diff --git a/kvstore.go b/kvstore.go
index 2c35940..4eafe7c 100644
--- a/kvstore.go
+++ b/kvstore.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"reflect"
 
+	"github.com/ugorji/go/codec"
 	"samhofi.us/x/keybase/types/chat1"
 )
 
@@ -63,3 +64,25 @@ func getTypeName(v interface{}) string {
 	}
 	return t.Name()
 }
+
+func encodeStructToJSONString(v interface{}) (string, error) {
+	jh := codecHandle()
+	var bytes []byte
+	err := codec.NewEncoderBytes(&bytes, jh).Encode(v)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	result := string(bytes)
+	return result, nil
+}
+
+func decodeJSONStringToStruct(v interface{}, src string) error {
+	bytes := []byte(src)
+	jh := codecHandle()
+	return codec.NewDecoderBytes(bytes, jh).Decode(v)
+}
+
+func codecHandle() *codec.JsonHandle {
+	var jh codec.JsonHandle
+	return &jh
+}
diff --git a/utils.go b/utils.go
index ef8ba5e..b401642 100644
--- a/utils.go
+++ b/utils.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/teris-io/shortid"
-	"github.com/ugorji/go/codec"
 	"samhofi.us/x/keybase/types/chat1"
 )
 
@@ -30,28 +29,6 @@ func getFeedbackExtendedDescription(bc botConfig) *chat1.UserBotExtendedDescript
 	}
 }
 
-func encodeStructToJSONString(v interface{}) (string, error) {
-	jh := codecHandle()
-	var bytes []byte
-	err := codec.NewEncoderBytes(&bytes, jh).Encode(v)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-	result := string(bytes)
-	return result, nil
-}
-
-func decodeJSONStringToStruct(v interface{}, src string) error {
-	bytes := []byte(src)
-	jh := codecHandle()
-	return codec.NewDecoderBytes(bytes, jh).Decode(v)
-}
-
-func codecHandle() *codec.JsonHandle {
-	var jh codec.JsonHandle
-	return &jh
-}
-
 func (b *bot) logError(err error) string {
 	// generate the error id
 	eid := shortid.MustGenerate()