diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index 32142dba64..35cd8f7d78 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "sigchain.h"
 #include "submodule.h"
 #include "ll-merge.h"
+#include "string-list.h"
 
 #ifdef NO_FAST_WORKING_DIRECTORY
 #define FAST_WORKING_DIRECTORY 0
@@ -68,26 +69,30 @@ static int parse_diff_color_slot(const char *var, int ofs)
 	return -1;
 }
 
-static int parse_dirstat_params(struct diff_options *options, const char *params,
+static int parse_dirstat_params(struct diff_options *options, const char *params_string,
 				struct strbuf *errmsg)
 {
-	const char *p = params;
-	int p_len, ret = 0;
+	char *params_copy = xstrdup(params_string);
+	struct string_list params = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
+	int ret = 0;
+	int i;
 
-	while (*p) {
-		p_len = strchrnul(p, ',') - p;
-		if (!memcmp(p, "changes", p_len)) {
+	if (*params_copy)
+		string_list_split_in_place(&params, params_copy, ',', -1);
+	for (i = 0; i < params.nr; i++) {
+		const char *p = params.items[i].string;
+		if (!strcmp(p, "changes")) {
 			DIFF_OPT_CLR(options, DIRSTAT_BY_LINE);
 			DIFF_OPT_CLR(options, DIRSTAT_BY_FILE);
-		} else if (!memcmp(p, "lines", p_len)) {
+		} else if (!strcmp(p, "lines")) {
 			DIFF_OPT_SET(options, DIRSTAT_BY_LINE);
 			DIFF_OPT_CLR(options, DIRSTAT_BY_FILE);
-		} else if (!memcmp(p, "files", p_len)) {
+		} else if (!strcmp(p, "files")) {
 			DIFF_OPT_CLR(options, DIRSTAT_BY_LINE);
 			DIFF_OPT_SET(options, DIRSTAT_BY_FILE);
-		} else if (!memcmp(p, "noncumulative", p_len)) {
+		} else if (!strcmp(p, "noncumulative")) {
 			DIFF_OPT_CLR(options, DIRSTAT_CUMULATIVE);
-		} else if (!memcmp(p, "cumulative", p_len)) {
+		} else if (!strcmp(p, "cumulative")) {
 			DIFF_OPT_SET(options, DIRSTAT_CUMULATIVE);
 		} else if (isdigit(*p)) {
 			char *end;
@@ -99,24 +104,21 @@ static int parse_dirstat_params(struct diff_options *options, const char *params
 				while (isdigit(*++end))
 					; /* nothing */
 			}
-			if (end - p == p_len)
+			if (!*end)
 				options->dirstat_permille = permille;
 			else {
-				strbuf_addf(errmsg, _("  Failed to parse dirstat cut-off percentage '%.*s'\n"),
-					    p_len, p);
+				strbuf_addf(errmsg, _("  Failed to parse dirstat cut-off percentage '%s'\n"),
+					    p);
 				ret++;
 			}
 		} else {
-			strbuf_addf(errmsg, _("  Unknown dirstat parameter '%.*s'\n"),
-				    p_len, p);
+			strbuf_addf(errmsg, _("  Unknown dirstat parameter '%s'\n"), p);
 			ret++;
 		}
 
-		p += p_len;
-
-		if (*p)
-			p++; /* more parameters, swallow separator */
 	}
+	string_list_clear(&params, 0);
+	free(params_copy);
 	return ret;
 }