diff --git a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/attachments.rs b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/attachments.rs
index 675e9ed7..b578d71c 100644
--- a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/attachments.rs
+++ b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/attachments.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ use aes_ctr::{
 use base64::DecodeError;
 use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
 
-use super::{decode, decode_url_safe, encode, encode_url_safe};
+use crate::utilities::{decode, decode_url_safe, encode, encode_url_safe};
 
 const IV_SIZE: usize = 16;
 const KEY_SIZE: usize = 32;
diff --git a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/key_export.rs b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/key_export.rs
index b881ec64..da394edf 100644
--- a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/key_export.rs
+++ b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/key_export.rs
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ use hmac::{Hmac, Mac, NewMac};
 use pbkdf2::pbkdf2;
 use sha2::{Sha256, Sha512};
 
-use super::{decode, encode, DecodeError};
-use crate::olm::ExportedRoomKey;
+use crate::{
+    olm::ExportedRoomKey,
+    utilities::{decode, encode, DecodeError},
+};
 
 const SALT_SIZE: usize = 16;
 const IV_SIZE: usize = 16;
diff --git a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/mod.rs b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/mod.rs
index 45ccd310..41e0b045 100644
--- a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/mod.rs
+++ b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/file_encryption/mod.rs
@@ -3,21 +3,3 @@ mod key_export;
 
 pub use attachments::{AttachmentDecryptor, AttachmentEncryptor, DecryptorError};
 pub use key_export::{decrypt_key_export, encrypt_key_export};
-
-use base64::{decode_config, encode_config, DecodeError, STANDARD_NO_PAD, URL_SAFE_NO_PAD};
-
-fn decode(input: impl AsRef<[u8]>) -> Result<Vec<u8>, DecodeError> {
-    decode_config(input, STANDARD_NO_PAD)
-}
-
-fn decode_url_safe(input: impl AsRef<[u8]>) -> Result<Vec<u8>, DecodeError> {
-    decode_config(input, URL_SAFE_NO_PAD)
-}
-
-pub fn encode(input: impl AsRef<[u8]>) -> String {
-    encode_config(input, STANDARD_NO_PAD)
-}
-
-pub fn encode_url_safe(input: impl AsRef<[u8]>) -> String {
-    encode_config(input, URL_SAFE_NO_PAD)
-}
diff --git a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/lib.rs b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/lib.rs
index 0a1f0300..f37cf97e 100644
--- a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/lib.rs
+++ b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/lib.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ pub mod olm;
 mod requests;
 mod session_manager;
 pub mod store;
+mod utilities;
 mod verification;
 
 pub use error::{MegolmError, OlmError};
diff --git a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/olm/account.rs b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/olm/account.rs
index a6beb442..9b6551bd 100644
--- a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/olm/account.rs
+++ b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/olm/account.rs
@@ -54,10 +54,10 @@ use olm_rs::{
 
 use crate::{
     error::{EventError, OlmResult, SessionCreationError},
-    file_encryption::encode,
     identities::ReadOnlyDevice,
     requests::UploadSigningKeysRequest,
     store::{Changes, Store},
+    utilities::encode,
     OlmError,
 };
 
diff --git a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/olm/signing/pk_signing.rs b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/olm/signing/pk_signing.rs
index fb552349..661c7a61 100644
--- a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/olm/signing/pk_signing.rs
+++ b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/olm/signing/pk_signing.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ use aes_gcm::{
     aead::{generic_array::GenericArray, Aead, NewAead},
     Aes256Gcm,
 };
-use base64::{decode_config, encode_config, DecodeError, URL_SAFE_NO_PAD};
 use getrandom::getrandom;
 use matrix_sdk_common::{
     encryption::DeviceKeys,
@@ -42,19 +41,12 @@ use matrix_sdk_common::{
 use crate::{
     error::SignatureError,
     identities::{MasterPubkey, SelfSigningPubkey, UserSigningPubkey},
+    utilities::{decode_url_safe as decode, encode_url_safe as encode, DecodeError},
     UserIdentity,
 };
 
 const NONCE_SIZE: usize = 12;
 
-fn encode<T: AsRef<[u8]>>(input: T) -> String {
-    encode_config(input, URL_SAFE_NO_PAD)
-}
-
-fn decode<T: AsRef<[u8]>>(input: T) -> Result<Vec<u8>, DecodeError> {
-    decode_config(input, URL_SAFE_NO_PAD)
-}
-
 /// Error type reporting failures in the Signign operations.
 #[derive(Debug, Error)]
 pub enum SigningError {
diff --git a/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/utilities.rs b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/utilities.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fcf6dc5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matrix_sdk_crypto/src/utilities.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+// Copyright 2020 The Matrix.org Foundation C.I.C.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+pub use base64::DecodeError;
+use base64::{decode_config, encode_config, STANDARD_NO_PAD, URL_SAFE_NO_PAD};
+
+/// Decode the input as base64 with no padding.
+pub fn decode(input: impl AsRef<[u8]>) -> Result<Vec<u8>, DecodeError> {
+    decode_config(input, STANDARD_NO_PAD)
+}
+
+/// Decode the input as URL safe base64 with no padding.
+pub fn decode_url_safe(input: impl AsRef<[u8]>) -> Result<Vec<u8>, DecodeError> {
+    decode_config(input, URL_SAFE_NO_PAD)
+}
+
+/// Encode the input as base64 with no padding.
+pub fn encode(input: impl AsRef<[u8]>) -> String {
+    encode_config(input, STANDARD_NO_PAD)
+}
+
+/// Encode the input as URL safe base64 with no padding.
+pub fn encode_url_safe(input: impl AsRef<[u8]>) -> String {
+    encode_config(input, URL_SAFE_NO_PAD)
+}