diff --git a/data/lua/on_event.lua b/data/lua/on_event.lua
index 9bbc0ab9bd7..f5e3dd6986d 100644
--- a/data/lua/on_event.lua
+++ b/data/lua/on_event.lua
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ end
 
 local function on_event(eventname, arg1, arg2)
 	if string.match(eventname, ",") then
-		for elem in utils.split(eventname or "") do
+		for _,elem in ipairs((eventname or ""):split()) do
 			on_event(elem, arg1, arg2)
 		end
 		return
diff --git a/data/lua/wml-flow.lua b/data/lua/wml-flow.lua
index 8f94e2b7b0b..9cf19dce797 100644
--- a/data/lua/wml-flow.lua
+++ b/data/lua/wml-flow.lua
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ function wml_actions.switch(cfg)
 
 	-- Execute all the [case]s where the value matches.
 	for v in wml.child_range(cfg, "case") do
-		for w in utils.split(v.value) do
+		for _,w in ipairs(v.value:split()) do
 			if w == tostring(var_value) then
 				local action = utils.handle_event_commands(v, "switch")
 				found = true
diff --git a/data/lua/wml-tags.lua b/data/lua/wml-tags.lua
index 0c92a535330..46b8c58d85a 100644
--- a/data/lua/wml-tags.lua
+++ b/data/lua/wml-tags.lua
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ function wml_actions.sync_variable(cfg)
 	local result = wesnoth.synchronize_choice(
 		function()
 			local res = {}
-			for name_raw in utils.split(names) do
+			for _,name_raw in ipairs(names:split()) do
 				local name = name_raw:trim()
 				local variable_type = string.sub(name, string.len(name)) == "]" and "indexed" or ( wml.variables[name .. ".length"] > 0 and "array" or "attribute")
 				local variable_info = { name = name, type = variable_type }
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ function wml_actions.clear_variable(cfg, variables)
 	local names = cfg.name or
 		wml.error "[clear_variable] missing required name= attribute."
 	if variables == nil then variables = wml.variables end
-	for w in utils.split(names) do
+	for _,w in ipairs(names:split()) do
 		variables[w:trim()] = nil
 	end
 end
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ function wml_actions.store_unit_type(cfg)
 	local types = cfg.type or
 		wml.error "[store_unit_type] missing required type= attribute."
 	local writer = utils.vwriter.init(cfg, "unit_type")
-	for w in utils.split(types) do
+	for _,w in ipairs(types:split()) do
 		local unit_type = wesnoth.unit_types[w] or
 			wml.error(string.format("Attempt to store nonexistent unit type '%s'.", w))
 		utils.vwriter.write(writer, unit_type.__cfg)
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ function wml_actions.allow_recruit(cfg)
 	local unit_types = cfg.type or wml.error("[allow_recruit] missing required type= attribute")
 	for index, team in ipairs(wesnoth.sides.find(cfg)) do
 		local v = team.recruit
-		for type in utils.split(unit_types) do
+		for _,type in ipairs(unit_types:split()) do
 			table.insert(v, type)
 			wesnoth.add_known_unit(type)
 		end
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ function wml_actions.allow_extra_recruit(cfg)
 	local recruits = cfg.extra_recruit or wml.error("[allow_extra_recruit] missing required extra_recruit= attribute")
 	for index, unit in ipairs(wesnoth.units.find_on_map(cfg)) do
 		local v = unit.extra_recruit
-		for recruit in utils.split(recruits) do
+		for _,recruit in iapirs(recruits:split()) do
 			table.insert(v, recruit)
 			wesnoth.add_known_unit(recruit)
 		end
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ function wml_actions.disallow_recruit(cfg)
 	for index, team in ipairs(wesnoth.sides.find(cfg)) do
 		if unit_types then
 			local v = team.recruit
-			for w in utils.split(unit_types) do
+			for _,w in ipairs(unit_types:split()) do
 				for i, r in ipairs(v) do
 					if r == w then
 						table.remove(v, i)
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ function wml_actions.disallow_extra_recruit(cfg)
 	local recruits = cfg.extra_recruit or wml.error("[disallow_extra_recruit] missing required extra_recruit= attribute")
 	for index, unit in ipairs(wesnoth.units.find_on_map(cfg)) do
 		local v = unit.extra_recruit
-		for w in utils.split(recruits) do
+		for _,w in ipairs(recruits:split()) do
 			for i, r in ipairs(v) do
 				if r == w then
 					table.remove(v, i)
@@ -218,21 +218,13 @@ end
 function wml_actions.set_recruit(cfg)
 	local recruit = cfg.recruit or wml.error("[set_recruit] missing required recruit= attribute")
 	for index, team in ipairs(wesnoth.sides.find(cfg)) do
-		local v = {}
-		for w in utils.split(recruit) do
-			table.insert(v, w)
-		end
-		team.recruit = v
+		team.recruit = recruit:split()
 	end
 end
 
 function wml_actions.set_extra_recruit(cfg)
 	local recruits = cfg.extra_recruit or wml.error("[set_extra_recruit] missing required extra_recruit= attribute")
-	local v = {}
-
-	for w in utils.split(recruits) do
-		table.insert(v, w)
-	end
+	local v = recruits:split()
 
 	for index, unit in ipairs(wesnoth.units.find_on_map(cfg)) do
 		unit.extra_recruit = v
@@ -254,7 +246,7 @@ function wml_actions.unit_worth(cfg)
 	local hp = u.hitpoints / u.max_hitpoints
 	local xp = u.experience / u.max_experience
 	local best_adv = ut.cost
-	for w in utils.split(ut.__cfg.advances_to) do
+	for _,w in ipairs(ut.advances_to) do
 		local uta = wesnoth.unit_types[w]
 		if uta and uta.cost > best_adv then best_adv = uta.cost end
 	end
@@ -742,7 +734,7 @@ end
 function wml_actions.remove_time_area(cfg)
 	local id = cfg.id or wml.error("[remove_time_area] missing required id= key")
 
-	for w in utils.split(id) do
+	for _,w in ipairs(id:split()) do
 		wesnoth.remove_time_area(w)
 	end
 end
@@ -783,7 +775,7 @@ end
 function wml_actions.remove_event(cfg)
 	local id = cfg.id or wml.error("[remove_event] missing required id= key")
 
-	for w in utils.split(id) do
+	for _,w in ipairs(id:split()) do
 		wesnoth.remove_event_handler(w)
 	end
 end
@@ -892,7 +884,7 @@ end
 
 function wml_actions.remove_sound_source(cfg)
 	local ids = cfg.id or wml.error("[remove_sound_source] missing required id= attribute")
-	for id in utils.split(ids) do
+	for _,id in ipairs(ids:split()) do
 		wesnoth.remove_sound_source(id)
 	end
 end
diff --git a/data/lua/wml/endlevel.lua b/data/lua/wml/endlevel.lua
index 96279f5ca58..30900543913 100644
--- a/data/lua/wml/endlevel.lua
+++ b/data/lua/wml/endlevel.lua
@@ -85,10 +85,7 @@ function wesnoth.wml_actions.endlevel(cfg)
 	local victory = there_is_a_local_human_victory or (not there_is_a_local_human_defeat and proceed_to_next_level)
 
 	if cfg.music then
-		local music = {}
-		for track in utils.split(cfg.music) do
-			table.insert(music, track)
-		end
+		local music = cfg.music:split()
 		if victory then
 			wesnoth.game_config.victory_music = music
 		else
diff --git a/data/lua/wml/message.lua b/data/lua/wml/message.lua
index 4d6208a1776..0637a99ade6 100644
--- a/data/lua/wml/message.lua
+++ b/data/lua/wml/message.lua
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ function wesnoth.wml_actions.message(cfg)
 		local show_for_side = false
 
 		-- Sanity checks on side number and controller
-		for side in utils.split(sides_for) do
+		for _,side in ipairs(tostring(sides_for):split()) do
 			side = tonumber(side)
 			if side > 0 and side <= #wesnoth.sides
 				and wesnoth.sides[side].controller == "human"
diff --git a/data/lua/wml/modify_side.lua b/data/lua/wml/modify_side.lua
index 3392cb7749d..fe5b1a58331 100644
--- a/data/lua/wml/modify_side.lua
+++ b/data/lua/wml/modify_side.lua
@@ -26,11 +26,7 @@ function wesnoth.wml_actions.modify_side(cfg)
 			side.defeat_condition = cfg.defeat_condition
 		end
 		if cfg.recruit then
-			local recruits = {}
-			for recruit in utils.split(cfg.recruit) do
-				table.insert(recruits, recruit)
-			end
-			side.recruit = recruits
+			side.recruit = cfg.recruit:split()
 		end
 		if cfg.village_support then
 			side.village_support = cfg.village_support
diff --git a/data/lua/wml/modify_unit.lua b/data/lua/wml/modify_unit.lua
index 05c64a09dba..94b76a03775 100644
--- a/data/lua/wml/modify_unit.lua
+++ b/data/lua/wml/modify_unit.lua
@@ -6,16 +6,6 @@ local wml_actions = wesnoth.wml_actions
 --  in the first part of this file and the fallback (old) implementation in the
 --  second part of this file
 
-local function split_to_array(str)
-	-- Split string @str into a table using the delimiter @sep (default: ',')
-
-	local fields = {}
-	for c in utils.split(str) do
-		fields[#fields+1] = c
-	end
-	return fields
-end
-
 local function make_set(t)
 	local res = {}
 	for i, v in ipairs(t) do
@@ -125,7 +115,7 @@ local function simple_modify_unit(cfg)
 			u["goto"] = { cfg.goto_x or u["goto"][1] , cfg.goto_y or u["goto"][2] }
 		end
 		if cfg.extra_recruit then
-			u.extra_recruit = split_to_array(cfg.extra_recruit)
+			u.extra_recruit = cfg.extra_recruit:split()
 		end
 		if cfg.ai_special == "guardian" then
 			u.status.guardian = true
diff --git a/data/lua/wml/move_unit.lua b/data/lua/wml/move_unit.lua
index b02a14e4067..975ba870d88 100644
--- a/data/lua/wml/move_unit.lua
+++ b/data/lua/wml/move_unit.lua
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ local function path_locs(path)
 		-- Index is 1 for x, 2 for y
 		local function special_locations(index)
 			return function()
-				for loc in utils.split(path.location_id) do
+				for _,loc in ipairs(tostring(path.location_id):split()) do
 					loc = wesnoth.special_locations[loc]
 					if loc then coroutine.yield(loc[index]) end
 				end
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ local function path_locs(path)
 		local function relative_locations(index)
 			return function(u)
 				local last = {x = u.x, y = u.y}
-				for dir in utils.split(cfg.dir) do
+				for _,dir in ipairs(cfg.dir:split()) do
 					local count = 1
 					if dir:find(":") then
 						local error_dir = dir
@@ -34,7 +34,13 @@ local function path_locs(path)
 			end
 		end
 	else
-		return utils.split(path.to_x), utils.split(path.to_y)
+		-- Index is 1 for x, 2 for y
+		local function abs_locations(coord)
+			for _,s in tostring(path[coord]):split() do
+				coroutine.yield(tonumber(s))
+			end
+		end
+		return coroutine.wrap(abs_locations('to_x')), coroutine.wrap(abs_locations('to_y'))
 	end
 end
 
diff --git a/data/lua/wml/role.lua b/data/lua/wml/role.lua
index a816da48fc0..7c7799f64fd 100644
--- a/data/lua/wml/role.lua
+++ b/data/lua/wml/role.lua
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ function wesnoth.wml_actions.role(cfg)
 	local types = {}
 
 	if cfg.type then
-		for value in utils.split(cfg.type) do
+		for _,value in ipairs(cfg.type:split()) do
 			table.insert(types, value:trim())
 		end
 	end