diff --git a/core/commands/get.go b/core/commands/get.go
index 3e6205f9f..9255bc263 100644
--- a/core/commands/get.go
+++ b/core/commands/get.go
@@ -1,25 +1,18 @@
 package commands
 
 import (
-	"archive/tar"
-	"bytes"
 	"compress/gzip"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
-	p "path"
-	fp "path/filepath"
 	"strings"
-	"sync"
 
 	cmds "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/commands"
 	core "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/core"
-	dag "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/merkledag"
-	uio "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/unixfs/io"
-	upb "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/unixfs/pb"
+	tar "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/thirdparty/tar"
+	utar "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/unixfs/tar"
 
-	proto "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/code.google.com/p/goprotobuf/proto"
 	"github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/cheggaaa/pb"
 )
 
@@ -64,22 +57,19 @@ may also specify the level of compression by specifying '-l=<1-9>'.
 			return
 		}
 
-		compress, _, _ := req.Option("compress").Bool()
-		compressionLevel, found, _ := req.Option("compression-level").Int()
-		if !found {
-			if compress {
-				compressionLevel = gzip.DefaultCompression
-			} else {
-				compressionLevel = gzip.NoCompression
-			}
-		} else {
-			if compressionLevel < 1 || compressionLevel > 9 {
-				res.SetError(ErrInvalidCompressionLevel, cmds.ErrClient)
-				return
-			}
+		cmprs, _, _ := req.Option("compress").Bool()
+		cmplvl, cmplvlFound, _ := req.Option("compression-level").Int()
+		switch {
+		case !cmprs:
+			cmplvl = gzip.NoCompression
+		case cmprs && !cmplvlFound:
+			cmplvl = gzip.DefaultCompression
+		case cmprs && cmplvlFound && (cmplvl < 1 || cmplvl > 9):
+			res.SetError(ErrInvalidCompressionLevel, cmds.ErrClient)
+			return
 		}
 
-		reader, err := get(node, req.Arguments()[0], compressionLevel)
+		reader, err := get(node, req.Arguments()[0], cmplvl)
 		if err != nil {
 			res.SetError(err, cmds.ErrNormal)
 			return
@@ -87,7 +77,7 @@ may also specify the level of compression by specifying '-l=<1-9>'.
 		res.SetOutput(reader)
 	},
 	PostRun: func(req cmds.Request, res cmds.Response) {
-		reader := res.Output().(io.Reader)
+		outReader := res.Output().(io.Reader)
 		res.SetOutput(nil)
 
 		outPath, _, _ := req.Option("output").String()
@@ -95,15 +85,17 @@ may also specify the level of compression by specifying '-l=<1-9>'.
 			outPath = req.Arguments()[0]
 		}
 
-		compress, _, _ := req.Option("compress").Bool()
-		compressionLevel, found, _ := req.Option("compression-level").Int()
-		compress = (compress && (compressionLevel > 0 || !found)) || compressionLevel > 0
+		cmprs, _, _ := req.Option("compress").Bool()
+		cmplvl, _, _ := req.Option("compression-level").Int()
+		if !cmprs {
+			cmprs = cmplvl > 0
+		}
 
 		if archive, _, _ := req.Option("archive").Bool(); archive {
 			if !strings.HasSuffix(outPath, ".tar") {
 				outPath += ".tar"
 			}
-			if compress {
+			if cmprs {
 				outPath += ".gz"
 			}
 			fmt.Printf("Saving archive to %s\n", outPath)
@@ -117,7 +109,7 @@ may also specify the level of compression by specifying '-l=<1-9>'.
 
 			bar := pb.New(0).SetUnits(pb.U_BYTES)
 			bar.Output = os.Stderr
-			pbReader := bar.NewProxyReader(reader)
+			pbReader := bar.NewProxyReader(outReader)
 			bar.Start()
 			defer bar.Finish()
 
@@ -136,291 +128,40 @@ may also specify the level of compression by specifying '-l=<1-9>'.
 		bar := pb.New(0).SetUnits(pb.U_BYTES)
 		bar.Output = os.Stderr
 
-		preexisting := true
-		pathIsDir := false
-		if stat, err := os.Stat(outPath); err != nil && os.IsNotExist(err) {
-			preexisting = false
-		} else if err != nil {
-			res.SetError(err, cmds.ErrNormal)
-			return
-		} else if stat.IsDir() {
-			pathIsDir = true
-		}
-
-		var tarReader *tar.Reader
-		if compress {
-			gzipReader, err := gzip.NewReader(reader)
+		// wrap the reader with the progress bar proxy reader
+		// if the output is compressed, also wrap it in a gzip.Reader
+		var reader io.Reader
+		if cmprs {
+			gzipReader, err := gzip.NewReader(outReader)
 			if err != nil {
 				res.SetError(err, cmds.ErrNormal)
 				return
 			}
 			defer gzipReader.Close()
-			pbReader := bar.NewProxyReader(gzipReader)
-			tarReader = tar.NewReader(pbReader)
+			reader = bar.NewProxyReader(gzipReader)
 		} else {
-			pbReader := bar.NewProxyReader(reader)
-			tarReader = tar.NewReader(pbReader)
+			reader = bar.NewProxyReader(outReader)
 		}
 
 		bar.Start()
 		defer bar.Finish()
 
-		for i := 0; ; i++ {
-			header, err := tarReader.Next()
-			if err != nil && err != io.EOF {
-				res.SetError(err, cmds.ErrNormal)
-				return
-			}
-			if header == nil || err == io.EOF {
-				break
-			}
-
-			if header.Typeflag == tar.TypeDir {
-				pathElements := strings.Split(header.Name, "/")
-				if !preexisting {
-					pathElements = pathElements[1:]
-				}
-				path := fp.Join(pathElements...)
-				path = fp.Join(outPath, path)
-				if i == 0 {
-					outPath = path
-				}
-
-				err = os.MkdirAll(path, 0755)
-				if err != nil {
-					res.SetError(err, cmds.ErrNormal)
-					return
-				}
-				continue
-			}
-
-			var path string
-			if i == 0 {
-				if preexisting {
-					if !pathIsDir {
-						res.SetError(os.ErrExist, cmds.ErrNormal)
-						return
-					}
-					path = fp.Join(outPath, header.Name)
-				} else {
-					path = outPath
-				}
-			} else {
-				pathElements := strings.Split(header.Name, "/")[1:]
-				path = fp.Join(pathElements...)
-				path = fp.Join(outPath, path)
-			}
-
-			file, err := os.Create(path)
-			if err != nil {
-				res.SetError(err, cmds.ErrNormal)
-				return
-			}
-
-			_, err = io.Copy(file, tarReader)
-			if err != nil {
-				res.SetError(err, cmds.ErrNormal)
-				return
-			}
-
-			err = file.Close()
-			if err != nil {
-				res.SetError(err, cmds.ErrNormal)
-				return
-			}
+		extractor := &tar.Extractor{outPath}
+		err := extractor.Extract(reader)
+		if err != nil {
+			res.SetError(err, cmds.ErrNormal)
 		}
 	},
 }
 
 func getCheckOptions(req cmds.Request) error {
-	compressionLevel, found, _ := req.Option("compression-level").Int()
-	if found && (compressionLevel < 1 || compressionLevel > 9) {
+	cmplvl, found, _ := req.Option("compression-level").Int()
+	if found && (cmplvl < 1 || cmplvl > 9) {
 		return ErrInvalidCompressionLevel
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
 func get(node *core.IpfsNode, path string, compression int) (io.Reader, error) {
-	buf := NewBufReadWriter()
-
-	go func() {
-		err := copyFilesAsTar(node, buf, path, compression)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Error(err)
-			return
-		}
-	}()
-
-	return buf, nil
-}
-
-func copyFilesAsTar(node *core.IpfsNode, buf *bufReadWriter, path string, compression int) error {
-	var gzipWriter *gzip.Writer
-	var writer *tar.Writer
-	var err error
-	if compression != gzip.NoCompression {
-		gzipWriter, err = gzip.NewWriterLevel(buf, compression)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		writer = tar.NewWriter(gzipWriter)
-	} else {
-		writer = tar.NewWriter(buf)
-	}
-
-	err = _copyFilesAsTar(node, writer, buf, path, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	buf.mutex.Lock()
-	err = writer.Close()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if gzipWriter != nil {
-		err = gzipWriter.Close()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-	buf.Close()
-	buf.mutex.Unlock()
-	buf.Signal()
-	return nil
-}
-
-func _copyFilesAsTar(node *core.IpfsNode, writer *tar.Writer, buf *bufReadWriter, path string, dagnode *dag.Node) error {
-	var err error
-	if dagnode == nil {
-		dagnode, err = node.Resolver.ResolvePath(path)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-
-	pb := new(upb.Data)
-	err = proto.Unmarshal(dagnode.Data, pb)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if pb.GetType() == upb.Data_Directory {
-		buf.mutex.Lock()
-		err = writer.WriteHeader(&tar.Header{
-			Name:     path,
-			Typeflag: tar.TypeDir,
-			Mode:     0777,
-			// TODO: set mode, dates, etc. when added to unixFS
-		})
-		buf.mutex.Unlock()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		for _, link := range dagnode.Links {
-			err := _copyFilesAsTar(node, writer, buf, p.Join(path, link.Name), link.Node)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-		}
-
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	buf.mutex.Lock()
-	err = writer.WriteHeader(&tar.Header{
-		Name:     path,
-		Size:     int64(pb.GetFilesize()),
-		Typeflag: tar.TypeReg,
-		Mode:     0644,
-		// TODO: set mode, dates, etc. when added to unixFS
-	})
-	buf.mutex.Unlock()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	reader, err := uio.NewDagReader(dagnode, node.DAG)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	_, err = syncCopy(writer, reader, buf)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-type bufReadWriter struct {
-	buf        bytes.Buffer
-	closed     bool
-	signalChan chan struct{}
-	mutex      *sync.Mutex
-}
-
-func NewBufReadWriter() *bufReadWriter {
-	return &bufReadWriter{
-		signalChan: make(chan struct{}),
-		mutex:      &sync.Mutex{},
-	}
-}
-
-func (i *bufReadWriter) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
-	<-i.signalChan
-	i.mutex.Lock()
-	defer i.mutex.Unlock()
-
-	if i.buf.Len() == 0 {
-		if i.closed {
-			return 0, io.EOF
-		}
-		return 0, nil
-	}
-
-	n, err := i.buf.Read(p)
-	if err == io.EOF && !i.closed || i.buf.Len() > 0 {
-		return n, nil
-	}
-	return n, err
-}
-
-func (i *bufReadWriter) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
-	return i.buf.Write(p)
-}
-
-func (i *bufReadWriter) Signal() {
-	i.signalChan <- struct{}{}
-}
-
-func (i *bufReadWriter) Close() error {
-	i.closed = true
-	return nil
-}
-
-func syncCopy(writer io.Writer, reader io.Reader, buf *bufReadWriter) (int64, error) {
-	written := int64(0)
-	copyBuf := make([]byte, 32*1024)
-	for {
-		nr, err := reader.Read(copyBuf)
-		if nr > 0 {
-			buf.mutex.Lock()
-			nw, err := writer.Write(copyBuf[:nr])
-			buf.mutex.Unlock()
-			if err != nil {
-				return written, err
-			}
-			written += int64(nw)
-			buf.Signal()
-		}
-		if err == io.EOF {
-			break
-		}
-		if err != nil {
-			return written, err
-		}
-	}
-	return written, nil
+	return utar.NewReader(path, node.DAG, node.Resolver, compression)
 }
diff --git a/thirdparty/tar/extractor.go b/thirdparty/tar/extractor.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0da0a772c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/thirdparty/tar/extractor.go
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+package tar
+
+import (
+	"archive/tar"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	fp "path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+type Extractor struct {
+	Path string
+}
+
+func (te *Extractor) Extract(reader io.Reader) error {
+	tarReader := tar.NewReader(reader)
+
+	// Check if the output path already exists, so we know whether we should
+	// create our output with that name, or if we should put the output inside
+	// a preexisting directory
+	exists := true
+	pathIsDir := false
+	if stat, err := os.Stat(te.Path); err != nil && os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		exists = false
+	} else if err != nil {
+		return err
+	} else if stat.IsDir() {
+		pathIsDir = true
+	}
+
+	// files come recursively in order (i == 0 is root directory)
+	for i := 0; ; i++ {
+		header, err := tarReader.Next()
+		if err != nil && err != io.EOF {
+			return err
+		}
+		if header == nil || err == io.EOF {
+			break
+		}
+
+		if header.Typeflag == tar.TypeDir {
+			err = te.extractDir(header, i, exists)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		err = te.extractFile(header, tarReader, i, exists, pathIsDir)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (te *Extractor) extractDir(h *tar.Header, depth int, exists bool) error {
+	pathElements := strings.Split(h.Name, "/")
+	if !exists {
+		pathElements = pathElements[1:]
+	}
+	path := fp.Join(pathElements...)
+	path = fp.Join(te.Path, path)
+	if depth == 0 {
+		// if this is the root root directory, use it as the output path for remaining files
+		te.Path = path
+	}
+
+	err := os.MkdirAll(path, 0755)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (te *Extractor) extractFile(h *tar.Header, r *tar.Reader, depth int, exists bool, pathIsDir bool) error {
+	var path string
+	if depth == 0 {
+		// if depth is 0, this is the only file (we aren't 'ipfs get'ing a directory)
+		switch {
+		case exists && !pathIsDir:
+			return os.ErrExist
+		case exists && pathIsDir:
+			path = fp.Join(te.Path, h.Name)
+		case !exists:
+			path = te.Path
+		}
+	} else {
+		// we are outputting a directory, this file is inside of it
+		pathElements := strings.Split(h.Name, "/")[1:]
+		path = fp.Join(pathElements...)
+		path = fp.Join(te.Path, path)
+	}
+
+	file, err := os.Create(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer file.Close()
+
+	_, err = io.Copy(file, r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/unixfs/tar/reader.go b/unixfs/tar/reader.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..725e6867f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/unixfs/tar/reader.go
@@ -0,0 +1,200 @@
+package tar
+
+import (
+	"archive/tar"
+	"bytes"
+	"compress/gzip"
+	"io"
+	p "path"
+
+	mdag "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/merkledag"
+	path "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/path"
+	uio "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/unixfs/io"
+	upb "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/unixfs/pb"
+
+	proto "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/code.google.com/p/goprotobuf/proto"
+)
+
+type Reader struct {
+	buf        bytes.Buffer
+	closed     bool
+	signalChan chan struct{}
+	dag        mdag.DAGService
+	resolver   *path.Resolver
+	writer     *tar.Writer
+	gzipWriter *gzip.Writer
+	err        error
+}
+
+func NewReader(path string, dag mdag.DAGService, resolver *path.Resolver, compression int) (*Reader, error) {
+	reader := &Reader{
+		signalChan: make(chan struct{}),
+		dag:        dag,
+		resolver:   resolver,
+	}
+
+	var err error
+	if compression != gzip.NoCompression {
+		reader.gzipWriter, err = gzip.NewWriterLevel(&reader.buf, compression)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		reader.writer = tar.NewWriter(reader.gzipWriter)
+	} else {
+		reader.writer = tar.NewWriter(&reader.buf)
+	}
+
+	dagnode, err := resolver.ResolvePath(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// writeToBuf will write the data to the buffer, and will signal when there
+	// is new data to read
+	go reader.writeToBuf(dagnode, path, 0)
+
+	return reader, nil
+}
+
+func (i *Reader) writeToBuf(dagnode *mdag.Node, path string, depth int) {
+	pb := new(upb.Data)
+	err := proto.Unmarshal(dagnode.Data, pb)
+	if err != nil {
+		i.emitError(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if depth == 0 {
+		defer i.close()
+	}
+
+	if pb.GetType() == upb.Data_Directory {
+		err = i.writer.WriteHeader(&tar.Header{
+			Name:     path,
+			Typeflag: tar.TypeDir,
+			Mode:     0777,
+			// TODO: set mode, dates, etc. when added to unixFS
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			i.emitError(err)
+			return
+		}
+
+		for _, link := range dagnode.Links {
+			childNode, err := link.GetNode(i.dag)
+			if err != nil {
+				i.emitError(err)
+				return
+			}
+			i.writeToBuf(childNode, p.Join(path, link.Name), depth+1)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+
+	err = i.writer.WriteHeader(&tar.Header{
+		Name:     path,
+		Size:     int64(pb.GetFilesize()),
+		Typeflag: tar.TypeReg,
+		Mode:     0644,
+		// TODO: set mode, dates, etc. when added to unixFS
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		i.emitError(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	reader, err := uio.NewDagReader(dagnode, i.dag)
+	if err != nil {
+		i.emitError(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	err = i.syncCopy(reader)
+	if err != nil {
+		i.emitError(err)
+		return
+	}
+}
+
+func (i *Reader) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	// wait for the goroutine that is writing data to the buffer to tell us
+	// there is something to read
+	if !i.closed {
+		<-i.signalChan
+	}
+
+	if i.err != nil {
+		return 0, i.err
+	}
+
+	if !i.closed {
+		defer i.signal()
+	}
+
+	if i.buf.Len() == 0 {
+		if i.closed {
+			return 0, io.EOF
+		}
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+
+	n, err := i.buf.Read(p)
+	if err == io.EOF && !i.closed || i.buf.Len() > 0 {
+		return n, nil
+	}
+
+	return n, err
+}
+
+func (i *Reader) signal() {
+	i.signalChan <- struct{}{}
+}
+
+func (i *Reader) emitError(err error) {
+	i.err = err
+	i.signal()
+}
+
+func (i *Reader) close() {
+	i.closed = true
+	i.flush()
+}
+
+func (i *Reader) flush() {
+	defer i.signal()
+	err := i.writer.Close()
+	if err != nil {
+		i.emitError(err)
+		return
+	}
+	if i.gzipWriter != nil {
+		err = i.gzipWriter.Close()
+		if err != nil {
+			i.emitError(err)
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (i *Reader) syncCopy(reader io.Reader) error {
+	buf := make([]byte, 32*1024)
+	for {
+		nr, err := reader.Read(buf)
+		if nr > 0 {
+			_, err := i.writer.Write(buf[:nr])
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			i.signal()
+			// wait for Read to finish reading
+			<-i.signalChan
+		}
+		if err == io.EOF {
+			break
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}