diff --git a/datasette/templates/_rows_and_columns.html b/datasette/templates/_rows_and_columns.html
index c7a72253..06ac9bd5 100644
--- a/datasette/templates/_rows_and_columns.html
+++ b/datasette/templates/_rows_and_columns.html
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
                         {{ column.name }}
                     {% else %}
                         {% if column.name == sort %}
-                            <a href="{{ path_with_replaced_args(request, {'_sort_desc': column.name, '_sort': None, '_next': None}) }}" rel="nofollow">{{ column.name }}&nbsp;▼</a>
+                            <a href="{{ path_with_replaced_args(qs, {'_sort_desc': column.name, '_sort': None, '_next': None}) }}" rel="nofollow">{{ column.name }}&nbsp;▼</a>
                         {% else %}
-                            <a href="{{ path_with_replaced_args(request, {'_sort': column.name, '_sort_desc': None, '_next': None}) }}" rel="nofollow">{{ column.name }}{% if column.name == sort_desc %}&nbsp;▲{% endif %}</a>
+                            <a href="{{ path_with_replaced_args(qs, {'_sort': column.name, '_sort_desc': None, '_next': None}) }}" rel="nofollow">{{ column.name }}{% if column.name == sort_desc %}&nbsp;▲{% endif %}</a>
                         {% endif %}
                     {% endif %}
                 </th>
diff --git a/datasette/templates/table.html b/datasette/templates/table.html
index eda37bc7..92684a71 100644
--- a/datasette/templates/table.html
+++ b/datasette/templates/table.html
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
                 <p class="facet-info-name">
                     <strong>{{ facet_info.name }}</strong>
                     {% if facet_hideable(facet_info.name) %}
-                        <a href="{{ path_with_removed_args(request, {'_facet': facet_info['name']}) }}" class="cross">&#x2716;</a>
+                        <a href="{{ path_with_removed_args(qs, {'_facet': facet_info['name']}) }}" class="cross">&#x2716;</a>
                     {% endif %}
                 </p>
                 <ul>
diff --git a/datasette/utils.py b/datasette/utils.py
index 0281a177..61dbe910 100644
--- a/datasette/utils.py
+++ b/datasette/utils.py
@@ -170,13 +170,13 @@ def validate_sql_select(sql):
             raise InvalidSql(msg)
 
 
-def path_with_added_args(request, args, path=None):
-    path = path or request.path
+def path_with_added_args(qs, args, path=None):
+    path = path or qs.path
     if isinstance(args, dict):
         args = args.items()
     args_to_remove = {k for k, v in args if v is None}
     current = []
-    for key, value in urllib.parse.parse_qsl(request.query_string):
+    for key, value in urllib.parse.parse_qsl(str(qs)):
         if key not in args_to_remove:
             current.append((key, value))
     current.extend([
@@ -190,9 +190,9 @@ def path_with_added_args(request, args, path=None):
     return path + query_string
 
 
-def path_with_removed_args(request, args, path=None):
+def path_with_removed_args(qs, args, path=None):
     # args can be a dict or a set
-    path = path or request.path
+    path = path or qs.path
     current = []
     if isinstance(args, set):
         def should_remove(key, value):
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ def path_with_removed_args(request, args, path=None):
         # Must match key AND value
         def should_remove(key, value):
             return args.get(key) == value
-    for key, value in urllib.parse.parse_qsl(request.query_string):
+    for key, value in urllib.parse.parse_qsl(str(qs)):
         if not should_remove(key, value):
             current.append((key, value))
     query_string = urllib.parse.urlencode(current)
@@ -210,13 +210,13 @@ def path_with_removed_args(request, args, path=None):
     return path + query_string
 
 
-def path_with_replaced_args(request, args, path=None):
-    path = path or request.path
+def path_with_replaced_args(qs, args, path=None):
+    path = path or qs.path
     if isinstance(args, dict):
         args = args.items()
     keys_to_replace = {p[0] for p in args}
     current = []
-    for key, value in urllib.parse.parse_qsl(request.query_string):
+    for key, value in urllib.parse.parse_qsl(str(qs)):
         if key not in keys_to_replace:
             current.append((key, value))
     current.extend([p for p in args if p[1] is not None])
@@ -783,23 +783,23 @@ def resolve_table_and_format(table_and_format, table_exists):
     return table_and_format, None
 
 
-def path_with_format(request, format, extra_qs=None):
-    qs = extra_qs or {}
-    path = request.path
-    if "." in request.path:
-        qs["_format"] = format
+def path_with_format(qs, format, extra_qs=None):
+    new_qs = extra_qs or {}
+    path = qs.path
+    if "." in qs.path:
+        new_qs["_format"] = format
     else:
         path = "{}.{}".format(path, format)
-    if qs:
-        extra = urllib.parse.urlencode(sorted(qs.items()))
-        if request.query_string:
+    if new_qs:
+        extra = urllib.parse.urlencode(sorted(new_qs.items()))
+        if qs.data:
             path = "{}?{}&{}".format(
-                path, request.query_string, extra
+                path, str(qs), extra
             )
         else:
             path = "{}?{}".format(path, extra)
-    elif request.query_string:
-        path = "{}?{}".format(path, request.query_string)
+    elif qs.data:
+        path = "{}?{}".format(path, str(qs))
     return path
 
 
@@ -831,11 +831,12 @@ class ValueAsBooleanError(ValueError):
 
 
 class Querystring:
-    def __init__(self, qs=None):
+    def __init__(self, path, qs=None):
+        self.path = path
         self.prev = None
         self.data = []
         if qs:
-            self.data = urllib.parse.parse_qsl(qs)
+            self.data = urllib.parse.parse_qsl(qs, keep_blank_values=True)
 
     def first(self, key):
         for item in self.data:
@@ -843,6 +844,12 @@ class Querystring:
                 return item[1]
         raise KeyError
 
+    def first_or_none(self, key):
+        try:
+            return self.first(key)
+        except KeyError:
+            return None
+
     def last(self, key):
         for item in reversed(self.data):
             if item[0] == key:
@@ -854,10 +861,11 @@ class Querystring:
         for item in self.data:
             if item[0] == key:
                 result.append(item[1])
-        if not result:
-            raise KeyError
         return result
 
+    def first_dict(self):
+        return {k: v[0] for k, v in self.data}
+
     def append(self, key, value):
         self.data.append((key, value))
 
diff --git a/datasette/views/base.py b/datasette/views/base.py
index 055d174a..36ef0540 100644
--- a/datasette/views/base.py
+++ b/datasette/views/base.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from datasette.utils import (
     CustomJSONEncoder,
     InterruptedError,
     InvalidSql,
+    Querystring,
     path_from_row_pks,
     path_with_added_args,
     path_with_format,
@@ -85,9 +86,9 @@ class BaseView(RenderMixin):
             r.headers["Access-Control-Allow-Origin"] = "*"
         return r
 
-    def redirect(self, request, path, forward_querystring=True):
-        if request.query_string and "?" not in path and forward_querystring:
-            path = "{}?{}".format(path, request.query_string)
+    def redirect(self, qs, path, forward_querystring=True):
+        if qs.data and "?" not in qs.path and forward_querystring:
+            path = "{}?{}".format(path, str(qs))
         r = response.redirect(path)
         r.headers["Link"] = "<{}>; rel=preload".format(path)
         if self.ds.cors:
@@ -144,15 +145,15 @@ class BaseView(RenderMixin):
 
     async def get(self, request, db_name, **kwargs):
         name, hash, should_redirect = self.resolve_db_name(db_name, **kwargs)
+        qs = Querystring(request.path, request.query_string)
         if should_redirect:
-            return self.redirect(request, should_redirect)
+            return self.redirect(qs, should_redirect)
+        return await self.view_get(qs, name, hash, **kwargs)
 
-        return await self.view_get(request, name, hash, **kwargs)
-
-    async def as_csv(self, request, name, hash, **kwargs):
+    async def as_csv(self, qs, name, hash, **kwargs):
         try:
             response_or_template_contexts = await self.data(
-                request, name, hash, **kwargs
+                qs, name, hash, **kwargs
             )
             if isinstance(response_or_template_contexts, response.HTTPResponse):
                 return response_or_template_contexts
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@ class BaseView(RenderMixin):
 
         content_type = "text/plain; charset=utf-8"
         headers = {}
-        if request.args.get("_dl", None):
+        if qs.first_or_none("_dl"):
             content_type = "text/csv; charset=utf-8"
             disposition = 'attachment; filename="{}.csv"'.format(
                 kwargs.get('table', name)
@@ -211,9 +212,9 @@ class BaseView(RenderMixin):
             content_type=content_type
         )
 
-    async def view_get(self, request, name, hash, **kwargs):
+    async def view_get(self, qs, name, hash, **kwargs):
         # If ?_format= is provided, use that as the format
-        _format = request.args.get("_format", None)
+        _format = qs.first_or_none("_format")
         if not _format:
             _format = (kwargs.pop("as_format", None) or "").lstrip(".")
         if "table_and_format" in kwargs:
@@ -228,7 +229,7 @@ class BaseView(RenderMixin):
             del kwargs["table_and_format"]
 
         if _format == "csv":
-            return await self.as_csv(request, name, hash, **kwargs)
+            return await self.as_csv(qs, name, hash, **kwargs)
 
         if _format is None:
             # HTML views default to expanding all forign key labels
@@ -240,7 +241,7 @@ class BaseView(RenderMixin):
         templates = []
         try:
             response_or_template_contexts = await self.data(
-                request, name, hash, **kwargs
+                qs, name, hash, **kwargs
             )
             if isinstance(response_or_template_contexts, response.HTTPResponse):
                 return response_or_template_contexts
@@ -272,26 +273,25 @@ class BaseView(RenderMixin):
             # Special case for .jsono extension - redirect to _shape=objects
             if _format == "jsono":
                 return self.redirect(
-                    request,
+                    qs,
                     path_with_added_args(
-                        request,
+                        qs,
                         {"_shape": "objects"},
-                        path=request.path.rsplit(".jsono", 1)[0] + ".json",
+                        path=qs.path.rsplit(".jsono", 1)[0] + ".json",
                     ),
                     forward_querystring=False,
                 )
 
             # Handle the _json= parameter which may modify data["rows"]
             json_cols = []
-            if "_json" in request.args:
-                json_cols = request.args["_json"]
+            json_cols = qs.getlist("_json")
             if json_cols and "rows" in data and "columns" in data:
                 data["rows"] = convert_specific_columns_to_json(
                     data["rows"], data["columns"], json_cols,
                 )
 
             # Deal with the _shape option
-            shape = request.args.get("_shape", "arrays")
+            shape = qs.first_or_none("_shape") or "arrays"
             if shape == "arrayfirst":
                 data = [row[0] for row in data["rows"]]
             elif shape in ("objects", "object", "array"):
@@ -353,11 +353,11 @@ class BaseView(RenderMixin):
                 **data,
                 **extras,
                 **{
-                    "url_json": path_with_format(request, "json"),
-                    "url_csv": path_with_format(request, "csv", {
+                    "url_json": path_with_format(qs, "json"),
+                    "url_csv": path_with_format(qs, "csv", {
                         "_size": "max"
                     }),
-                    "url_csv_dl": path_with_format(request, "csv", {
+                    "url_csv_dl": path_with_format(qs, "csv", {
                         "_dl": "1",
                         "_size": "max"
                     }),
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ class BaseView(RenderMixin):
             r.status = status_code
         # Set far-future cache expiry
         if self.ds.cache_headers:
-            ttl = request.args.get("_ttl", None)
+            ttl = qs.first_or_none("_ttl")
             if ttl is None or not ttl.isdigit():
                 ttl = self.ds.config["default_cache_ttl"]
             else:
@@ -386,9 +386,9 @@ class BaseView(RenderMixin):
         return r
 
     async def custom_sql(
-        self, request, name, hash, sql, editable=True, canned_query=None
+        self, qs, name, hash, sql, editable=True, canned_query=None
     ):
-        params = request.raw_args
+        params = qs.first_dict()
         if "sql" in params:
             params.pop("sql")
         if "_shape" in params:
diff --git a/datasette/views/database.py b/datasette/views/database.py
index 2f3f41d3..b52b20d6 100644
--- a/datasette/views/database.py
+++ b/datasette/views/database.py
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@ from .base import BaseView, DatasetteError
 
 class DatabaseView(BaseView):
 
-    async def data(self, request, name, hash, default_labels=False):
-        if request.args.get("sql"):
+    async def data(self, qs, name, hash, default_labels=False):
+        if qs.first_or_none("sql"):
             if not self.ds.config["allow_sql"]:
                 raise DatasetteError("sql= is not allowed", status=400)
-            sql = request.raw_args.pop("sql")
+            sql = qs.first("sql")
             validate_sql_select(sql)
-            return await self.custom_sql(request, name, hash, sql)
+            return await self.custom_sql(qs, name, hash, sql)
 
         info = self.ds.inspect()[name]
         metadata = self.ds.metadata.get("databases", {}).get(name, {})
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class DatabaseView(BaseView):
             "config": self.ds.config,
         }, {
             "database_hash": hash,
-            "show_hidden": request.args.get("_show_hidden"),
+            "show_hidden": qs.first_or_none("_show_hidden"),
             "editable": True,
             "metadata": metadata,
         }, (
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class DatabaseView(BaseView):
 
 class DatabaseDownload(BaseView):
 
-    async def view_get(self, request, name, hash, **kwargs):
+    async def view_get(self, qs, name, hash, **kwargs):
         if not self.ds.config["allow_download"]:
             raise DatasetteError("Database download is forbidden", status=403)
         filepath = self.ds.inspect()[name]["file"]
diff --git a/datasette/views/table.py b/datasette/views/table.py
index d5a2cfb0..c139cf30 100644
--- a/datasette/views/table.py
+++ b/datasette/views/table.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from collections import namedtuple
 import sqlite3
 import urllib
 
@@ -220,11 +219,11 @@ class RowTableShared(BaseView):
 
 class TableView(RowTableShared):
 
-    async def data(self, request, name, hash, table, default_labels=False):
+    async def data(self, qs, name, hash, table, default_labels=False):
         canned_query = self.ds.get_canned_query(name, table)
         if canned_query is not None:
             return await self.custom_sql(
-                request,
+                qs,
                 name,
                 hash,
                 canned_query["sql"],
@@ -255,7 +254,7 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
         # We roll our own query_string decoder because by default Sanic
         # drops anything with an empty value e.g. ?name__exact=
         args = RequestParameters(
-            urllib.parse.parse_qs(request.query_string, keep_blank_values=True)
+            urllib.parse.parse_qs(str(qs), keep_blank_values=True)
         )
 
         # Special args start with _ and do not contain a __
@@ -275,17 +274,17 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
         redirect_params = filters_should_redirect(special_args)
         if redirect_params:
             return self.redirect(
-                request,
-                path_with_added_args(request, redirect_params),
+                qs,
+                path_with_added_args(qs, redirect_params),
                 forward_querystring=False,
             )
 
         # Spot ?_sort_by_desc and redirect to _sort_desc=(_sort)
         if "_sort_by_desc" in special_args:
             return self.redirect(
-                request,
+                qs,
                 path_with_added_args(
-                    request,
+                    qs,
                     {
                         "_sort_desc": special_args.get("_sort"),
                         "_sort_by_desc": None,
@@ -458,11 +457,11 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
                 table_name=escape_sqlite(table),
                 where=where_clause,
             )
-            return await self.custom_sql(request, name, hash, sql, editable=True)
+            return await self.custom_sql(qs, name, hash, sql, editable=True)
 
         extra_args = {}
         # Handle ?_size=500
-        page_size = request.raw_args.get("_size")
+        page_size = qs.first_or_none("_size")
         if page_size:
             if page_size == "max":
                 page_size = self.max_returned_rows
@@ -492,8 +491,8 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
             offset=offset,
         )
 
-        if request.raw_args.get("_timelimit"):
-            extra_args["custom_time_limit"] = int(request.raw_args["_timelimit"])
+        if qs.first_or_none("_timelimit"):
+            extra_args["custom_time_limit"] = int(qs.first("_timelimit"))
 
         results = await self.ds.execute(
             name, sql, params, truncate=True, **extra_args
@@ -503,10 +502,10 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
         facet_size = self.ds.config["default_facet_size"]
         metadata_facets = table_metadata.get("facets", [])
         facets = metadata_facets[:]
-        if request.args.get("_facet") and not self.ds.config["allow_facet"]:
+        if qs.first_or_none("_facet") and not self.ds.config["allow_facet"]:
             raise DatasetteError("_facet= is not allowed", status=400)
         try:
-            facets.extend(request.args["_facet"])
+            facets.extend(qs.getlist("_facet"))
         except KeyError:
             pass
         facet_results = {}
@@ -544,11 +543,11 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
                     selected = str(other_args.get(column)) == str(row["value"])
                     if selected:
                         toggle_path = path_with_removed_args(
-                            request, {column: str(row["value"])}
+                            qs, {column: str(row["value"])}
                         )
                     else:
                         toggle_path = path_with_added_args(
-                            request, {column: row["value"]}
+                            qs, {column: row["value"]}
                         )
                     facet_results_values.append({
                         "value": row["value"],
@@ -558,7 +557,7 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
                         ),
                         "count": row["count"],
                         "toggle_url": urllib.parse.urljoin(
-                            request.url, toggle_path
+                            qs.path, toggle_path
                         ),
                         "selected": selected,
                     })
@@ -581,8 +580,8 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
         except ValueError:
             all_labels = default_labels
         # Check for explicit _label=
-        if "_label" in request.args:
-            columns_to_expand = request.args["_label"]
+        if qs.first_or_none("_label"):
+            columns_to_expand = qs.first("_label")
         if columns_to_expand is None and all_labels:
             # expand all columns with foreign keys
             columns_to_expand = [
@@ -644,7 +643,7 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
             else:
                 added_args = {"_next": next_value}
             next_url = urllib.parse.urljoin(
-                request.url, path_with_replaced_args(request, added_args)
+                qs.path, path_with_replaced_args(qs, added_args)
             )
             rows = rows[:page_size]
 
@@ -694,7 +693,7 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
                             suggested_facets.append({
                                 'name': facet_column,
                                 'toggle_url': path_with_added_args(
-                                    request, {'_facet': facet_column}
+                                    qs, {'_facet': facet_column}
                                 ),
                             })
                     except InterruptedError:
@@ -744,7 +743,7 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
                 "is_sortable": any(c["sortable"] for c in display_columns),
                 "path_with_replaced_args": path_with_replaced_args,
                 "path_with_removed_args": path_with_removed_args,
-                "request": request,
+                "qs": qs,
                 "sort": sort,
                 "sort_desc": sort_desc,
                 "disable_sort": is_view,
@@ -788,7 +787,7 @@ class TableView(RowTableShared):
 
 class RowView(RowTableShared):
 
-    async def data(self, request, name, hash, table, pk_path, default_labels=False):
+    async def data(self, qs, name, hash, table, pk_path, default_labels=False):
         pk_values = urlsafe_components(pk_path)
         info = self.ds.inspect()[name]
         table_info = info["tables"].get(table) or {}
@@ -854,7 +853,7 @@ class RowView(RowTableShared):
             "units": self.table_metadata(name, table).get("units", {}),
         }
 
-        if "foreign_key_tables" in (request.raw_args.get("_extras") or "").split(","):
+        if "foreign_key_tables" in (qs.first_or_none("_extras") or "").split(","):
             data["foreign_key_tables"] = await self.foreign_key_tables(
                 name, table, pk_values
             )
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
index d12bf927..85ee2d84 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ from datasette import utils
 import json
 import os
 import pytest
-from sanic.request import Request
 import sqlite3
 import tempfile
 from unittest.mock import patch
@@ -40,11 +39,12 @@ def test_urlsafe_components(path, expected):
     ), '/?_facet=state&_facet=city&_facet=planet_int'),
 ])
 def test_path_with_added_args(path, added_args, expected):
-    request = Request(
-        path.encode('utf8'),
-        {}, '1.1', 'GET', None
-    )
-    actual = utils.path_with_added_args(request, added_args)
+    try:
+        path, qsbits = path.split('?', 1)
+    except ValueError:
+        qsbits = ''
+    qs = utils.Querystring(path, qsbits)
+    actual = utils.path_with_added_args(qs, added_args)
     assert expected == actual
 
 
@@ -54,11 +54,12 @@ def test_path_with_added_args(path, added_args, expected):
     ('/foo?bar=1&bar=2&bar=3', {'bar': '2'}, '/foo?bar=1&bar=3'),
 ])
 def test_path_with_removed_args(path, args, expected):
-    request = Request(
-        path.encode('utf8'),
-        {}, '1.1', 'GET', None
-    )
-    actual = utils.path_with_removed_args(request, args)
+    try:
+        path, qsbits = path.split('?', 1)
+    except ValueError:
+        qsbits = ''
+    qs = utils.Querystring(path, qsbits)
+    actual = utils.path_with_removed_args(qs, args)
     assert expected == actual
 
 
@@ -67,11 +68,12 @@ def test_path_with_removed_args(path, args, expected):
     ('/foo?bar=1&baz=2', {'bar': None}, '/foo?baz=2'),
 ])
 def test_path_with_replaced_args(path, args, expected):
-    request = Request(
-        path.encode('utf8'),
-        {}, '1.1', 'GET', None
-    )
-    actual = utils.path_with_replaced_args(request, args)
+    try:
+        path, qsbits = path.split('?', 1)
+    except ValueError:
+        qsbits = ''
+    qs = utils.Querystring(path, qsbits)
+    actual = utils.path_with_replaced_args(qs, args)
     assert expected == actual
 
 
@@ -344,9 +346,10 @@ def test_resolve_table_and_format(
     ],
 )
 def test_path_with_format(path, format, extra_qs, expected):
-    request = Request(
-        path.encode('utf8'),
-        {}, '1.1', 'GET', None
-    )
-    actual = utils.path_with_format(request, format, extra_qs)
+    try:
+        path, qsbits = path.split('?', 1)
+    except ValueError:
+        qsbits = ''
+    qs = utils.Querystring(path, qsbits)
+    actual = utils.path_with_format(qs, format, extra_qs)
     assert expected == actual