diff --git a/cli/dcoscli/auth/main.py b/cli/dcoscli/auth/main.py
index ca5ea0f..988248e 100644
--- a/cli/dcoscli/auth/main.py
+++ b/cli/dcoscli/auth/main.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ def _login():
 
     # every call to login will generate a new token if applicable
     _logout()
-    conf = util.get_config()
+    conf = config.get_config()
     dcos_url = conf.get("core.dcos_url")
     if dcos_url is None:
         msg = ("Please provide the url to your DCOS cluster: "
@@ -103,6 +103,6 @@ def _logout():
     :rtype: int
     """
 
-    if util.get_config().get("core.dcos_acs_token") is not None:
+    if config.get_config().get("core.dcos_acs_token") is not None:
         config.unset("core.dcos_acs_token")
     return 0
diff --git a/cli/dcoscli/config/main.py b/cli/dcoscli/config/main.py
index 06c502d..ba92767 100644
--- a/cli/dcoscli/config/main.py
+++ b/cli/dcoscli/config/main.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import collections
 import dcoscli
 import docopt
 from dcos import cmds, config, emitting, http, util
-from dcos.errors import DCOSException
+from dcos.errors import DCOSException, DefaultError
 from dcoscli.subcommand import default_command_info, default_doc
 from dcoscli.util import decorate_docopt_usage
 
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ def _set(name, value):
         notice = "This config property has been deprecated."
         return DCOSException(notice)
 
-    config.set_val(name, value)
+    toml, msg = config.set_val(name, value)
+    emitter.publish(DefaultError(msg))
 
     return 0
 
@@ -102,7 +103,9 @@ def _unset(name):
     :rtype: int
     """
 
-    config.unset(name)
+    msg = config.unset(name)
+    emitter.publish(DefaultError(msg))
+
     return 0
 
 
@@ -112,7 +115,7 @@ def _show(name):
     :rtype: int
     """
 
-    toml_config = util.get_config(True)
+    toml_config = config.get_config(True)
 
     if name is not None:
         value = toml_config.get(name)
@@ -138,7 +141,7 @@ def _validate():
     :rtype: int
     """
 
-    toml_config = util.get_config(True)
+    toml_config = config.get_config(True)
 
     errs = util.validate_json(toml_config._dictionary,
                               config.generate_root_schema(toml_config))
diff --git a/cli/dcoscli/main.py b/cli/dcoscli/main.py
index 01c68f5..b112d59 100644
--- a/cli/dcoscli/main.py
+++ b/cli/dcoscli/main.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import sys
 import dcoscli
 import docopt
 import six
-from dcos import constants, emitting, errors, http, subcommand, util
+from dcos import config, constants, emitting, errors, http, subcommand, util
 from dcos.errors import DCOSException
 from dcoscli.subcommand import SubcommandMain, default_doc
 
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ def _main():
     signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal_handler)
 
     http.silence_requests_warnings()
-    config = util.get_config()
-    set_ssl_info_env_vars(config)
+    toml_config = config.get_config()
+    set_ssl_info_env_vars(toml_config)
 
     args = docopt.docopt(default_doc("dcos"), options_first=True)
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def _main():
     util.configure_process_from_environ()
 
     if args['--version']:
-        return _get_versions(config.get("core.dcos_url"))
+        return _get_versions(toml_config.get("core.dcos_url"))
 
     command = args['<command>']
 
@@ -116,20 +116,20 @@ def signal_handler(signal, frame):
     sys.exit(0)
 
 
-def set_ssl_info_env_vars(config):
-    """Set SSL info from config to environment variable if enviornment
+def set_ssl_info_env_vars(toml_config):
+    """Set SSL info from toml_config to environment variable if enviornment
        variable doesn't exist
 
-    :param config: config
-    :type config: Toml
+    :param toml_config: config
+    :type toml_config: Toml
     :rtype: None
     """
 
-    if 'core.ssl_verify' in config and (
+    if 'core.ssl_verify' in toml_config and (
             not os.environ.get(constants.DCOS_SSL_VERIFY_ENV)):
 
         os.environ[constants.DCOS_SSL_VERIFY_ENV] = six.text_type(
-            config['core.ssl_verify'])
+            toml_config['core.ssl_verify'])
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()
diff --git a/cli/dcoscli/package/main.py b/cli/dcoscli/package/main.py
index 8cc4ce4..788a186 100644
--- a/cli/dcoscli/package/main.py
+++ b/cli/dcoscli/package/main.py
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ import sys
 import dcoscli
 import docopt
 import pkg_resources
-from dcos import (cmds, cosmospackage, emitting, http, options, package,
-                  subcommand, util)
+from dcos import (cmds, config, cosmospackage, emitting, http, options,
+                  package, subcommand, util)
 from dcos.errors import DCOSException
 from dcoscli import tables
 from dcoscli.subcommand import default_command_info, default_doc
@@ -524,10 +524,10 @@ def _get_cosmos_url():
     :returns: cosmos base url
     :rtype: str
     """
-    config = util.get_config()
-    cosmos_url = config.get("package.cosmos_url")
+    toml_config = config.get_config()
+    cosmos_url = toml_config.get("package.cosmos_url")
     if cosmos_url is None:
-        cosmos_url = util.get_config_vals(['core.dcos_url'], config)[0]
+        cosmos_url = config.get_config_vals(['core.dcos_url'], toml_config)[0]
     return cosmos_url
 
 
diff --git a/cli/tests/integrations/common.py b/cli/tests/integrations/common.py
index 656bbac..334d7af 100644
--- a/cli/tests/integrations/common.py
+++ b/cli/tests/integrations/common.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import subprocess
 import time
 
 import six
-from dcos import http, util
+from dcos import config, http
 
 from six.moves import urllib
 
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ def delete_zk_node(znode):
     :rtype: None
     """
 
-    dcos_url = util.get_config_vals(['core.dcos_url'])[0]
+    dcos_url = config.get_config_vals(['core.dcos_url'])[0]
     znode_url = urllib.parse.urljoin(
         dcos_url,
         '/exhibitor/exhibitor/v1/explorer/znode/{}'.format(znode))
diff --git a/cli/tests/integrations/test_auth.py b/cli/tests/integrations/test_auth.py
index 743932f..63dfad1 100644
--- a/cli/tests/integrations/test_auth.py
+++ b/cli/tests/integrations/test_auth.py
@@ -46,7 +46,5 @@ def test_logout_with_token(env):
             stderr=stderr,
             env=env)
 
-        stderr = b'Removed [core.dcos_acs_token]\n'
         assert_command(['dcos', 'auth', 'logout'],
-                       stderr=stderr,
                        env=env)
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/test_task.py b/cli/tests/unit/test_task.py
index a03b50d..5efb635 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/test_task.py
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/test_task.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from mock import MagicMock, patch
 from .common import assert_mock
 
 
-@patch('dcos.util.get_config')
+@patch('dcos.config.get_config')
 def test_log_master_unavailable(config_mock):
     config_mock.return_value = {'core.dcos_url': 'foo'}
 
diff --git a/dcos/config.py b/dcos/config.py
index 8e60fc0..0f5990e 100644
--- a/dcos/config.py
+++ b/dcos/config.py
@@ -1,28 +1,104 @@
 import collections
 import copy
 import json
+import os
 
 import pkg_resources
 import toml
-from dcos import emitting, jsonitem, subcommand, util
-from dcos.errors import DCOSException, DefaultError
-
-emitter = emitting.FlatEmitter()
+from dcos import constants, jsonitem, subcommand, util
+from dcos.errors import DCOSException
 
 logger = util.get_logger(__name__)
 
 
+def get_config_path():
+    """ Returns the path to the DCOS config file.
+
+    :returns: path to the DCOS config file
+    :rtype: str
+    """
+
+    return os.environ.get(constants.DCOS_CONFIG_ENV, get_default_config_path())
+
+
+def get_default_config_path():
+    """Returns the default path to the DCOS config file.
+
+    :returns: path to the DCOS config file
+    :rtype: str
+    """
+
+    return os.path.expanduser(
+        os.path.join("~",
+                     constants.DCOS_DIR,
+                     'dcos.toml'))
+
+
+def get_config(mutable=False):
+    """Returns the DCOS configuration object and creates config file is none
+    found and `DCOS_CONFIG` set to default value
+
+    :param mutable: True if the returned Toml object should be mutable
+    :type mutable: boolean
+    :returns: Configuration object
+    :rtype: Toml | MutableToml
+    """
+
+    path = get_config_path()
+    default = get_default_config_path()
+
+    if path == default:
+        util.ensure_dir_exists(os.path.dirname(default))
+    return load_from_path(path, mutable)
+
+
+def get_config_vals(keys, config=None):
+    """Gets config values for each of the keys.  Raises a DCOSException if
+    any of the keys don't exist.
+
+    :param config: config
+    :type config: Toml
+    :param keys: keys in the config dict
+    :type keys: [str]
+    :returns: values for each of the keys
+    :rtype: [object]
+    """
+
+    config = config or get_config()
+    missing = [key for key in keys if key not in config]
+    if missing:
+        raise missing_config_exception(keys)
+
+    return [config[key] for key in keys]
+
+
+def missing_config_exception(keys):
+    """ DCOSException for a missing config value
+
+    :param keys: keys in the config dict
+    :type keys: [str]
+    :returns: DCOSException
+    :rtype: DCOSException
+    """
+
+    msg = '\n'.join(
+        'Missing required config parameter: "{0}".'.format(key) +
+        '  Please run `dcos config set {0} <value>`.'.format(key)
+        for key in keys)
+    return DCOSException(msg)
+
+
 def set_val(name, value):
     """
     :param name: name of paramater
     :type name: str
     :param value: value to set to paramater `name`
     :type param: str
-    :returns: Toml config
-    :rtype: Toml
+    :returns: Toml config, message of change
+    :rtype: Toml, str
     """
 
-    toml_config = util.get_config(True)
+    toml_config = get_config(True)
 
     section, subkey = split_key(name)
 
@@ -57,9 +133,8 @@ def set_val(name, value):
         msg += "already set to '{}'".format(old_value)
     else:
         msg += "changed from '{}' to '{}'".format(old_value, new_value)
-    emitter.publish(DefaultError(msg))
 
-    return toml_config
+    return toml_config, msg
 
 
 def load_from_path(path, mutable=False):
@@ -90,7 +165,7 @@ def save(toml_config):
     """
 
     serial = toml.dumps(toml_config._dictionary)
-    path = util.get_config_path()
+    path = get_config_path()
     with util.open_file(path, 'w') as config_file:
         config_file.write(serial)
 
@@ -115,11 +190,11 @@ def unset(name):
     """
     :param name: name of config value to unset
     :type name: str
-    :returns: process status
-    :rtype: None
+    :returns: message of property removed
+    :rtype: str
     """
 
-    toml_config = util.get_config(True)
+    toml_config = get_config(True)
     toml_config_pre = copy.deepcopy(toml_config)
     section = name.split(".", 1)[0]
     if section not in toml_config_pre._dictionary:
@@ -130,9 +205,8 @@ def unset(name):
     elif isinstance(value, collections.Mapping):
         raise DCOSException(_generate_choice_msg(name, value))
     else:
-        emitter.publish(DefaultError("Removed [{}]".format(name)))
         save(toml_config)
-        return
+        return "Removed [{}]".format(name)
 
 
 def _generate_choice_msg(name, value):
diff --git a/dcos/emitting.py b/dcos/emitting.py
index 6e4e9be..a9f22bf 100644
--- a/dcos/emitting.py
+++ b/dcos/emitting.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import sys
 import pager
 import pygments
 import six
-from dcos import constants, errors, util
+from dcos import config, constants, errors, util
 from pygments.formatters import Terminal256Formatter
 from pygments.lexers import JsonLexer
 
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def _page(output, pager_command=None):
     num_lines = output.count('\n')
     exceeds_tty_height = pager.getheight() - 1 < num_lines
 
-    paginate = util.get_config().get("core.pagination", True)
+    paginate = config.get_config().get("core.pagination", True)
     if exceeds_tty_height and paginate:
         pydoc.pipepager(output, cmd=pager_command)
     else:
diff --git a/dcos/http.py b/dcos/http.py
index 47531fd..f24693d 100644
--- a/dcos/http.py
+++ b/dcos/http.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def _request_with_auth(response,
             elif response.status_code == 401 and \
                     auth_scheme in ["acsjwt", "oauthjwt"]:
 
-                if util.get_config().get("core.dcos_acs_token") is not None:
+                if config.get_config().get("core.dcos_acs_token") is not None:
                     msg = ("Your core.dcos_acs_token is invalid. "
                            "Please run: `dcos auth login`")
                     raise DCOSException(msg)
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ def _get_dcos_auth(auth_scheme, username, password, hostname):
     :rtype: AuthBase
     """
 
-    toml_config = util.get_config()
+    toml_config = config.get_config()
     token = toml_config.get("core.dcos_acs_token")
     if token is None:
         dcos_url = toml_config.get("core.dcos_url")
diff --git a/dcos/marathon.py b/dcos/marathon.py
index 9785063..40a769d 100644
--- a/dcos/marathon.py
+++ b/dcos/marathon.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import json
 from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 
-from dcos import http, util
+from dcos import config, http, util
 from dcos.errors import DCOSException, DCOSHTTPException
 
 from six.moves import urllib
@@ -9,36 +9,36 @@ from six.moves import urllib
 logger = util.get_logger(__name__)
 
 
-def create_client(config=None):
+def create_client(toml_config=None):
     """Creates a Marathon client with the supplied configuration.
 
-    :param config: configuration dictionary
-    :type config: config.Toml
+    :param toml_config: configuration dictionary
+    :type toml_config: config.Toml
     :returns: Marathon client
     :rtype: dcos.marathon.Client
     """
 
-    if config is None:
-        config = util.get_config()
+    if toml_config is None:
+        toml_config = config.get_config()
 
-    marathon_url = _get_marathon_url(config)
-    timeout = config.get('core.timeout', http.DEFAULT_TIMEOUT)
+    marathon_url = _get_marathon_url(toml_config)
+    timeout = toml_config.get('core.timeout', http.DEFAULT_TIMEOUT)
 
     logger.info('Creating marathon client with: %r', marathon_url)
     return Client(marathon_url, timeout=timeout)
 
 
-def _get_marathon_url(config):
+def _get_marathon_url(toml_config):
     """
-    :param config: configuration dictionary
-    :type config: config.Toml
+    :param toml_config: configuration dictionary
+    :type toml_config: config.Toml
     :returns: marathon base url
     :rtype: str
     """
 
-    marathon_url = config.get('marathon.url')
+    marathon_url = toml_config.get('marathon.url')
     if marathon_url is None:
-        dcos_url = util.get_config_vals(['core.dcos_url'], config)[0]
+        dcos_url = config.get_config_vals(['core.dcos_url'], toml_config)[0]
         marathon_url = urllib.parse.urljoin(dcos_url, 'service/marathon/')
 
     return marathon_url
diff --git a/dcos/mesos.py b/dcos/mesos.py
index 2f6ed54..23c3948 100644
--- a/dcos/mesos.py
+++ b/dcos/mesos.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import fnmatch
 import itertools
 import os
 
-from dcos import http, util
+from dcos import config, http, util
 from dcos.errors import DCOSException, DCOSHTTPException
 
 from six.moves import urllib
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ class DCOSClient(object):
     """Client for communicating with DCOS"""
 
     def __init__(self):
-        config = util.get_config()
+        toml_config = config.get_config()
 
-        self._dcos_url = config.get("core.dcos_url")
+        self._dcos_url = toml_config.get("core.dcos_url")
         if self._dcos_url is None:
-            raise util.missing_config_exception(['core.dcos_url'])
-        self._mesos_master_url = config.get('core.mesos_master_url')
+            raise config.missing_config_exception(['core.dcos_url'])
+        self._mesos_master_url = toml_config.get('core.mesos_master_url')
 
-        self._timeout = config.get('core.timeout')
+        self._timeout = toml_config.get('core.timeout')
 
     def get_dcos_url(self, path):
         """ Create a DCOS URL
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ class MesosDNSClient(object):
     """
     def __init__(self, url=None):
         self.url = url or urllib.parse.urljoin(
-            util.get_config_vals(['core.dcos_url'])[0], '/mesos_dns/')
+            config.get_config_vals(['core.dcos_url'])[0], '/mesos_dns/')
 
     def _path(self, path):
         """ Construct a full path
diff --git a/dcos/subcommand.py b/dcos/subcommand.py
index be82afe..4639512 100644
--- a/dcos/subcommand.py
+++ b/dcos/subcommand.py
@@ -12,11 +12,10 @@ import zipfile
 from subprocess import PIPE, Popen
 
 import requests
-from dcos import constants, emitting, util
+from dcos import constants, util
 from dcos.errors import DCOSException
 
 logger = util.get_logger(__name__)
-emitter = emitting.FlatEmitter()
 
 
 def command_executables(subcommand):
diff --git a/dcos/util.py b/dcos/util.py
index faa89eb..f96e859 100644
--- a/dcos/util.py
+++ b/dcos/util.py
@@ -165,86 +165,6 @@ def read_file(path):
         return file_.read()
 
 
-def get_config_path():
-    """ Returns the path to the DCOS config file.
-
-    :returns: path to the DCOS config file
-    :rtype: str
-    """
-
-    return os.environ.get(constants.DCOS_CONFIG_ENV, get_default_config_path())
-
-
-def get_default_config_path():
-    """Returns the default path to the DCOS config file.
-
-    :returns: path to the DCOS config file
-    :rtype: str
-    """
-
-    return os.path.expanduser(
-        os.path.join("~",
-                     constants.DCOS_DIR,
-                     'dcos.toml'))
-
-
-def get_config(mutable=False):
-    """Returns the DCOS configuration object and creates config file is none
-    found and `DCOS_CONFIG` set to default value
-
-    :param mutable: True if the returned Toml object should be mutable
-    :type mutable: boolean
-    :returns: Configuration object
-    :rtype: Toml | MutableToml
-    """
-
-    # avoid circular import
-    from dcos import config
-
-    path = get_config_path()
-    default = get_default_config_path()
-
-    if path == default:
-        ensure_dir_exists(os.path.dirname(default))
-    return config.load_from_path(path, mutable)
-
-
-def get_config_vals(keys, config=None):
-    """Gets config values for each of the keys.  Raises a DCOSException if
-    any of the keys don't exist.
-
-    :param config: config
-    :type config: Toml
-    :param keys: keys in the config dict
-    :type keys: [str]
-    :returns: values for each of the keys
-    :rtype: [object]
-    """
-
-    config = config or get_config()
-    missing = [key for key in keys if key not in config]
-    if missing:
-        raise missing_config_exception(keys)
-
-    return [config[key] for key in keys]
-
-
-def missing_config_exception(keys):
-    """ DCOSException for a missing config value
-
-    :param keys: keys in the config dict
-    :type keys: [str]
-    :returns: DCOSException
-    :rtype: DCOSException
-    """
-
-    msg = '\n'.join(
-        'Missing required config parameter: "{0}".'.format(key) +
-        '  Please run `dcos config set {0} <value>`.'.format(key)
-        for key in keys)
-    return DCOSException(msg)
-
-
 def which(program):
     """Returns the path to the named executable program.