diff --git a/oslo_versionedobjects/utils.py b/oslo_versionedobjects/_utils.py
similarity index 100%
rename from oslo_versionedobjects/utils.py
rename to oslo_versionedobjects/_utils.py
diff --git a/oslo_versionedobjects/base.py b/oslo_versionedobjects/base.py
index f495c9d..a425125 100644
--- a/oslo_versionedobjects/base.py
+++ b/oslo_versionedobjects/base.py
@@ -28,10 +28,10 @@ from oslo_utils import timeutils
 import six
 
 from oslo_versionedobjects._i18n import _, _LE
+from oslo_versionedobjects import _utils as utils
 from oslo_versionedobjects import exception
 from oslo_versionedobjects import fields
 from oslo_versionedobjects.openstack.common import versionutils
-from oslo_versionedobjects import utils
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger('object')
diff --git a/oslo_versionedobjects/test.py b/oslo_versionedobjects/test.py
index b03a3e1..4998ead 100644
--- a/oslo_versionedobjects/test.py
+++ b/oslo_versionedobjects/test.py
@@ -39,11 +39,11 @@ from oslotest import moxstubout
 import six
 import testtools
 
+from oslo_versionedobjects import _utils as utils
 #from nova import db
 #from nova.network import manager as network_manager
 #from nova import objects
 from oslo_versionedobjects.tests import obj_fixtures
-from oslo_versionedobjects import utils
 
 
 CONF = cfg.CONF
diff --git a/oslo_versionedobjects/tests/test_objects.py b/oslo_versionedobjects/tests/test_objects.py
index f24d650..35997b3 100755
--- a/oslo_versionedobjects/tests/test_objects.py
+++ b/oslo_versionedobjects/tests/test_objects.py
@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@ from oslo_serialization import jsonutils
 from oslo_utils import timeutils
 from testtools import matchers
 
+from oslo_versionedobjects import _utils as utils
 from oslo_versionedobjects import base
 from oslo_versionedobjects import exception
 from oslo_versionedobjects import fields
 from oslo_versionedobjects import test
-from oslo_versionedobjects import utils
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/oslo_versionedobjects/tests/test_utils.py b/oslo_versionedobjects/tests/test_utils.py
index b6abb53..07c9c75 100755
--- a/oslo_versionedobjects/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/oslo_versionedobjects/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
 
+from oslo_versionedobjects import _utils as utils
 from oslo_versionedobjects import exception
 from oslo_versionedobjects import test
-from oslo_versionedobjects import utils
 
 CONF = cfg.CONF