diff --git a/minetest/texmod/read.lua b/minetest/texmod/read.lua
index e36372c..0021b03 100644
--- a/minetest/texmod/read.lua
+++ b/minetest/texmod/read.lua
@@ -12,316 +12,319 @@ local transforms = {
 	{flip_axis = "y", rotation_deg = 90},
 }
 
-return function(read_char)
-	-- TODO this currently uses closures rather than passing around a "reader" object,
-	-- which is inconsistent with the writer and harder to port to more static languages
-	local level = 0
-	local invcube = false
-	local eof = false
+-- Generator readers
 
-	local escapes, character
+local gr = {}
 
-	local function peek()
-		if eof then return end
-		local expected_escapes = 0
-		if level > 0 then
-			-- Premature optimization my beloved (this is `2^(level-1)`)
-			expected_escapes = math.ldexp(0.5, level)
-		end
-		if character:match"[&^:]" then
-			if escapes == expected_escapes then return character end
-		elseif escapes <= expected_escapes then
-			return character
-		elseif escapes >= 2*expected_escapes then
-			return "\\"
-		end
+function gr.png(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	local base64 = r:match_str"[a-zA-Z0-9+/=]"
+	return assert(minetest.decode_base64(base64), "invalid base64")
+end
+
+function gr.inventorycube(r)
+	local top = r:invcubeside()
+	local left = r:invcubeside()
+	local right = r:invcubeside()
+	return top, left, right
+end
+
+function gr.combine(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	local w = r:int()
+	r:expect"x"
+	local h = r:int()
+	local blits = {}
+	while r:match":" do
+		if r.eof then break end -- we can just end with `:`, right?
+		local x = r:int()
+		r:expect","
+		local y = r:int()
+		r:expect"="
+		table.insert(blits, {x = x, y = y, texture = r:subtexp()})
 	end
+	return w, h, blits
+end
 
-	local function popchar()
-		escapes = 0
-		while true do
-			character = read_char()
-			if character ~= "\\" then break end
-			escapes = escapes + 1
-		end
-		if character == nil then
-			assert(escapes == 0, "end of texmod expected")
-			eof = true
-		end
+-- Parameter readers
+
+local pr = {}
+
+function pr.brighten() end
+
+function pr.noalpha() end
+
+function pr.resize(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	local w = r:int()
+	r:expect"x"
+	local h = r:int()
+	return w, h
+end
+
+function pr.makealpha(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	local red = r:int()
+	r:expect","
+	local green = r:int()
+	r:expect","
+	local blue = r:int()
+	return red, green, blue
+end
+
+function pr.opacity(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	local ratio = r:int()
+	return ratio
+end
+
+function pr.invert(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	local channels = {}
+	while true do
+		local c = r:match_charset"[rgba]"
+		if not c then break end
+		channels[c] = true
 	end
+	return channels
+end
 
-	popchar()
-
-	local function pop()
-		local expected_escapes = 0
-		if level > 0 then
-			-- Premature optimization my beloved (this is `2^(level-1)`)
-			expected_escapes = math.ldexp(0.5, level)
-		end
-		if escapes > 0 and escapes >= 2*expected_escapes then
-			escapes = escapes - 2*expected_escapes
-			return
-		end
-		return popchar()
+function pr.transform(r)
+	if r:match"I" then
+		return
 	end
-
-	local function match(char)
-		if peek() == char then
-			pop()
-			return true
-		end
+	local flip_axis
+	if r:match"F" then
+		flip_axis = assert(r:match_charset"[XY]", "axis expected"):lower()
 	end
-
-	local function expect(char)
-		if not match(char) then
-			error(("%q expected"):format(char))
-		end
+	local rot_deg
+	if r:match"R" then
+		rot_deg = r:int()
 	end
-
-	local function hat()
-		return match(invcube and "&" or "^")
+	if flip_axis or rot_deg then
+		return flip_axis, rot_deg
 	end
+	local transform = assert(transforms[r:int()], "out of range")
+	return transform.flip_axis, transform.rotation_deg
+end
 
-	local function match_charset(set)
-		local char = peek()
-		if char and char:match(set) then
-			pop()
-			return char
-		end
+function pr.verticalframe(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	local framecount = r:int()
+	r:expect":"
+	local frame = r:int()
+	return framecount, frame
+end
+
+function pr.crack(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	local framecount = r:int()
+	r:expect":"
+	local frame = r:int()
+	if r:match":" then
+		return framecount, frame, r:int()
 	end
+	return framecount, frame
+end
+pr.cracko = pr.crack
 
-	local function match_str(set)
-		local c = match_charset(set)
-		if not c then error ("character in " .. set .. " expected") end
-		local t = {c}
-		while true do
-			c = match_charset(set)
-			if not c then break end
-			table.insert(t, c)
-		end
-		return table.concat(t)
+function pr.sheet(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	local w = r:int()
+	r:expect"x"
+	local h = r:int()
+	r:expect":"
+	local x = r:int()
+	r:expect","
+	local y = r:int()
+	return w, h, x, y
+end
+
+function pr.multiply(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	return r:colorspec()
+end
+
+function pr.colorize(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	local color = r:colorspec()
+	if not r:match":" then
+		return color
 	end
-
-	local function int()
-		local sign = 1
-		if match"-" then sign = -1 end
-		return sign * tonumber(match_str"%d")
+	if not r:match"a" then
+		return color, r:int()
 	end
+	for c in ("lpha"):gmatch"." do
+		r:expect(c)
+	end
+	return color, "alpha"
+end
 
-	local texp
-	local function subtexp()
-		level = level + 1
-		local res = texp()
-		level = level - 1
+function pr.mask(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	return r:subtexp(r)
+end
+
+function pr.lowpart(r)
+	r:expect":"
+	local percent = r:int()
+	assert(percent)
+	r:expect":"
+	return percent, r:subtexp()
+end
+
+-- Reader methods. We use `r` instead of the `self` "sugar" for consistency (and to save us some typing).
+local rm = {}
+
+function rm.peek(r)
+	if r.eof then return end
+	local expected_escapes = 0
+	if r.level > 0 then
+		-- Premature optimization my beloved (this is `2^(level-1)`)
+		expected_escapes = math.ldexp(0.5, r.level)
+	end
+	if r.character:match"[&^:]" then
+		if r.escapes == expected_escapes then return r.character end
+	elseif r.escapes <= expected_escapes then
+		return r.character
+	elseif r.escapes >= 2*expected_escapes then
+		return "\\"
+	end
+end
+function rm.popchar(r)
+	r.escapes = 0
+	while true do
+		r.character = r:read_char()
+		if r.character ~= "\\" then break end
+		r.escapes = r.escapes + 1
+	end
+	if r.character == nil then
+		assert(r.escapes == 0, "end of texmod expected")
+		r.eof = true
+	end
+end
+function rm.pop(r)
+	local expected_escapes = 0
+	if r.level > 0 then
+		-- Premature optimization my beloved (this is `2^(level-1)`)
+		expected_escapes = math.ldexp(0.5, r.level)
+	end
+	if r.escapes > 0 and r.escapes >= 2*expected_escapes then
+		r.escapes = r.escapes - 2*expected_escapes
+		return
+	end
+	return r:popchar()
+end
+function rm.match(r, char)
+	if r:peek() == char then
+		r:pop()
+		return true
+	end
+end
+function rm.expect(r, char)
+	if not r:match(char) then
+		error(("%q expected"):format(char))
+	end
+end
+function rm.hat(r)
+	return r:match(r.invcube and "&" or "^")
+end
+function rm.match_charset(r, set)
+	local char = r:peek()
+	if char and char:match(set) then
+		r:pop()
+		return char
+	end
+end
+function rm.match_str(r, set)
+	local c = r:match_charset(set)
+	if not c then
+		error(("character in %s expected"):format(set))
+	end
+	local t = {c}
+	while true do
+		c = r:match_charset(set)
+		if not c then break end
+		table.insert(t, c)
+	end
+	return table.concat(t)
+end
+function rm.int(r)
+	local sign = 1
+	if r:match"-" then sign = -1 end
+	return sign * tonumber(r:match_str"%d")
+end
+function rm.fname(r)
+	-- This is overly permissive, as is Minetest;
+	-- we just allow arbitrary characters up until a character which may terminate the name.
+	-- Inside an inventorycube, `&` also terminates names.
+	return r:match_str(r.invcube and "[^:^&){]" or "[^:^){]")
+end
+function rm.subtexp(r)
+	r.level = r.level + 1
+	local res = r:texp()
+	r.level = r.level - 1
+	return res
+end
+function rm.invcubeside(r)
+	assert(not r.invcube, "can't nest inventorycube")
+	r.invcube = true
+	assert(r:match"{", "'{' expected")
+	local res = r:texp()
+	r.invcube = false
+	return res
+end
+function rm.basexp(r)
+	if r:match"(" then
+		local res = r:texp()
+		r:expect")"
 		return res
 	end
-
-	local read_base = {
-		png = function()
-			expect":"
-			local base64 = match_str"[a-zA-Z0-9+/=]"
-			return assert(minetest.decode_base64(base64), "invalid base64")
-		end,
-		inventorycube = function()
-			local function read_side()
-				assert(not invcube, "can't nest inventorycube")
-				invcube = true
-				assert(match"{", "'{' expected")
-				local res = texp()
-				invcube = false
-				return res
-			end
-			local top = read_side()
-			local left = read_side()
-			local right = read_side()
-			return top, left, right
-		end,
-		combine = function()
-			expect":"
-			local w = int()
-			expect"x"
-			local h = int()
-			local blits = {}
-			while match":" do
-				if eof then break end -- we can just end with `:`, right?
-				local x = int()
-				expect","
-				local y = int()
-				expect"="
-				level = level + 1
-				local t = texp()
-				level = level - 1
-				table.insert(blits, {x = x, y = y, texture = t})
-			end
-			return w, h, blits
-		end,
-	}
-
-	local function fname()
-		-- This is overly permissive, as is Minetest;
-		-- we just allow arbitrary characters up until a character which may terminate the name.
-		-- Inside an inventorycube, `&` also terminates names.
-		return match_str(invcube and "[^:^&){]" or "[^:^){]")
-	end
-
-	local function basexp()
-		if match"(" then
-			local res = texp()
-			expect")"
-			return res
+	if r:match"[" then
+		local type = r:match_str"[a-z]"
+		local gen_reader = gr[type]
+		if not gen_reader then
+			error("invalid texture modifier: " .. type)
 		end
-		if match"[" then
-			local name = match_str"[a-z]"
-			local reader = read_base[name]
-			if not reader then
-				error("invalid texture modifier: " .. name)
+		return texmod[type](gen_reader(r))
+	end
+	return texmod.file(r:fname())
+end
+function rm.colorspec(r)
+	-- Leave exact validation up to colorspec, only do a rough greedy charset matching
+	return assert(colorspec.from_string(r:match_str"[#%xa-z]"))
+end
+function rm.texp(r)
+	local base = r:basexp()
+	while r:hat() do
+		if r:match"[" then
+			local type = r:match_str"[a-z]"
+			local param_reader, gen_reader = pr[type], gr[type]
+			if not (param_reader or gen_reader) then
+				error("invalid texture modifier: " .. type)
 			end
-			return texmod[name](reader())
+			if param_reader then
+				base = base[type](base, param_reader(r))
+			elseif gen_reader then
+				base = base:overlay(texmod[type](gen_reader(r)))
+			end
+		else
+			base = base:overlay(r:basexp())
 		end
-		return texmod.file(fname())
 	end
+	return base
+end
 
-	local function pcolorspec()
-		-- Leave exact validation up to colorspec, only do a rough greedy charset matching
-		return assert(colorspec.from_string(match_str"[#%xa-z]"))
-	end
-
-	local function crack()
-		expect":"
-		local framecount = int()
-		expect":"
-		local frame = int()
-		if match":" then
-			return framecount, frame, int()
-		end
-		return framecount, frame
-	end
-
-	local param_readers = {
-		brighten = function()end,
-		noalpha = function()end,
-		resize = function()
-			expect":"
-			local w = int()
-			expect"x"
-			local h = int()
-			return w, h
-		end,
-		makealpha = function()
-			expect":"
-			local r = int()
-			expect","
-			local g = int()
-			expect","
-			local b = int()
-			return r, g, b
-		end,
-		opacity = function()
-			expect":"
-			local ratio = int()
-			return ratio
-		end,
-		invert = function()
-			expect":"
-			local channels = {}
-			while true do
-				local c = match_charset"[rgba]"
-				if not c then break end
-				channels[c] = true
-			end
-			return channels
-		end,
-		transform = function()
-			if match"I" then
-				return
-			end
-			local flip_axis
-			if match"F" then
-				flip_axis = assert(match_charset"[XY]", "axis expected"):lower()
-			end
-			local rot_deg
-			if match"R" then
-				rot_deg = int()
-			end
-			if flip_axis or rot_deg then
-				return flip_axis, rot_deg
-			end
-			local transform = assert(transforms[int()], "out of range")
-			return transform.flip_axis, transform.rotation_deg
-		end,
-		verticalframe = function()
-			expect":"
-			local framecount = int()
-			expect":"
-			local frame = int()
-			return framecount, frame
-		end,
-		crack = crack,
-		cracko = crack,
-		sheet = function()
-			expect":"
-			local w = int()
-			expect"x"
-			local h = int()
-			expect":"
-			local x = int()
-			expect","
-			local y = int()
-			return w, h, x, y
-		end,
-		multiply = function()
-			expect":"
-			return pcolorspec()
-		end,
-		colorize = function()
-			expect":"
-			local color = pcolorspec()
-			if not match":" then
-				return color
-			end
-			if not match"a" then
-				return color, int()
-			end
-			for c in ("lpha"):gmatch"." do
-				expect(c)
-			end
-			return color, "alpha"
-		end,
-		mask = function()
-			expect":"
-			return subtexp()
-		end,
-		lowpart = function()
-			expect":"
-			local percent = int()
-			assert(percent)
-			expect":"
-			return percent, subtexp()
-		end,
-	}
-
-	function texp()
-		local base = basexp()
-		while hat() do
-			if match"[" then
-				local name = match_str"[a-z]"
-				local param_reader = param_readers[name]
-				local gen_reader = read_base[name]
-				if not (param_reader or gen_reader) then
-					error("invalid texture modifier: " .. name)
-				end
-				if param_reader then
-					base = base[name](base, param_reader())
-				elseif gen_reader then
-					base = base:overlay(texmod[name](gen_reader()))
-				end
-			else
-				base = base:overlay(basexp())
-			end
-		end
-		return base
-	end
-	local res = texp()
-	assert(eof, "eof expected")
+local mt = {__index = rm}
+return function(read_char)
+	local r = setmetatable({
+		level = 0,
+		invcube = false,
+		eof = false,
+		read_char = read_char,
+	}, mt)
+	r:popchar()
+	local res = r:texp()
+	assert(r.eof, "eof expected")
 	return res
 end
\ No newline at end of file