WAIT
+        GO somewhereelse
+"
+
 testscene="
 TYPE input
 
 OBJECT door
     DEFAULT MSG What about the door?
-    ACTION invalid
     ACTION open
         GO $scene_opendoor
     ACTION unknown
         UNKNOWNCMD foo
-    ACTION badgo
-        GO
-    ACTION talk
-        MSG $doorspeak
-    ACTION badtalk
-        MSG
+    ACTION multi
+        $multiactions
 
 STORY
 This is a test scene.
@@ -65,38 +67,19 @@ assert-equal "$( tryinput "open door" )" "GO $scene_opendoor" || {
     fail "Should be able to perform known actions on known objects"
 }
 
-# should not allow actions on unknown objects
-assert-equal "$( tryinput "open idkwhat" )" "MSG Cannot open idkwhat" || {
+# actions on unknown objects should simply output an empty string
+assert-equal "$( tryinput "open idkwhat" )" "" || {
     simplefail "Should not be able to perform actions on unknown objects"
 }
 
-# should not allow unknown actions on known objects
-assert-equal "$( tryinput "fondle door" )" "MSG Cannot fondle door" || {
+# unknown actions on known objects should simply output an empty string
+assert-equal "$( tryinput "fondle door" )" "" || {
     simplefail "Should not be able to perform unknown actions on known objects"
 }
 
-# action requires associated command
-assert-equal "$( tryinput "invalid door" )" "MSG Cannot invalid door" || {
-    simplefail "ACTION directive should require valid command"
-}
-
-# should fail on unknown command
-tryinput "unknown door" 2>/dev/null && {
-    simplefail "ACTION directive should fail on unknwon command"
-}
-
-# GO should require a scene
-tryinput "badgo door" 2>/dev/null && {
-    simplefail "GO command should require a target scene"
-}
-
-# MSG should return a message
-assert-equal "$( tryinput "talk door" )" "MSG $doorspeak" || {
-    fail "MSG command should return a message"
-}
-
-# MSG command should require an argument
-tryinput "badtalk door" 2>/dev/null && {
-    simplefail "MSG should require output text"
+# all commands associated with an action should be returned (left trimmed)
+expected=$( sed 's/ \+//' <<< "$multiactions" )
+assert-equal "$( tryinput "multi door" )" "$expected" || {
+    fail "All commands for a multi-line action should be returned"
 }
 
diff --git a/util/process-input b/util/process-input
index b62bd7a..4a2689f 100755
--- a/util/process-input
+++ b/util/process-input
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 #
-# Processes input text and outputs result
+# Processes input text and outputs commands to be executed as a result
 #
-# This script will return one of two commands with an associated argument, which
-# should be interpreted as follows:
-#   - MSG - Output the provided message
-#   - GO  - Go to the scene matching the provided id
+# This script does not actually execute the commands or further validate them.
 #
 #   Copyright (C) 2011 Mike Gerwitz
 #
@@ -45,8 +42,9 @@ fi
 action=$( cut -d' ' -f1 <<< "$words" )
 object=$( cut -d' ' -f2 <<< "$words" )
 
-# check for am action on a known object
-action_data=$( awk "
+# check for am action on a known object and output the associated commands, left
+# trimmed
+awk "
     /OBJECT $object/,/^$/ {
         found = 1
     }
@@ -62,43 +60,4 @@ action_data=$( awk "
     }
     " <<< "$data" \
     | sed 's/^[ \t]\+//'
-)
-
-# if we were unable to find the associated object/action, then let the user know
-# that they've performed an invalid action
-if [ ! "$action_data" ]; then
-    echo "MSG Cannot $words"
-    exit 0
-fi
-
-# what type of command should we execute?
-cmd=$( cut -d' ' -f1 <<< "$action_data" )
-arg=$( cut -s -d' ' -f2- <<< "$action_data" )
-
-case "$cmd" in
-    GO)
-        if [ ! "$arg" ]; then
-            echo "ERROR: GO command requires target scene" >&2
-            exit 4
-        fi
-
-        # the action will be to go to the target scene
-        echo "GO $arg"
-        ;;
-
-    MSG)
-        if [ ! "$arg" ]; then
-            echo "ERROR: MSG requires an output string" >&2
-            exit 4
-        fi
-
-        # the MSG action will indicate that a message should be output
-        echo "MSG $arg"
-        ;;
-
-    *)
-        echo "ERROR: Unknown command '$cmd' for action: $words" >&2
-        exit 4
-        ;;
-esac