diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/HotkeyManager.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/HotkeyManager.cpp
index b9dab79224..89c394deb7 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/HotkeyManager.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/HotkeyManager.cpp
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ void HotkeyManager::LoadDefaults(const ControllerInterface& ciface)
   auto set_key_expression = [this](int index, const std::string& expression) {
     m_keys[FindGroupByID(index)]
         ->controls[GetIndexForGroup(FindGroupByID(index), index)]
-        ->control_ref->expression = expression;
+        ->control_ref->SetExpression(expression);
   };
 
   // General hotkeys
diff --git a/Source/Core/DolphinQt2/Config/Mapping/IOWindow.cpp b/Source/Core/DolphinQt2/Config/Mapping/IOWindow.cpp
index ae40b29c17..294cf5878f 100644
--- a/Source/Core/DolphinQt2/Config/Mapping/IOWindow.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/DolphinQt2/Config/Mapping/IOWindow.cpp
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ void IOWindow::CreateMainLayout()
 
 void IOWindow::Update()
 {
-  m_expression_text->setPlainText(QString::fromStdString(m_reference->expression));
+  m_expression_text->setPlainText(QString::fromStdString(m_reference->GetExpression()));
   m_range_spinbox->setValue(m_reference->range * SLIDER_TICK_COUNT);
   m_range_slider->setValue(m_reference->range * SLIDER_TICK_COUNT);
 
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ void IOWindow::OnDialogButtonPressed(QAbstractButton* button)
     return;
   }
 
-  m_reference->expression = m_expression_text->toPlainText().toStdString();
+  m_reference->SetExpression(m_expression_text->toPlainText().toStdString());
 
   if (button != m_apply_button)
     accept();
diff --git a/Source/Core/DolphinQt2/Config/Mapping/MappingButton.cpp b/Source/Core/DolphinQt2/Config/Mapping/MappingButton.cpp
index 7c01a527a2..d30be53ec5 100644
--- a/Source/Core/DolphinQt2/Config/Mapping/MappingButton.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/DolphinQt2/Config/Mapping/MappingButton.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ static QString EscapeAmpersand(QString&& string)
 }
 
 MappingButton::MappingButton(MappingWidget* widget, ControlReference* ref)
-    : ElidedButton(EscapeAmpersand(QString::fromStdString(ref->expression))), m_parent(widget),
+    : ElidedButton(EscapeAmpersand(QString::fromStdString(ref->GetExpression()))), m_parent(widget),
       m_reference(ref)
 {
   Connect();
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ void MappingButton::OnButtonPressed()
 
     if (!expr.isEmpty())
     {
-      m_reference->expression = expr.toStdString();
+      m_reference->SetExpression(expr.toStdString());
       Update();
     }
     else
@@ -78,13 +78,13 @@ void MappingButton::OnButtonPressed()
 
 void MappingButton::OnButtonTimeout()
 {
-  setText(EscapeAmpersand(QString::fromStdString(m_reference->expression)));
+  setText(EscapeAmpersand(QString::fromStdString(m_reference->GetExpression())));
 }
 
 void MappingButton::Clear()
 {
   m_parent->Update();
-  m_reference->expression.clear();
+  m_reference->SetExpression("");
   Update();
 }
 
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void MappingButton::Update()
 {
   const auto lock = ControllerEmu::EmulatedController::GetStateLock();
   m_reference->UpdateReference(g_controller_interface, m_parent->GetParent()->GetDeviceQualifier());
-  setText(EscapeAmpersand(QString::fromStdString(m_reference->expression)));
+  setText(EscapeAmpersand(QString::fromStdString(m_reference->GetExpression())));
   m_parent->SaveSettings();
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Input/InputConfigDiag.cpp b/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Input/InputConfigDiag.cpp
index 5d8bf9615e..1e6cba569d 100644
--- a/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Input/InputConfigDiag.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Input/InputConfigDiag.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
 #include "InputCommon/ControllerInterface/Device.h"
 #include "InputCommon/InputConfig.h"
 
-using namespace ciface::ExpressionParser;
+using ciface::ExpressionParser::ParseStatus;
 
 void InputConfigDialog::ConfigExtension(wxCommandEvent& event)
 {
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ ControlButton::ControlButton(wxWindow* const parent, ControlReference* const _re
       m_configured_width(FromDIP(width))
 {
   if (label.empty())
-    SetLabelText(StrToWxStr(_ref->expression));
+    SetLabelText(StrToWxStr(_ref->GetExpression()));
   else
     SetLabel(StrToWxStr(label));
 }
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ void ControlDialog::SelectControl(const std::string& name)
 void ControlDialog::UpdateGUI()
 {
   // update textbox
-  textctrl->SetValue(StrToWxStr(control_reference->expression));
+  textctrl->SetValue(StrToWxStr(control_reference->GetExpression()));
 
   // updates the "bound controls:" label
   m_bound_label->SetLabel(
@@ -347,11 +347,12 @@ void ControlDialog::UpdateGUI()
   case ParseStatus::SyntaxError:
     m_error_label->SetLabel(_("Syntax error"));
     break;
-  case ParseStatus::NoDevice:
-    m_error_label->SetLabel(_("Device not found"));
+  case ParseStatus::Successful:
+    m_error_label->SetLabel(control_reference->BoundCount() > 0 ? "" : _("Device not found"));
     break;
-  default:
+  case ParseStatus::EmptyExpression:
     m_error_label->SetLabel("");
+    break;
   }
 };
 
@@ -364,7 +365,7 @@ void InputConfigDialog::UpdateGUI()
   {
     for (ControlButton* button : cgBox->control_buttons)
     {
-      button->SetLabelText(StrToWxStr(button->control_reference->expression));
+      button->SetLabelText(StrToWxStr(button->control_reference->GetExpression()));
     }
 
     for (PadSetting* padSetting : cgBox->options)
@@ -399,7 +400,7 @@ void InputConfigDialog::LoadDefaults(wxCommandEvent&)
 
 bool ControlDialog::Validate()
 {
-  control_reference->expression = WxStrToStr(textctrl->GetValue());
+  control_reference->SetExpression(WxStrToStr(textctrl->GetValue()));
 
   const auto lock = ControllerEmu::EmulatedController::GetStateLock();
   control_reference->UpdateReference(g_controller_interface,
@@ -408,7 +409,7 @@ bool ControlDialog::Validate()
   UpdateGUI();
 
   const auto parse_status = control_reference->GetParseStatus();
-  return parse_status == ParseStatus::Successful || parse_status == ParseStatus::NoDevice;
+  return parse_status == ParseStatus::Successful || parse_status == ParseStatus::EmptyExpression;
 }
 
 void InputConfigDialog::SetDevice(wxCommandEvent&)
@@ -438,7 +439,7 @@ void ControlDialog::SetDevice(wxCommandEvent&)
 
 void ControlDialog::ClearControl(wxCommandEvent&)
 {
-  control_reference->expression.clear();
+  control_reference->SetExpression("");
 
   const auto lock = ControllerEmu::EmulatedController::GetStateLock();
   control_reference->UpdateReference(g_controller_interface,
@@ -497,7 +498,7 @@ void ControlDialog::SetSelectedControl(wxCommandEvent&)
     return;
 
   textctrl->WriteText(expr);
-  control_reference->expression = textctrl->GetValue();
+  control_reference->SetExpression(WxStrToStr(textctrl->GetValue()));
 
   const auto lock = ControllerEmu::EmulatedController::GetStateLock();
   control_reference->UpdateReference(g_controller_interface,
@@ -533,7 +534,7 @@ void ControlDialog::AppendControl(wxCommandEvent& event)
   }
 
   textctrl->WriteText(expr);
-  control_reference->expression = textctrl->GetValue();
+  control_reference->SetExpression(WxStrToStr(textctrl->GetValue()));
 
   const auto lock = ControllerEmu::EmulatedController::GetStateLock();
   control_reference->UpdateReference(g_controller_interface,
@@ -637,7 +638,7 @@ void InputConfigDialog::ConfigControl(wxEvent& event)
 void InputConfigDialog::ClearControl(wxEvent& event)
 {
   ControlButton* const btn = (ControlButton*)event.GetEventObject();
-  btn->control_reference->expression.clear();
+  btn->control_reference->SetExpression("");
   btn->control_reference->range = 1.0;
 
   controller->UpdateReferences(g_controller_interface);
@@ -716,7 +717,7 @@ bool InputConfigDialog::DetectButton(ControlButton* button)
       wxString control_name = ctrl->GetName();
       wxString expr;
       GetExpressionForControl(expr, control_name);
-      button->control_reference->expression = expr;
+      button->control_reference->SetExpression(WxStrToStr(expr));
       const auto lock = ControllerEmu::EmulatedController::GetStateLock();
       button->control_reference->UpdateReference(g_controller_interface,
                                                  controller->default_device);
diff --git a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ControlReference.cpp b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ControlReference.cpp
index e4162e22a7..c7d652f15b 100644
--- a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ControlReference.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ControlReference.cpp
@@ -25,21 +25,20 @@ bool ControlReference::InputGateOn()
 // UpdateReference
 //
 // Updates a controlreference's binded devices/controls
-// need to call this to re-parse a control reference's expression after changing it
+// need to call this to re-bind a control reference after changing its expression
 //
 void ControlReference::UpdateReference(const ciface::Core::DeviceContainer& devices,
                                        const ciface::Core::DeviceQualifier& default_device)
 {
-  Expression* expr;
   ControlFinder finder(devices, default_device, IsInput());
-  m_parse_status = ParseExpression(expression, finder, &expr);
-  m_parsed_expression.reset(expr);
+  if (m_parsed_expression)
+    m_parsed_expression->UpdateReferences(finder);
 }
 
 int ControlReference::BoundCount() const
 {
   if (m_parsed_expression)
-    return m_parsed_expression->num_controls;
+    return m_parsed_expression->CountNumControls();
   else
     return 0;
 }
@@ -49,6 +48,17 @@ ParseStatus ControlReference::GetParseStatus() const
   return m_parse_status;
 }
 
+std::string ControlReference::GetExpression() const
+{
+  return m_expression;
+}
+
+void ControlReference::SetExpression(std::string expr)
+{
+  m_expression = std::move(expr);
+  std::tie(m_parse_status, m_parsed_expression) = ParseExpression(m_expression);
+}
+
 ControlReference::ControlReference() : range(1), m_parsed_expression(nullptr)
 {
 }
diff --git a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ControlReference.h b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ControlReference.h
index 48ce6434e1..6740ed8be0 100644
--- a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ControlReference.h
+++ b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ControlReference.h
@@ -34,12 +34,14 @@ public:
   ciface::ExpressionParser::ParseStatus GetParseStatus() const;
   void UpdateReference(const ciface::Core::DeviceContainer& devices,
                        const ciface::Core::DeviceQualifier& default_device);
+  std::string GetExpression() const;
+  void SetExpression(std::string expr);
 
   ControlState range;
-  std::string expression;
 
 protected:
   ControlReference();
+  std::string m_expression;
   std::unique_ptr<ciface::ExpressionParser::Expression> m_parsed_expression;
   ciface::ExpressionParser::ParseStatus m_parse_status;
 };
diff --git a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ExpressionParser.cpp b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ExpressionParser.cpp
index d520015cf3..85eb86d598 100644
--- a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ExpressionParser.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ExpressionParser.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "Common/StringUtil.h"
 #include "InputCommon/ControlReference/ExpressionParser.h"
 
 using namespace ciface::Core;
@@ -207,64 +208,42 @@ public:
   }
 };
 
-class ExpressionNode
-{
-public:
-  virtual ~ExpressionNode() {}
-  virtual ControlState GetValue() const { return 0; }
-  virtual void SetValue(ControlState state) {}
-  virtual int CountNumControls() const { return 0; }
-  virtual operator std::string() const { return ""; }
-};
-
-class DummyExpression : public ExpressionNode
-{
-public:
-  std::string name;
-
-  DummyExpression(const std::string& name_) : name(name_) {}
-  ControlState GetValue() const override { return 0.0; }
-  void SetValue(ControlState value) override {}
-  int CountNumControls() const override { return 0; }
-  operator std::string() const override { return "`" + name + "`"; }
-};
-
-class ControlExpression : public ExpressionNode
+class ControlExpression : public Expression
 {
 public:
   ControlQualifier qualifier;
-  Device::Control* control;
-
-  ControlExpression(ControlQualifier qualifier_, std::shared_ptr<Device> device,
-                    Device::Control* control_)
-      : qualifier(qualifier_), control(control_), m_device(device)
-  {
-  }
-
-  ControlState GetValue() const override { return control->ToInput()->GetState(); }
-  void SetValue(ControlState value) override { control->ToOutput()->SetState(value); }
-  int CountNumControls() const override { return 1; }
-  operator std::string() const override { return "`" + (std::string)qualifier + "`"; }
-private:
+  Device::Control* control = nullptr;
+  // Keep a shared_ptr to the device so the control pointer doesn't become invalid
   std::shared_ptr<Device> m_device;
+
+  explicit ControlExpression(ControlQualifier qualifier_) : qualifier(qualifier_) {}
+  ControlState GetValue() const override { return control ? control->ToInput()->GetState() : 0.0; }
+  void SetValue(ControlState value) override
+  {
+    if (control)
+      control->ToOutput()->SetState(value);
+  }
+  int CountNumControls() const override { return control ? 1 : 0; }
+  void UpdateReferences(ControlFinder& finder) override
+  {
+    m_device = finder.FindDevice(qualifier);
+    control = finder.FindControl(qualifier);
+  }
+  operator std::string() const override { return "`" + static_cast<std::string>(qualifier) + "`"; }
 };
 
-class BinaryExpression : public ExpressionNode
+class BinaryExpression : public Expression
 {
 public:
   TokenType op;
-  ExpressionNode* lhs;
-  ExpressionNode* rhs;
+  std::unique_ptr<Expression> lhs;
+  std::unique_ptr<Expression> rhs;
 
-  BinaryExpression(TokenType op_, ExpressionNode* lhs_, ExpressionNode* rhs_)
-      : op(op_), lhs(lhs_), rhs(rhs_)
+  BinaryExpression(TokenType op_, std::unique_ptr<Expression>&& lhs_,
+                   std::unique_ptr<Expression>&& rhs_)
+      : op(op_), lhs(std::move(lhs_)), rhs(std::move(rhs_))
   {
   }
-  virtual ~BinaryExpression()
-  {
-    delete lhs;
-    delete rhs;
-  }
 
   ControlState GetValue() const override
   {
@@ -297,20 +276,28 @@ public:
     return lhs->CountNumControls() + rhs->CountNumControls();
   }
 
+  void UpdateReferences(ControlFinder& finder) override
+  {
+    lhs->UpdateReferences(finder);
+    rhs->UpdateReferences(finder);
+  }
+
   operator std::string() const override
   {
     return OpName(op) + "(" + (std::string)(*lhs) + ", " + (std::string)(*rhs) + ")";
   }
 };
 
-class UnaryExpression : public ExpressionNode
+class UnaryExpression : public Expression
 {
 public:
   TokenType op;
-  ExpressionNode* inner;
+  std::unique_ptr<Expression> inner;
 
-  UnaryExpression(TokenType op_, ExpressionNode* inner_) : op(op_), inner(inner_) {}
-  virtual ~UnaryExpression() { delete inner; }
+  UnaryExpression(TokenType op_, std::unique_ptr<Expression>&& inner_)
+      : op(op_), inner(std::move(inner_))
+  {
+  }
   ControlState GetValue() const override
   {
     ControlState value = inner->GetValue();
@@ -338,9 +325,50 @@ public:
   }
 
   int CountNumControls() const override { return inner->CountNumControls(); }
+  void UpdateReferences(ControlFinder& finder) override { inner->UpdateReferences(finder); }
   operator std::string() const override { return OpName(op) + "(" + (std::string)(*inner) + ")"; }
 };
 
+// This class proxies all methods to its either left-hand child if it has bound controls, or its
+// right-hand child. Its intended use is for supporting old-style barewords expressions.
+class CoalesceExpression : public Expression
+{
+public:
+  CoalesceExpression(std::unique_ptr<Expression>&& lhs, std::unique_ptr<Expression>&& rhs)
+      : m_lhs(std::move(lhs)), m_rhs(std::move(rhs))
+  {
+  }
+
+  ControlState GetValue() const override { return GetActiveChild()->GetValue(); }
+  void SetValue(ControlState value) override
+  {
+    m_lhs->SetValue(GetActiveChild() == m_lhs ? value : 0.0);
+    m_rhs->SetValue(GetActiveChild() == m_rhs ? value : 0.0);
+  }
+
+  int CountNumControls() const override { return GetActiveChild()->CountNumControls(); }
+  operator std::string() const override
+  {
+    return "Coalesce(" + static_cast<std::string>(*m_lhs) + ", " +
+           static_cast<std::string>(*m_rhs) + ')';
+  }
+
+  void UpdateReferences(ControlFinder& finder) override
+  {
+    m_lhs->UpdateReferences(finder);
+    m_rhs->UpdateReferences(finder);
+  }
+
+private:
+  const std::unique_ptr<Expression>& GetActiveChild() const
+  {
+    return m_lhs->CountNumControls() > 0 ? m_lhs : m_rhs;
+  }
+
+  std::unique_ptr<Expression> m_lhs;
+  std::unique_ptr<Expression> m_rhs;
+};
+
 std::shared_ptr<Device> ControlFinder::FindDevice(ControlQualifier qualifier) const
 {
   if (qualifier.has_device)
@@ -361,29 +389,25 @@ Device::Control* ControlFinder::FindControl(ControlQualifier qualifier) const
     return device->FindOutput(qualifier.control_name);
 }
 
+struct ParseResult
+{
+  ParseResult(ParseStatus status_, std::unique_ptr<Expression>&& expr_ = {})
+      : status(status_), expr(std::move(expr_))
+  {
+  }
+
+  ParseStatus status;
+  std::unique_ptr<Expression> expr;
+};
+
 class Parser
 {
 public:
-  Parser(std::vector<Token> tokens_, ControlFinder& finder_) : tokens(tokens_), finder(finder_)
-  {
-    m_it = tokens.begin();
-  }
-
-  ParseStatus Parse(Expression** expr_out)
-  {
-    ExpressionNode* node;
-    ParseStatus status = Toplevel(&node);
-    if (status != ParseStatus::Successful)
-      return status;
-
-    *expr_out = new Expression(node);
-    return ParseStatus::Successful;
-  }
-
+  explicit Parser(std::vector<Token> tokens_) : tokens(tokens_) { m_it = tokens.begin(); }
+  ParseResult Parse() { return Toplevel(); }
 private:
   std::vector<Token> tokens;
   std::vector<Token>::iterator m_it;
-  ControlFinder& finder;
 
   Token Chew() { return *m_it++; }
   Token Peek() { return *m_it; }
@@ -393,28 +417,17 @@ private:
     return tok.type == type;
   }
 
-  ParseStatus Atom(ExpressionNode** expr_out)
+  ParseResult Atom()
   {
     Token tok = Chew();
     switch (tok.type)
     {
     case TOK_CONTROL:
-    {
-      std::shared_ptr<Device> device = finder.FindDevice(tok.qualifier);
-      Device::Control* control = finder.FindControl(tok.qualifier);
-      if (control == nullptr)
-      {
-        *expr_out = new DummyExpression(tok.qualifier);
-        return ParseStatus::NoDevice;
-      }
-
-      *expr_out = new ControlExpression(tok.qualifier, device, control);
-      return ParseStatus::Successful;
-    }
+      return {ParseStatus::Successful, std::make_unique<ControlExpression>(tok.qualifier)};
     case TOK_LPAREN:
-      return Paren(expr_out);
+      return Paren();
     default:
-      return ParseStatus::SyntaxError;
+      return {ParseStatus::SyntaxError};
     }
   }
 
@@ -429,20 +442,19 @@ private:
     }
   }
 
-  ParseStatus Unary(ExpressionNode** expr_out)
+  ParseResult Unary()
   {
     if (IsUnaryExpression(Peek().type))
     {
       Token tok = Chew();
-      ExpressionNode* atom_expr;
-      ParseStatus status = Atom(&atom_expr);
-      if (status == ParseStatus::SyntaxError)
-        return status;
-      *expr_out = new UnaryExpression(tok.type, atom_expr);
-      return ParseStatus::Successful;
+      ParseResult result = Atom();
+      if (result.status == ParseStatus::SyntaxError)
+        return result;
+      return {ParseStatus::Successful,
+              std::make_unique<UnaryExpression>(tok.type, std::move(result.expr))};
     }
 
-    return Atom(expr_out);
+    return Atom();
   }
 
   bool IsBinaryToken(TokenType type)
@@ -458,113 +470,83 @@ private:
     }
   }
 
-  ParseStatus Binary(ExpressionNode** expr_out)
+  ParseResult Binary()
   {
-    ParseStatus status = Unary(expr_out);
-    if (status == ParseStatus::SyntaxError)
-      return status;
+    ParseResult result = Unary();
+    if (result.status == ParseStatus::SyntaxError)
+      return result;
 
+    std::unique_ptr<Expression> expr = std::move(result.expr);
     while (IsBinaryToken(Peek().type))
     {
       Token tok = Chew();
-      ExpressionNode* unary_expr;
-      status = Unary(&unary_expr);
-      if (status == ParseStatus::SyntaxError)
+      ParseResult unary_result = Unary();
+      if (unary_result.status == ParseStatus::SyntaxError)
       {
-        delete *expr_out;
-        return status;
+        return unary_result;
       }
 
-      *expr_out = new BinaryExpression(tok.type, *expr_out, unary_expr);
+      expr = std::make_unique<BinaryExpression>(tok.type, std::move(expr),
+                                                std::move(unary_result.expr));
     }
 
-    return ParseStatus::Successful;
+    return {ParseStatus::Successful, std::move(expr)};
   }
 
-  ParseStatus Paren(ExpressionNode** expr_out)
+  ParseResult Paren()
   {
-    ParseStatus status;
-
     // lparen already chewed
-    if ((status = Toplevel(expr_out)) != ParseStatus::Successful)
-      return status;
+    ParseResult result = Toplevel();
+    if (result.status != ParseStatus::Successful)
+      return result;
 
     if (!Expects(TOK_RPAREN))
     {
-      delete *expr_out;
-      return ParseStatus::SyntaxError;
+      return {ParseStatus::SyntaxError};
     }
 
-    return ParseStatus::Successful;
+    return result;
   }
 
-  ParseStatus Toplevel(ExpressionNode** expr_out) { return Binary(expr_out); }
+  ParseResult Toplevel() { return Binary(); }
 };
 
-ControlState Expression::GetValue() const
+static ParseResult ParseComplexExpression(const std::string& str)
 {
-  return node->GetValue();
-}
-
-void Expression::SetValue(ControlState value)
-{
-  node->SetValue(value);
-}
-
-Expression::Expression(ExpressionNode* node_)
-{
-  node = node_;
-  num_controls = node->CountNumControls();
-}
-
-Expression::~Expression()
-{
-  delete node;
-}
-
-static ParseStatus ParseExpressionInner(const std::string& str, ControlFinder& finder,
-                                        Expression** expr_out)
-{
-  ParseStatus status;
-  Expression* expr;
-  *expr_out = nullptr;
-
-  if (str == "")
-    return ParseStatus::Successful;
-
   Lexer l(str);
   std::vector<Token> tokens;
-  status = l.Tokenize(tokens);
-  if (status != ParseStatus::Successful)
-    return status;
+  ParseStatus tokenize_status = l.Tokenize(tokens);
+  if (tokenize_status != ParseStatus::Successful)
+    return {tokenize_status};
 
-  Parser p(tokens, finder);
-  status = p.Parse(&expr);
-  if (status != ParseStatus::Successful)
-    return status;
-
-  *expr_out = expr;
-  return ParseStatus::Successful;
+  return Parser(std::move(tokens)).Parse();
 }
 
-ParseStatus ParseExpression(const std::string& str, ControlFinder& finder, Expression** expr_out)
+static std::unique_ptr<Expression> ParseBarewordExpression(const std::string& str)
 {
-  // Add compatibility with old simple expressions, which are simple
-  // barewords control names.
-
   ControlQualifier qualifier;
   qualifier.control_name = str;
   qualifier.has_device = false;
 
-  std::shared_ptr<Device> device = finder.FindDevice(qualifier);
-  Device::Control* control = finder.FindControl(qualifier);
-  if (control)
+  return std::make_unique<ControlExpression>(qualifier);
+}
+
+std::pair<ParseStatus, std::unique_ptr<Expression>> ParseExpression(const std::string& str)
+{
+  if (StripSpaces(str).empty())
+    return std::make_pair(ParseStatus::EmptyExpression, nullptr);
+
+  auto bareword_expr = ParseBarewordExpression(str);
+  ParseResult complex_result = ParseComplexExpression(str);
+
+  if (complex_result.status != ParseStatus::Successful)
   {
-    *expr_out = new Expression(new ControlExpression(qualifier, device, control));
-    return ParseStatus::Successful;
+    return std::make_pair(complex_result.status, std::move(bareword_expr));
   }
 
-  return ParseExpressionInner(str, finder, expr_out);
+  auto combined_expr = std::make_unique<CoalesceExpression>(std::move(bareword_expr),
+                                                            std::move(complex_result.expr));
+  return std::make_pair(complex_result.status, std::move(combined_expr));
 }
 }
 }
diff --git a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ExpressionParser.h b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ExpressionParser.h
index f07c9a1326..398b273e0f 100644
--- a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ExpressionParser.h
+++ b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControlReference/ExpressionParser.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
+#include <utility>
 #include "InputCommon/ControllerInterface/Device.h"
 
 namespace ciface
@@ -46,26 +47,24 @@ private:
   bool is_input;
 };
 
-class ExpressionNode;
 class Expression
 {
 public:
-  Expression() : node(nullptr) {}
-  Expression(ExpressionNode* node);
-  ~Expression();
-  ControlState GetValue() const;
-  void SetValue(ControlState state);
-  int num_controls;
-  ExpressionNode* node;
+  virtual ~Expression() = default;
+  virtual ControlState GetValue() const = 0;
+  virtual void SetValue(ControlState state) = 0;
+  virtual int CountNumControls() const = 0;
+  virtual void UpdateReferences(ControlFinder& finder) = 0;
+  virtual operator std::string() const = 0;
 };
 
 enum class ParseStatus
 {
   Successful,
   SyntaxError,
-  NoDevice,
+  EmptyExpression,
 };
 
-ParseStatus ParseExpression(const std::string& expr, ControlFinder& finder, Expression** expr_out);
+std::pair<ParseStatus, std::unique_ptr<Expression>> ParseExpression(const std::string& expr);
 }
 }
diff --git a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControllerEmu/ControlGroup/ControlGroup.cpp b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControllerEmu/ControlGroup/ControlGroup.cpp
index fd905ccf1e..24d4a4c36e 100644
--- a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControllerEmu/ControlGroup/ControlGroup.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControllerEmu/ControlGroup/ControlGroup.cpp
@@ -54,8 +54,12 @@ void ControlGroup::LoadConfig(IniFile::Section* sec, const std::string& defdev,
 
   for (auto& c : controls)
   {
-    // control expression
-    sec->Get(group + c->name, &c->control_ref->expression, "");
+    {
+      // control expression
+      std::string expression;
+      sec->Get(group + c->name, &expression, "");
+      c->control_ref->SetExpression(std::move(expression));
+    }
 
     // range
     sec->Get(group + c->name + "/Range", &c->control_ref->range, 100.0);
@@ -109,7 +113,7 @@ void ControlGroup::SaveConfig(IniFile::Section* sec, const std::string& defdev,
   for (auto& c : controls)
   {
     // control expression
-    sec->Set(group + c->name, c->control_ref->expression, "");
+    sec->Set(group + c->name, c->control_ref->GetExpression(), "");
 
     // range
     sec->Set(group + c->name + "/Range", c->control_ref->range * 100.0, 100.0);
@@ -128,6 +132,6 @@ void ControlGroup::SaveConfig(IniFile::Section* sec, const std::string& defdev,
 
 void ControlGroup::SetControlExpression(int index, const std::string& expression)
 {
-  controls.at(index)->control_ref->expression = expression;
+  controls.at(index)->control_ref->SetExpression(expression);
 }
 }  // namespace ControllerEmu