diff --git a/light/__init__.py b/light/__init__.py
index 6cbd38a..3d13342 100644
--- a/light/__init__.py
+++ b/light/__init__.py
@@ -62,21 +62,42 @@ def is_preset_group(value):
 def is_preset(value):
     return value
 
+def maybe_simple_preset_action(schema):
+    def validator(value):
+        if isinstance(value, dict):
+            return schema(value)
+        value = value.lower()
+        conf = {}
+        if value == "next_group":
+            conf[CONF_NEXT] = CONF_GROUP
+        elif value == "next_preset":
+            conf[CONF_NEXT] = CONF_PRESET
+        elif "." not in value:
+            conf[CONF_GROUP] = value
+        else:
+            group, preset = value.split(".", 2)
+            conf[CONF_GROUP] = group
+            conf[CONF_PRESET] = preset
+        return schema(conf)
+
+    return validator
+
 @automation.register_action(
     "preset.activate",
     ActivatePresetAction,
-    cv.Schema(cv.Any(
-        cv.Schema({
-            cv.GenerateID(CONF_PRESETS_ID): cv.use_id(PresetsContainer),
-            cv.Required(CONF_GROUP): is_preset_group,
-            cv.Optional(CONF_PRESET): is_preset
-        }),
-        cv.Schema({
-            cv.GenerateID(CONF_PRESETS_ID): cv.use_id(PresetsContainer),
-            cv.Required(CONF_NEXT): cv.one_of(CONF_GROUP, CONF_PRESET, lower=True)
-        })
-         
-    ))
+    cv.Schema(
+        maybe_simple_preset_action(cv.Any(
+            cv.Schema({
+                cv.GenerateID(CONF_PRESETS_ID): cv.use_id(PresetsContainer),
+                cv.Required(CONF_GROUP): is_preset_group,
+                cv.Optional(CONF_PRESET): is_preset
+            }),
+            cv.Schema({
+                cv.GenerateID(CONF_PRESETS_ID): cv.use_id(PresetsContainer),
+                cv.Required(CONF_NEXT): cv.one_of(CONF_GROUP, CONF_PRESET, lower=True)
+            })
+        ))
+    )
 )
 def preset_activate_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
     presets_var = yield cg.get_variable(config[CONF_PRESETS_ID]) 
diff --git a/light/presets.h b/light/presets.h
index 806914c..cfcf055 100644
--- a/light/presets.h
+++ b/light/presets.h
@@ -94,7 +94,8 @@ public:
         active_group_ = active_group_->next_group == nullptr
             ? first_group_ : active_group_->next_group;
         if (active_group_->active_preset == nullptr) {
-            ESP_LOGW(TAG, "activate_next_group(): no presets defined for group %s", active_group_->name.c_str());
+            ESP_LOGW(TAG, "activate_next_group(): no presets defined for group %s",
+                active_group_->name.c_str());
             return;
         }
         ESP_LOGW(TAG, "activate_next_group(): activating %s/%s",
@@ -110,7 +111,8 @@ public:
         }
         auto p = active_group_->active_preset;
         if (p == nullptr) {
-            ESP_LOGW(TAG, "activate_next_preset(): no presets defined for group %s", active_group_->name.c_str());
+            ESP_LOGW(TAG, "activate_next_preset(): no presets defined for group %s",
+                active_group_->name.c_str());
             return;
         }
         active_group_->active_preset = p->next_preset == nullptr