diff --git a/doc/tools.texi b/doc/tools.texi
index 4fff44fad..c2d874ac8 100644
--- a/doc/tools.texi
+++ b/doc/tools.texi
@@ -1946,6 +1946,31 @@ This option is reserved and shall not be used.  It will eventually be
 used to encrypt or sign using the CMS protocol; but that is not yet
 implemented.
 
+@item --batch
+@opindex batch
+Use batch mode.  Never ask but use the default action.  This option is
+passed directly to @command{gpg}.
+
+@item --yes
+@opindex yes
+Assume "yes" on most questions.  Often used together with
+@option{--batch} to overwrite existing files.  This option is passed
+directly to @command{gpg}.
+
+@item --no
+@opindex no
+Assume "no" on most questions.  This option is passed directly to
+@command{gpg}.
+
+@item --require-compliance
+@opindex require-compliance
+This option is passed directly to @command{gpg}.
+
+@item --status-fd @var{n}
+@opindex status-fd
+Write special status strings to the file descriptor @var{n}.
+See the file DETAILS in the documentation for a listing of them.
+
 
 @item --set-filename @var{file}
 @opindex set-filename
diff --git a/tools/gpgtar-create.c b/tools/gpgtar-create.c
index a7aae3b3f..f79bc618b 100644
--- a/tools/gpgtar-create.c
+++ b/tools/gpgtar-create.c
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@
 #endif /*!HAVE_W32_SYSTEM*/
 
 #include "../common/i18n.h"
-#include "../common/exectool.h"
+#include <gpg-error.h>
+#include "../common/exechelp.h"
 #include "../common/sysutils.h"
 #include "../common/ccparray.h"
 #include "../common/membuf.h"
@@ -992,8 +993,8 @@ gpgtar_create (char **inpattern, const char *files_from, int null_names,
   tar_header_t hdr, *start_tail;
   estream_t files_from_stream = NULL;
   estream_t outstream = NULL;
-  estream_t cipher_stream = NULL;
   int eof_seen = 0;
+  pid_t pid = (pid_t)(-1);
 
   memset (scanctrl, 0, sizeof *scanctrl);
   scanctrl->flist_tail = &scanctrl->flist;
@@ -1146,64 +1147,37 @@ gpgtar_create (char **inpattern, const char *files_from, int null_names,
   if (files_from_stream && files_from_stream != es_stdin)
     es_fclose (files_from_stream);
 
-  if (opt.outfile)
-    {
-      if (!strcmp (opt.outfile, "-"))
-        outstream = es_stdout;
-      else
-        outstream = es_fopen (opt.outfile, "wb,sysopen");
-      if (!outstream)
-        {
-          err = gpg_error_from_syserror ();
-          goto leave;
-        }
-    }
-  else
-    {
-      outstream = es_stdout;
-    }
-
-  if (outstream == es_stdout)
-    es_set_binary (es_stdout);
-
-  if (encrypt || sign)
-    {
-      cipher_stream = outstream;
-      outstream = es_fopenmem (0, "rwb");
-      if (! outstream)
-        {
-          err = gpg_error_from_syserror ();
-          goto leave;
-        }
-    }
-
-  for (hdr = scanctrl->flist; hdr; hdr = hdr->next)
-    {
-      err = write_file (outstream, hdr);
-      if (err)
-        goto leave;
-    }
-  err = write_eof_mark (outstream);
-  if (err)
-    goto leave;
-
   if (encrypt || sign)
     {
       strlist_t arg;
       ccparray_t ccp;
       const char **argv;
 
-      err = es_fseek (outstream, 0, SEEK_SET);
-      if (err)
-        goto leave;
-
       /* '--encrypt' may be combined with '--symmetric', but 'encrypt'
-         is set either way.  Clear it if no recipients are specified.
-         XXX: Fix command handling.  */
+       * is set either way.  Clear it if no recipients are specified.
+       */
       if (opt.symmetric && opt.recipients == NULL)
         encrypt = 0;
 
       ccparray_init (&ccp, 0);
+      if (opt.batch)
+        ccparray_put (&ccp, "--batch");
+      if (opt.answer_yes)
+        ccparray_put (&ccp, "--yes");
+      if (opt.answer_no)
+        ccparray_put (&ccp, "--no");
+      if (opt.require_compliance)
+        ccparray_put (&ccp, "--require-compliance");
+      if (opt.status_fd != -1)
+        {
+          char tmpbuf[40];
+
+          snprintf (tmpbuf, sizeof tmpbuf, "--status-fd=%d", opt.status_fd);
+          ccparray_put (&ccp, tmpbuf);
+        }
+
+      ccparray_put (&ccp, "--output");
+      ccparray_put (&ccp, opt.outfile? opt.outfile : "-");
       if (encrypt)
         ccparray_put (&ccp, "--encrypt");
       if (sign)
@@ -1231,27 +1205,76 @@ gpgtar_create (char **inpattern, const char *files_from, int null_names,
           goto leave;
         }
 
-      err = gnupg_exec_tool_stream (opt.gpg_program, argv,
-                                    outstream, NULL, cipher_stream, NULL, NULL);
+      err = gnupg_spawn_process (opt.gpg_program, argv, NULL, NULL,
+                                 (GNUPG_SPAWN_KEEP_STDOUT
+                                  | GNUPG_SPAWN_KEEP_STDERR),
+                                 &outstream, NULL, NULL, &pid);
       xfree (argv);
       if (err)
         goto leave;
+      es_set_binary (outstream);
+    }
+  else if (opt.outfile) /* No crypto  */
+    {
+      if (!strcmp (opt.outfile, "-"))
+        outstream = es_stdout;
+      else
+        outstream = es_fopen (opt.outfile, "wb,sysopen");
+      if (!outstream)
+        {
+          err = gpg_error_from_syserror ();
+          goto leave;
+        }
+      if (outstream == es_stdout)
+        es_set_binary (es_stdout);
+
+    }
+  else /* Also no crypto.  */
+    {
+      outstream = es_stdout;
+      es_set_binary (outstream);
+    }
+
+
+  for (hdr = scanctrl->flist; hdr; hdr = hdr->next)
+    {
+      err = write_file (outstream, hdr);
+      if (err)
+        goto leave;
+    }
+  err = write_eof_mark (outstream);
+  if (err)
+    goto leave;
+
+
+  if (pid != (pid_t)(-1))
+    {
+      int exitcode;
+
+      err = es_fclose (outstream);
+      outstream = NULL;
+      if (err)
+        log_error ("error closing pipe: %s\n", gpg_strerror (err));
+      else
+        {
+          err = gnupg_wait_process (opt.gpg_program, pid, 1, &exitcode);
+          if (err)
+            log_error ("running %s failed (exitcode=%d): %s",
+                       opt.gpg_program, exitcode, gpg_strerror (err));
+          gnupg_release_process (pid);
+          pid = (pid_t)(-1);
+        }
     }
 
  leave:
   if (!err)
     {
       gpg_error_t first_err;
-      if (outstream != es_stdout)
+      if (outstream != es_stdout || pid != (pid_t)(-1))
         first_err = es_fclose (outstream);
       else
         first_err = es_fflush (outstream);
       outstream = NULL;
-      if (cipher_stream != es_stdout)
-        err = es_fclose (cipher_stream);
-      else
-        err = es_fflush (cipher_stream);
-      cipher_stream = NULL;
       if (! err)
         err = first_err;
     }
@@ -1261,8 +1284,6 @@ gpgtar_create (char **inpattern, const char *files_from, int null_names,
                  opt.outfile ? opt.outfile : "-", gpg_strerror (err));
       if (outstream && outstream != es_stdout)
         es_fclose (outstream);
-      if (cipher_stream && cipher_stream != es_stdout)
-        es_fclose (cipher_stream);
       if (opt.outfile)
         gnupg_remove (opt.outfile);
     }
diff --git a/tools/gpgtar-extract.c b/tools/gpgtar-extract.c
index 5fad893c5..5f907733b 100644
--- a/tools/gpgtar-extract.c
+++ b/tools/gpgtar-extract.c
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 
 #include "../common/i18n.h"
-#include "../common/exectool.h"
+#include <gpg-error.h>
+#include "../common/exechelp.h"
 #include "../common/sysutils.h"
 #include "../common/ccparray.h"
 #include "gpgtar.h"
@@ -316,18 +317,64 @@ gpg_error_t
 gpgtar_extract (const char *filename, int decrypt)
 {
   gpg_error_t err;
-  estream_t stream;
-  estream_t cipher_stream = NULL;
+  estream_t stream = NULL;
   tar_header_t header = NULL;
   strlist_t extheader = NULL;
   const char *dirprefix = NULL;
   char *dirname = NULL;
   struct tarinfo_s tarinfo_buffer;
   tarinfo_t tarinfo = &tarinfo_buffer;
+  pid_t pid = (pid_t)(-1);
 
   memset (&tarinfo_buffer, 0, sizeof tarinfo_buffer);
 
-  if (filename)
+  if (decrypt)
+    {
+      strlist_t arg;
+      ccparray_t ccp;
+      const char **argv;
+
+      ccparray_init (&ccp, 0);
+      if (opt.batch)
+        ccparray_put (&ccp, "--batch");
+      if (opt.require_compliance)
+        ccparray_put (&ccp, "--require-compliance");
+      if (opt.status_fd != -1)
+        {
+          char tmpbuf[40];
+
+          snprintf (tmpbuf, sizeof tmpbuf, "--status-fd=%d", opt.status_fd);
+          ccparray_put (&ccp, tmpbuf);
+        }
+      ccparray_put (&ccp, "--output");
+      ccparray_put (&ccp, "-");
+      ccparray_put (&ccp, "--decrypt");
+      for (arg = opt.gpg_arguments; arg; arg = arg->next)
+        ccparray_put (&ccp, arg->d);
+      if (filename)
+        {
+          ccparray_put (&ccp, "--");
+          ccparray_put (&ccp, filename);
+        }
+
+      ccparray_put (&ccp, NULL);
+      argv = ccparray_get (&ccp, NULL);
+      if (!argv)
+        {
+          err = gpg_error_from_syserror ();
+          goto leave;
+        }
+
+      err = gnupg_spawn_process (opt.gpg_program, argv, NULL, NULL,
+                                 ((filename? 0 : GNUPG_SPAWN_KEEP_STDIN)
+                                  | GNUPG_SPAWN_KEEP_STDERR),
+                                 NULL, &stream, NULL, &pid);
+      xfree (argv);
+      if (err)
+        goto leave;
+      es_set_binary (stream);
+    }
+  else if (filename)
     {
       if (!strcmp (filename, "-"))
         stream = es_stdin;
@@ -339,52 +386,16 @@ gpgtar_extract (const char *filename, int decrypt)
           log_error ("error opening '%s': %s\n", filename, gpg_strerror (err));
           return err;
         }
+      if (stream == es_stdin)
+        es_set_binary (es_stdin);
     }
   else
-    stream = es_stdin;
-
-  if (stream == es_stdin)
-    es_set_binary (es_stdin);
-
-  if (decrypt)
     {
-      strlist_t arg;
-      ccparray_t ccp;
-      const char **argv;
-
-      cipher_stream = stream;
-      stream = es_fopenmem (0, "rwb");
-      if (! stream)
-        {
-          err = gpg_error_from_syserror ();
-          goto leave;
-        }
-
-      ccparray_init (&ccp, 0);
-
-      ccparray_put (&ccp, "--decrypt");
-      for (arg = opt.gpg_arguments; arg; arg = arg->next)
-        ccparray_put (&ccp, arg->d);
-
-      ccparray_put (&ccp, NULL);
-      argv = ccparray_get (&ccp, NULL);
-      if (!argv)
-        {
-          err = gpg_error_from_syserror ();
-          goto leave;
-        }
-
-      err = gnupg_exec_tool_stream (opt.gpg_program, argv,
-                                    cipher_stream, NULL, stream, NULL, NULL);
-      xfree (argv);
-      if (err)
-        goto leave;
-
-      err = es_fseek (stream, 0, SEEK_SET);
-      if (err)
-        goto leave;
+      stream = es_stdin;
+      es_set_binary (es_stdin);
     }
 
+
   if (opt.directory)
     dirname = xtrystrdup (opt.directory);
   else
@@ -435,6 +446,25 @@ gpgtar_extract (const char *filename, int decrypt)
       header = NULL;
     }
 
+  if (pid != (pid_t)(-1))
+    {
+      int exitcode;
+
+      err = es_fclose (stream);
+      stream = NULL;
+      if (err)
+        log_error ("error closing pipe: %s\n", gpg_strerror (err));
+      else
+        {
+          err = gnupg_wait_process (opt.gpg_program, pid, 1, &exitcode);
+          if (err)
+            log_error ("running %s failed (exitcode=%d): %s",
+                       opt.gpg_program, exitcode, gpg_strerror (err));
+          gnupg_release_process (pid);
+          pid = (pid_t)(-1);
+        }
+    }
+
 
  leave:
   free_strlist (extheader);
@@ -442,7 +472,5 @@ gpgtar_extract (const char *filename, int decrypt)
   xfree (dirname);
   if (stream != es_stdin)
     es_fclose (stream);
-  if (stream != cipher_stream)
-    es_fclose (cipher_stream);
   return err;
 }
diff --git a/tools/gpgtar-list.c b/tools/gpgtar-list.c
index 413abeed3..9e175437b 100644
--- a/tools/gpgtar-list.c
+++ b/tools/gpgtar-list.c
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "../common/i18n.h"
+#include <gpg-error.h>
 #include "gpgtar.h"
-#include "../common/exectool.h"
+#include "../common/exechelp.h"
+#include "../common/sysutils.h"
 #include "../common/ccparray.h"
 
 
@@ -453,53 +455,43 @@ gpg_error_t
 gpgtar_list (const char *filename, int decrypt)
 {
   gpg_error_t err;
-  estream_t stream;
-  estream_t cipher_stream = NULL;
+  estream_t stream = NULL;
   tar_header_t header = NULL;
   strlist_t extheader = NULL;
   struct tarinfo_s tarinfo_buffer;
   tarinfo_t tarinfo = &tarinfo_buffer;
+  pid_t pid = (pid_t)(-1);
 
   memset (&tarinfo_buffer, 0, sizeof tarinfo_buffer);
 
-  if (filename)
-    {
-      if (!strcmp (filename, "-"))
-        stream = es_stdin;
-      else
-        stream = es_fopen (filename, "rb");
-      if (!stream)
-        {
-          err = gpg_error_from_syserror ();
-          log_error ("error opening '%s': %s\n", filename, gpg_strerror (err));
-          return err;
-        }
-    }
-  else
-    stream = es_stdin;
-
-  if (stream == es_stdin)
-    es_set_binary (es_stdin);
-
   if (decrypt)
     {
       strlist_t arg;
       ccparray_t ccp;
       const char **argv;
 
-      cipher_stream = stream;
-      stream = es_fopenmem (0, "rwb");
-      if (! stream)
-        {
-          err = gpg_error_from_syserror ();
-          goto leave;
-        }
-
       ccparray_init (&ccp, 0);
+      if (opt.batch)
+        ccparray_put (&ccp, "--batch");
+      if (opt.require_compliance)
+        ccparray_put (&ccp, "--require-compliance");
+      if (opt.status_fd != -1)
+        {
+          char tmpbuf[40];
 
+          snprintf (tmpbuf, sizeof tmpbuf, "--status-fd=%d", opt.status_fd);
+          ccparray_put (&ccp, tmpbuf);
+        }
+      ccparray_put (&ccp, "--output");
+      ccparray_put (&ccp, "-");
       ccparray_put (&ccp, "--decrypt");
       for (arg = opt.gpg_arguments; arg; arg = arg->next)
         ccparray_put (&ccp, arg->d);
+      if (filename)
+        {
+          ccparray_put (&ccp, "--");
+          ccparray_put (&ccp, filename);
+        }
 
       ccparray_put (&ccp, NULL);
       argv = ccparray_get (&ccp, NULL);
@@ -509,15 +501,34 @@ gpgtar_list (const char *filename, int decrypt)
           goto leave;
         }
 
-      err = gnupg_exec_tool_stream (opt.gpg_program, argv,
-                                    cipher_stream, NULL, stream, NULL, NULL);
+      err = gnupg_spawn_process (opt.gpg_program, argv, NULL, NULL,
+                                 ((filename? 0 : GNUPG_SPAWN_KEEP_STDIN)
+                                  | GNUPG_SPAWN_KEEP_STDERR),
+                                 NULL, &stream, NULL, &pid);
       xfree (argv);
       if (err)
         goto leave;
-
-      err = es_fseek (stream, 0, SEEK_SET);
-      if (err)
-        goto leave;
+      es_set_binary (stream);
+    }
+  else if (filename)  /* No decryption requested.  */
+    {
+      if (!strcmp (filename, "-"))
+        stream = es_stdin;
+      else
+        stream = es_fopen (filename, "rb,sysopen");
+      if (!stream)
+        {
+          err = gpg_error_from_syserror ();
+          log_error ("error opening '%s': %s\n", filename, gpg_strerror (err));
+          goto leave;
+        }
+      if (stream == es_stdin)
+        es_set_binary (es_stdin);
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      stream = es_stdin;
+      es_set_binary (es_stdin);
     }
 
   for (;;)
@@ -536,17 +547,34 @@ gpgtar_list (const char *filename, int decrypt)
       header = NULL;
     }
 
+  if (pid != (pid_t)(-1))
+    {
+      int exitcode;
+
+      err = es_fclose (stream);
+      stream = NULL;
+      if (err)
+        log_error ("error closing pipe: %s\n", gpg_strerror (err));
+      else
+        {
+          err = gnupg_wait_process (opt.gpg_program, pid, 1, &exitcode);
+          if (err)
+            log_error ("running %s failed (exitcode=%d): %s",
+                       opt.gpg_program, exitcode, gpg_strerror (err));
+          gnupg_release_process (pid);
+          pid = (pid_t)(-1);
+        }
+    }
 
  leave:
   free_strlist (extheader);
   xfree (header);
   if (stream != es_stdin)
     es_fclose (stream);
-  if (stream != cipher_stream)
-    es_fclose (cipher_stream);
   return err;
 }
 
+
 gpg_error_t
 gpgtar_read_header (estream_t stream, tarinfo_t info,
                     tar_header_t *r_header, strlist_t *r_extheader)
diff --git a/tools/gpgtar.c b/tools/gpgtar.c
index c15f3dcd0..8131c99a1 100644
--- a/tools/gpgtar.c
+++ b/tools/gpgtar.c
@@ -76,12 +76,18 @@ enum cmd_and_opt_values
     oNull,
     oUtf8Strings,
 
+    oBatch,
+    oAnswerYes,
+    oAnswerNo,
+    oStatusFD,
+    oRequireCompliance,
+
     /* Compatibility with gpg-zip.  */
     oGpgArgs,
     oTarArgs,
 
     /* Debugging.  */
-    oDryRun,
+    oDryRun
   };
 
 
@@ -112,6 +118,12 @@ static ARGPARSE_OPTS opts[] = {
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oOpenPGP, "openpgp", "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oCMS, "cms", "@"),
 
+  ARGPARSE_s_n (oBatch, "batch", "@"),
+  ARGPARSE_s_n (oAnswerYes, "yes", "@"),
+  ARGPARSE_s_n (oAnswerNo, "no", "@"),
+  ARGPARSE_s_i (oStatusFD, "status-fd", "@"),
+  ARGPARSE_s_n (oRequireCompliance, "require-compliance", "@"),
+
   ARGPARSE_group (302, N_("@\nTar options:\n ")),
 
   ARGPARSE_s_s (oDirectory, "directory",
@@ -372,6 +384,12 @@ parse_arguments (ARGPARSE_ARGS *pargs, ARGPARSE_OPTS *popts)
         case oOpenPGP: /* Dummy option for now.  */ break;
         case oCMS:     /* Dummy option for now.  */ break;
 
+        case oBatch: opt.batch = 1; break;
+        case oAnswerYes: opt.answer_yes = 1; break;
+        case oAnswerNo: opt.answer_no = 1; break;
+        case oStatusFD: opt.status_fd = pargs->r.ret_int; break;
+        case oRequireCompliance: opt.require_compliance = 1; break;
+
         case oGpgArgs:;
           {
             strlist_t list;
@@ -437,9 +455,13 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   /* Make sure that our subsystems are ready.  */
   i18n_init();
   init_common_subsystems (&argc, &argv);
+  gnupg_init_signals (0, NULL);
 
   log_assert (sizeof (struct ustar_raw_header) == 512);
 
+  /* Set default options */
+  opt.status_fd = -1;
+
   /* Parse the command line. */
   pargs.argc  = &argc;
   pargs.argv  = &argv;
@@ -522,7 +544,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 
 
 /* Read the next record from STREAM.  RECORD is a buffer provided by
-   the caller and must be at leadt of size RECORDSIZE.  The function
+   the caller and must be at least of size RECORDSIZE.  The function
    return 0 on success and error code on failure; a diagnostic
    printed as well.  Note that there is no need for an EOF indicator
    because a tarball has an explicit EOF record. */
diff --git a/tools/gpgtar.h b/tools/gpgtar.h
index 5e44112ca..b39c1359c 100644
--- a/tools/gpgtar.h
+++ b/tools/gpgtar.h
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ struct
   int symmetric;
   const char *filename;
   const char *directory;
+  int batch;
+  int answer_yes;
+  int answer_no;
+  int status_fd;
+  int require_compliance;
 } opt;