diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/blockdevice.py b/diskimage_builder/block_device/blockdevice.py
index 0cf44bf4..38da314c 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/blockdevice.py
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/blockdevice.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ import yaml
 
 from stevedore import extension
 
+from diskimage_builder.block_device.config import \
+    config_tree_to_graph
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.exception import \
     BlockDeviceSetupException
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.utils import exec_sudo
@@ -119,30 +121,6 @@ class BlockDevice(object):
                         else:
                             v['label'] = "cloudimg-rootfs"
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _config_tree_to_digraph(tconfig, plugin_manager):
-        """Converts a possible tree-like config into a complete digraph"""
-        dconfig = []
-        for config_entry in tconfig:
-            if len(config_entry) != 1:
-                logger.error("Invalid config entry: more than one key "
-                             "on top level [%s]" % config_entry)
-                raise BlockDeviceSetupException(
-                    "Top level config must contain exactly one key per entry")
-            logger.debug("Config entry [%s]" % config_entry)
-            config_key = list(config_entry)[0]
-            config_value = config_entry[config_key]
-            name = config_value['name'] \
-                   if 'name' in config_value else None
-            if config_key not in plugin_manager:
-                dconfig.append(config_entry)
-            else:
-                plugin_manager[config_key].plugin \
-                    .tree_config.config_tree_to_digraph(
-                        config_key, config_value, dconfig, name,
-                        plugin_manager)
-        return dconfig
-
     @staticmethod
     def _load_json(file_name):
         if os.path.exists(file_name):
@@ -211,6 +189,7 @@ class BlockDevice(object):
                 return 1
             cfg_obj = self.plugin_manager[cfg_obj_name].plugin(
                 cfg_obj_val, default_config)
+
             # At this point it is only possible to add the nodes:
             # adding the edges needs all nodes first.
             cfg_obj.insert_nodes(dg)
@@ -238,8 +217,7 @@ class BlockDevice(object):
         with open(self.params['config'], "rt") as config_fd:
             self.config = yaml.safe_load(config_fd)
         logger.debug("Config before merge [%s]" % self.config)
-        self.config = self._config_tree_to_digraph(self.config,
-                                                   self.plugin_manager)
+        self.config = config_tree_to_graph(self.config)
         logger.debug("Config before merge [%s]" % self.config)
         self._merge_into_config()
         logger.debug("Final config [%s]" % self.config)
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/config.py b/diskimage_builder/block_device/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1fef2a0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+
+import logging
+
+from stevedore import extension
+
+from diskimage_builder.block_device.exception import \
+    BlockDeviceSetupException
+
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+_extensions = extension.ExtensionManager(
+    namespace='diskimage_builder.block_device.plugin',
+    invoke_on_load=False)
+
+
+# check if a given name is registered as a plugin
+def is_a_plugin(name):
+    return any(
+        _extensions.map(lambda x: x.name == name))
+
+
+def recurse_config(config, parent_base=None):
+    """Convert a config "tree" to it's canonical name/base graph version
+
+    This is a recursive function to convert a YAML layout "tree"
+    config into a "flat" graph-based config.
+
+    Arguments:
+    :param config: the incoming config dictionary
+    :param parent_base: the name of the parent node, if any
+    :return: a list of expanded, graph-based config items
+
+    """
+    output = []
+    this = {}
+
+    # We should only have one key, with multiple values, being the
+    # config entries.  e.g. (this was checked by config_tree_to_graph)
+    #  mkfs:
+    #    type: ext4
+    #    label: 1234
+    assert len(config.items()) == 1
+    for k, v in config.items():
+        key = k
+        values = v
+
+    # If we don't have a base, we take the parent base; first element
+    # can have no base, however.
+    if 'base' not in values:
+        if parent_base is not None:
+            this['base'] = parent_base
+    else:
+        this['base'] = values['base']
+
+    # If we don't have a name, it is made up as "key_base"
+    if 'name' not in values:
+        this['name'] = "%s_%s" % (key, this['base'])
+    else:
+        this['name'] = values['name']
+
+    # Go through the the values dictionary.  Either this is a "plugin"
+    # key that needs to be recursed, or it is a value that is part of
+    # this config entry.
+    for nk, nv in values.items():
+        if nk == "partitions":
+            # "partitions" is a special key of the "partitioning"
+            # object.  It is a list.  Each list-entry gets treated
+            # as a top-level entry, so we need to recurse it's
+            # keys.  But instead of becoming its own entry in the
+            # graph, it gets attached to the .partitions attribute
+            # of the parent. (see end for example)
+            this['partitions'] = []
+            for partition in nv:
+                new_part = {}
+                for pk, pv in partition.items():
+                    if is_a_plugin(pk):
+                        output.extend(
+                            recurse_config({pk: pv}, partition['name']))
+                    else:
+                        new_part[pk] = pv
+                new_part['base'] = this['base']
+                this['partitions'].append(new_part)
+        elif is_a_plugin(nk):
+            # is this key a plugin directive?  If so, we recurse
+            # into it.
+            output.extend(recurse_config({nk: nv}, this['name']))
+        else:
+            # A value entry; just save as part of this entry
+            this[nk] = nv
+
+    output.append({k: this})
+    return output
+
+
+def config_tree_to_graph(config):
+    """Turn a YAML config into a graph config
+
+    Our YAML config is a list of entries.  Each
+
+    Arguments:
+    :parm config: YAML config; either graph or tree
+    :return: graph-based result
+
+    """
+    output = []
+
+    for entry in config:
+        # Top-level entries should be a dictionary and have a plugin
+        # registered for it
+        if not isinstance(entry, dict):
+            raise BlockDeviceSetupException(
+                "Config entry not a dict: %s" % entry)
+
+        keys = list(entry.keys())
+
+        if len(keys) != 1:
+            raise BlockDeviceSetupException(
+                "Config entry top-level should be a single dict: %s" % entry)
+
+        if not is_a_plugin(keys[0]):
+            raise BlockDeviceSetupException(
+                "Config entry is not a plugin value: %s" % entry)
+
+        output.extend(recurse_config(entry))
+
+    return output
+
+
+#
+# On partitioning: objects
+#
+# To be concrete --
+#
+# partitioning:
+#   base: loop0
+#   name: mbr
+#   partitions:
+#     - name: partition1
+#       foo: bar
+#       mkfs:
+#         type: xfs
+#         mount:
+#           mount_point: /
+#
+# gets turned into the following graph:
+#
+# partitioning:
+#   partitions:
+#     - name: partition1
+#       base: image0
+#       foo: bar
+#
+# mkfs:
+#   base: partition1
+#   name: mkfs_partition1
+#   type: xfs
+#
+# mount:
+#   base: mkfs_partition1
+#   name: mount_mkfs_partition1
+#   mount_point: /
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level0/localloop.py b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level0/localloop.py
index a776ecae..aa33531d 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level0/localloop.py
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level0/localloop.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import subprocess
 
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.exception import \
     BlockDeviceSetupException
-from diskimage_builder.block_device.tree_config import TreeConfig
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.utils import parse_abs_size_spec
 from diskimage_builder.graph.digraph import Digraph
 
@@ -32,8 +31,6 @@ class LocalLoop(Digraph.Node):
     This class handles local loop devices that can be used
     for VM image installation.
     """
-    tree_config = TreeConfig("local_loop")
-
     def __init__(self, config, default_config):
         logger.debug("Creating LocalLoop object; config [%s] "
                      "default_config [%s]" % (config, default_config))
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/__init__.py b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/__init__.py
index 145b0b45..0e31c834 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/__init__.py
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/__init__.py
@@ -14,7 +14,5 @@
 # under the License.
 
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.level1.partitioning import Partitioning
-from diskimage_builder.block_device.level1.partitioning \
-    import PartitioningTreeConfig
 
-__all__ = [Partitioning, PartitioningTreeConfig]
+__all__ = [Partitioning]
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/partition.py b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/partition.py
index a6954b71..7a61176c 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/partition.py
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/partition.py
@@ -14,44 +14,15 @@ import logging
 
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.exception import \
     BlockDeviceSetupException
-from diskimage_builder.block_device.tree_config import TreeConfig
 from diskimage_builder.graph.digraph import Digraph
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class PartitionTreeConfig(object):
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def config_tree_to_digraph(config_key, config_value, pconfig, dconfig,
-                               base_name, plugin_manager):
-        logger.debug("called [%s] [%s] [%s]"
-                     % (config_key, config_value, base_name))
-        assert config_key == Partition.type_string
-
-        for partition in config_value:
-            name = partition['name']
-            nconfig = {
-                'name': name,
-                'base': base_name
-            }
-            for k, v in partition.items():
-                if k not in plugin_manager:
-                    nconfig[k] = v
-                else:
-                    plugin_manager[k].plugin \
-                                     .tree_config.config_tree_to_digraph(
-                                         k, v, dconfig, name, plugin_manager)
-            pconfig.append(nconfig)
-
-        logger.debug("finished [%s] [%s]" % (nconfig, dconfig))
-
-
 class Partition(Digraph.Node):
 
     type_string = "partitions"
-    tree_config = TreeConfig("partitions")
 
     flag_boot = 1
     flag_primary = 2
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/partitioning.py b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/partitioning.py
index 6a8c8880..e11ae962 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/partitioning.py
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level1/partitioning.py
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@ from diskimage_builder.block_device.exception import \
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.level1.mbr import MBR
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.level1.partition import \
     Partition
-from diskimage_builder.block_device.level1.partition import \
-    PartitionTreeConfig
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.utils import exec_sudo
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.utils import parse_abs_size_spec
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.utils import parse_rel_size_spec
@@ -33,34 +31,8 @@ from diskimage_builder.graph.digraph import Digraph
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class PartitioningTreeConfig(object):
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def config_tree_to_digraph(config_key, config_value, dconfig,
-                               default_base_name, plugin_manager):
-        logger.debug("called [%s] [%s] [%s]"
-                     % (config_key, config_value, default_base_name))
-        assert config_key == "partitioning"
-        base_name = config_value['base'] if 'base' in config_value \
-                    else default_base_name
-        nconfig = {'base': base_name}
-        for k, v in config_value.items():
-            if k != 'partitions':
-                nconfig[k] = v
-            else:
-                pconfig = []
-                PartitionTreeConfig.config_tree_to_digraph(
-                    k, v, pconfig, dconfig, base_name, plugin_manager)
-                nconfig['partitions'] = pconfig
-
-        dconfig.append({config_key: nconfig})
-        logger.debug("finished new [%s] complete [%s]" % (nconfig, dconfig))
-
-
 class Partitioning(Digraph.Node):
 
-    tree_config = PartitioningTreeConfig()
-
     def __init__(self, config, default_config):
         logger.debug("Creating Partitioning object; config [%s]" % config)
         # Because using multiple partitions of one base is done
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level2/mkfs.py b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level2/mkfs.py
index ba4469c5..9d891597 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level2/mkfs.py
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level2/mkfs.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import uuid
 
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.exception \
     import BlockDeviceSetupException
-from diskimage_builder.block_device.tree_config import TreeConfig
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.utils import exec_sudo
 from diskimage_builder.graph.digraph import Digraph
 
@@ -164,7 +163,6 @@ class Mkfs(object):
     """
 
     type_string = "mkfs"
-    tree_config = TreeConfig("mkfs")
 
     def __init__(self, config, default_config):
         logger.debug("Create Mkfs object; config [%s]" % config)
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level3/mount.py b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level3/mount.py
index 1046f29c..b709f451 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level3/mount.py
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level3/mount.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import os
 
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.exception \
     import BlockDeviceSetupException
-from diskimage_builder.block_device.tree_config import TreeConfig
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.utils import exec_sudo
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.utils import sort_mount_points
 from diskimage_builder.graph.digraph import Digraph
@@ -131,7 +130,6 @@ class MountPoint(Digraph.Node):
 class Mount(object):
 
     type_string = "mount"
-    tree_config = TreeConfig("mount")
 
     def __init__(self, config, params):
         logger.debug("Mounting object; config [%s]" % config)
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level4/fstab.py b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level4/fstab.py
index 7f3cacd7..cf450884 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/level4/fstab.py
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/level4/fstab.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 
 import logging
 
-from diskimage_builder.block_device.tree_config import TreeConfig
 from diskimage_builder.graph.digraph import Digraph
 
 
@@ -24,7 +23,6 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 class Fstab(Digraph.Node):
 
     type_string = "fstab"
-    tree_config = TreeConfig("fstab")
 
     def __init__(self, config, params):
         logger.debug("Fstab object; config [%s]" % config)
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/config/deep_graph.yaml b/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/config/deep_graph.yaml
index 993705a1..8ee7246a 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/config/deep_graph.yaml
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/config/deep_graph.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 - local_loop:
-    base: image0
     name: image0
 
 - partitioning:
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/config/multiple_partitions_graph.yaml b/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/config/multiple_partitions_graph.yaml
index 42c62282..8a46086a 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/config/multiple_partitions_graph.yaml
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/config/multiple_partitions_graph.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 - local_loop:
-    base: image0
     name: image0
 
 - partitioning:
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/test_config.py b/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/test_config.py
index ab0ae8bf..af2ee9ad 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/diskimage_builder/block_device/tests/test_config.py
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ import yaml
 
 from diskimage_builder.block_device.blockdevice \
     import BlockDevice
+from diskimage_builder.block_device.config \
+    import config_tree_to_graph
+from diskimage_builder.block_device.exception import \
+    BlockDeviceSetupException
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -62,52 +66,40 @@ class TestGraphGeneration(TestConfig):
         self.bd = BlockDevice(self.fake_default_config)
 
 
-# NOTE: inherits from TestGraphGeneration for simplicity to get
-# BlockDevice.plugin_manager object for _config_tree_to_diagraph.
-# Config parsing can be moved separately (and not require a
-# BlockDevice object) in a later change.
-class TestConfigParsing(TestGraphGeneration):
+class TestConfigParsing(TestConfig):
     """Test parsing config file into a graph"""
 
     def test_config_bad_plugin(self):
-        # Currently, configuration parsing does not notice a missing
-        # plugin.  This is left as a stub
-        return
-        # config = self.load_config_file('bad_plugin.yaml')
-        # self.assertRaises(BlockDeviceSetupException,
-        #                  self.bd._config_tree_to_digraph,
-        #                  config, self.bd.plugin_manager)
+        config = self.load_config_file('bad_plugin.yaml')
+        self.assertRaises(BlockDeviceSetupException,
+                          config_tree_to_graph,
+                          config)
 
     # a graph should remain the same
     def test_graph(self):
         graph = self.load_config_file('simple_graph.yaml')
-        parsed_graph = self.bd._config_tree_to_digraph(graph,
-                                                       self.bd.plugin_manager)
-        self.assertEqual(parsed_graph, graph)
+        parsed_graph = config_tree_to_graph(graph)
+        self.assertItemsEqual(parsed_graph, graph)
 
     # equivalence of simple tree to graph
     def test_simple_tree(self):
         tree = self.load_config_file('simple_tree.yaml')
         graph = self.load_config_file('simple_graph.yaml')
-        parsed_graph = self.bd.\
-                       _config_tree_to_digraph(tree,
-                                               self.bd.plugin_manager)
+        parsed_graph = config_tree_to_graph(tree)
         self.assertItemsEqual(parsed_graph, graph)
 
     # equivalence of a deeper tree to graph
     def test_deep_tree(self):
         tree = self.load_config_file('deep_tree.yaml')
         graph = self.load_config_file('deep_graph.yaml')
-        parsed_graph = self.bd.\
-                       _config_tree_to_digraph(tree, self.bd.plugin_manager)
+        parsed_graph = config_tree_to_graph(tree)
         self.assertItemsEqual(parsed_graph, graph)
 
     # equivalence of a complicated multi-partition tree to graph
     def test_multipart_tree(self):
         tree = self.load_config_file('multiple_partitions_tree.yaml')
         graph = self.load_config_file('multiple_partitions_graph.yaml')
-        parsed_graph = self.bd._config_tree_to_digraph(tree,
-                                                       self.bd.plugin_manager)
+        parsed_graph = config_tree_to_graph(tree)
         logger.debug(parsed_graph)
         self.assertItemsEqual(parsed_graph, graph)
 
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/block_device/tree_config.py b/diskimage_builder/block_device/tree_config.py
deleted file mode 100644
index d7c5531b..00000000
--- a/diskimage_builder/block_device/tree_config.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-# Copyright 2016-2017 Andreas Florath (andreas@florath.net)
-#
-# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
-# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
-# a copy of the License at
-#
-#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-#
-# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
-# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
-# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
-# under the License.
-
-import logging
-
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
-
-class TreeConfig(object):
-    """Supports simple tree-like configuration
-
-    When using the new (complete) configuration there is a need to
-    specify the complete digraph of block level configurations.  This
-    provides great flexibility for the cost of complex configurations:
-    each and every single element must be completely specified.  In
-    many simple use cases the configuration flexibility is not
-    needed.
-
-    With the help of this object the simple to use and short tree-like
-    configuration is converted automatically into the complete digraph
-    configuration which can be used to create the block device
-    elements.
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, type_string):
-        self.type_string = type_string
-
-    def config_tree_to_digraph(self, config_key, config_value, dconfig,
-                               default_base_name, plugin_manager):
-        logger.debug("called [%s] [%s] [%s]"
-                     % (config_key, config_value, default_base_name))
-        base_name = config_value['base'] if 'base' in config_value \
-                    else default_base_name
-        name = config_value['name'] \
-               if 'name' in config_value \
-                  else "%s_%s" % (config_key, base_name)
-        assert config_key == self.type_string
-
-        nconfig = {'base': base_name, 'name': name}
-        for k, v in config_value.items():
-            if k not in plugin_manager:
-                nconfig[k] = v
-            else:
-                plugin_manager[k].plugin \
-                    .tree_config.config_tree_to_digraph(
-                        k, v, dconfig, name, plugin_manager)
-
-        dconfig.append({self.type_string: nconfig})
-        logger.debug("finished new [%s] complete [%s]" % (nconfig, dconfig))
diff --git a/doc/source/user_guide/building_an_image.rst b/doc/source/user_guide/building_an_image.rst
index e7c8e5d4..c68f6875 100644
--- a/doc/source/user_guide/building_an_image.rst
+++ b/doc/source/user_guide/building_an_image.rst
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ is exactly the same as writing
    mount:
      name: mount_root_fs
      base: root_fs
-       mount_point: /
+     mount_point: /
 
 Non existing `name` and `base` entries in the tree notation are
 automatically generated: the `name` is the name of the base module