diff --git a/cfg.mk b/cfg.mk
index f0f78f5f2d..d499dede19 100644
--- a/cfg.mk
+++ b/cfg.mk
@@ -858,7 +858,7 @@ exclude_file_name_regexp--sc_prohibit_always_true_header_tests = \
   ^python/(libvirt-(lxc-|qemu-)?override|typewrappers)\.c$$
 
 exclude_file_name_regexp--sc_prohibit_asprintf = \
-  ^(bootstrap.conf$$|src/util/virutil\.c$$|examples/domain-events/events-c/event-test\.c$$|tests/vircgroupmock\.c$$)
+  ^(bootstrap.conf$$|src/util/virstring\.c$$|examples/domain-events/events-c/event-test\.c$$|tests/vircgroupmock\.c$$)
 
 exclude_file_name_regexp--sc_prohibit_close = \
   (\.p[yl]$$|^docs/|^(src/util/virfile\.c|src/libvirt\.c|tests/vircgroupmock\.c)$$)
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ exclude_file_name_regexp--sc_prohibit_setuid = ^src/util/virutil\.c$$
 exclude_file_name_regexp--sc_prohibit_sprintf = \
   ^(docs/hacking\.html\.in)|(examples/systemtap/.*stp)|(src/dtrace2systemtap\.pl)|(src/rpc/gensystemtap\.pl)$$
 
-exclude_file_name_regexp--sc_prohibit_strncpy = ^src/util/virutil\.c$$
+exclude_file_name_regexp--sc_prohibit_strncpy = ^src/util/virstring\.c$$
 
 exclude_file_name_regexp--sc_prohibit_strtol = \
   ^src/(util/virsexpr|(vbox|xen|xenxs)/.*)\.c$$
diff --git a/daemon/libvirtd-config.c b/daemon/libvirtd-config.c
index 5e3ae218f3..efb564eeb3 100644
--- a/daemon/libvirtd-config.c
+++ b/daemon/libvirtd-config.c
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
 #include "configmake.h"
 #include "remote/remote_protocol.h"
 #include "remote/remote_driver.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
+#include "virutil.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_CONF
 
diff --git a/daemon/libvirtd.c b/daemon/libvirtd.c
index 38b7346698..9f81a0f1ea 100644
--- a/daemon/libvirtd.c
+++ b/daemon/libvirtd.c
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 #include "libvirtd.h"
 #include "libvirtd-config.h"
 
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "remote_driver.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
@@ -54,6 +53,7 @@
 #include "virhook.h"
 #include "viraudit.h"
 #include "locking/lock_manager.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #ifdef WITH_DRIVER_MODULES
 # include "driver.h"
diff --git a/daemon/remote.c b/daemon/remote.c
index e5e3f2ca5d..8c79680721 100644
--- a/daemon/remote.c
+++ b/daemon/remote.c
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "stream.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@
 #include "remote_protocol.h"
 #include "qemu_protocol.h"
 #include "lxc_protocol.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_RPC
 
diff --git a/python/libvirt-override.c b/python/libvirt-override.c
index 244b7ec5e5..856789a2ac 100644
--- a/python/libvirt-override.c
+++ b/python/libvirt-override.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "virtypedparam.h"
 #include "ignore-value.h"
 #include "virutil.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #ifndef __CYGWIN__
 extern void initlibvirtmod(void);
diff --git a/src/conf/capabilities.c b/src/conf/capabilities.c
index c7ec92f22a..5340b63af0 100644
--- a/src/conf/capabilities.c
+++ b/src/conf/capabilities.c
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 #include "capabilities.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "cpu_conf.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
diff --git a/src/conf/cpu_conf.c b/src/conf/cpu_conf.c
index bdc5f1d17e..6aaee75ad7 100644
--- a/src/conf/cpu_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/cpu_conf.c
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@
 
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "cpu_conf.h"
 #include "domain_conf.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_CPU
 
diff --git a/src/conf/device_conf.c b/src/conf/device_conf.c
index 099b1cbc4d..f49dc21d84 100644
--- a/src/conf/device_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/device_conf.c
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "device_conf.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_DEVICE
 
diff --git a/src/conf/domain_audit.c b/src/conf/domain_audit.c
index d81744c0fc..40910d679f 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_audit.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_audit.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 /* Return nn:mm in hex for block and character devices, and NULL
  * for other file types, stat failure, or allocation failure.  */
diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index 608870f157..fe97c02fc5 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 #include "verify.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "nwfilter_conf.h"
@@ -52,6 +51,7 @@
 #include "netdev_vlan_conf.h"
 #include "device_conf.h"
 #include "virtpm.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_DOMAIN
 
diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.h b/src/conf/domain_conf.h
index 3a0f23ae7e..21f7ce28da 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.h
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.h
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 # include "capabilities.h"
 # include "storage_encryption_conf.h"
 # include "cpu_conf.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "virthread.h"
 # include "virhash.h"
 # include "virsocketaddr.h"
diff --git a/src/conf/interface_conf.c b/src/conf/interface_conf.c
index 7ca9c8618c..fd3c2920f6 100644
--- a/src/conf/interface_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/interface_conf.c
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_INTERFACE
diff --git a/src/conf/netdev_bandwidth_conf.c b/src/conf/netdev_bandwidth_conf.c
index b830cd00cb..87249cb236 100644
--- a/src/conf/netdev_bandwidth_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/netdev_bandwidth_conf.c
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@
 
 #include "netdev_bandwidth_conf.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "domain_conf.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/conf/netdev_vport_profile_conf.c b/src/conf/netdev_vport_profile_conf.c
index 47f51f9592..c2753394d4 100644
--- a/src/conf/netdev_vport_profile_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/netdev_vport_profile_conf.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "netdev_vport_profile_conf.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/conf/network_conf.c b/src/conf/network_conf.c
index d910a279fe..8abfa53008 100644
--- a/src/conf/network_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/network_conf.c
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "c-ctype.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define MAX_BRIDGE_ID 256
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NETWORK
diff --git a/src/conf/node_device_conf.c b/src/conf/node_device_conf.c
index 8fe4e0350d..f9303c1ae4 100644
--- a/src/conf/node_device_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/node_device_conf.c
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 
 #include "node_device_conf.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "virrandom.h"
diff --git a/src/conf/nwfilter_conf.c b/src/conf/nwfilter_conf.c
index b61010df69..08222de68d 100644
--- a/src/conf/nwfilter_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/nwfilter_conf.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 #include "domain_conf.h"
 #include "c-ctype.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NWFILTER
 
diff --git a/src/conf/nwfilter_conf.h b/src/conf/nwfilter_conf.h
index 48998ec7f0..5d04cff890 100644
--- a/src/conf/nwfilter_conf.h
+++ b/src/conf/nwfilter_conf.h
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 
 # include "internal.h"
 
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "virhash.h"
 # include "virxml.h"
 # include "virbuffer.h"
diff --git a/src/conf/nwfilter_params.c b/src/conf/nwfilter_params.c
index 7aebc8db0a..2509c0d8e6 100644
--- a/src/conf/nwfilter_params.c
+++ b/src/conf/nwfilter_params.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "nwfilter_params.h"
 #include "domain_conf.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NWFILTER
 
diff --git a/src/conf/secret_conf.c b/src/conf/secret_conf.c
index a81a91b6c9..5bcfe12a01 100644
--- a/src/conf/secret_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/secret_conf.c
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "secret_conf.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 
diff --git a/src/conf/snapshot_conf.c b/src/conf/snapshot_conf.c
index bd5684d8cb..5b54a28a59 100644
--- a/src/conf/snapshot_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/snapshot_conf.c
@@ -42,11 +42,11 @@
 #include "secret_conf.h"
 #include "snapshot_conf.h"
 #include "virstoragefile.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_DOMAIN_SNAPSHOT
 
diff --git a/src/conf/storage_conf.c b/src/conf/storage_conf.c
index b58385d2fd..9f2012e22b 100644
--- a/src/conf/storage_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/storage_conf.c
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STORAGE
 
diff --git a/src/conf/storage_conf.h b/src/conf/storage_conf.h
index 60b8034a75..567a4ac3d1 100644
--- a/src/conf/storage_conf.h
+++ b/src/conf/storage_conf.h
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 # define __VIR_STORAGE_CONF_H__
 
 # include "internal.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "storage_encryption_conf.h"
 # include "virthread.h"
 
diff --git a/src/conf/storage_encryption_conf.c b/src/conf/storage_encryption_conf.c
index 88dff1b210..c710bbd248 100644
--- a/src/conf/storage_encryption_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/storage_encryption_conf.c
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "storage_conf.h"
 #include "storage_encryption_conf.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/conf/virchrdev.c b/src/conf/virchrdev.c
index 1802324a77..025d4a817b 100644
--- a/src/conf/virchrdev.c
+++ b/src/conf/virchrdev.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/cpu/cpu_powerpc.c b/src/cpu/cpu_powerpc.c
index 5f392ee007..b253db278f 100644
--- a/src/cpu/cpu_powerpc.c
+++ b/src/cpu/cpu_powerpc.c
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "cpu.h"
 
 #include "cpu_map.h"
diff --git a/src/cpu/cpu_x86.c b/src/cpu/cpu_x86.c
index 4940c23703..14d525e537 100644
--- a/src/cpu/cpu_x86.c
+++ b/src/cpu/cpu_x86.c
@@ -27,13 +27,12 @@
 
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "cpu.h"
 #include "cpu_map.h"
 #include "cpu_x86.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "virendian.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_CPU
 
diff --git a/src/datatypes.c b/src/datatypes.c
index 0e1dbb17be..d3cf5f2d38 100644
--- a/src/datatypes.c
+++ b/src/datatypes.c
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/driver.c b/src/driver.c
index 0a5fe0547b..c35fcd2de2 100644
--- a/src/driver.c
+++ b/src/driver.c
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@
 #include "driver.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define DEFAULT_DRIVER_DIR LIBDIR "/libvirt/connection-driver"
 
diff --git a/src/esx/esx_device_monitor.c b/src/esx/esx_device_monitor.c
index 0f3421c8a6..7dc0618cd2 100644
--- a/src/esx/esx_device_monitor.c
+++ b/src/esx/esx_device_monitor.c
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 #include <config.h>
 
 #include "internal.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/esx/esx_driver.c b/src/esx/esx_driver.c
index 50ff723826..dcf64b85c6 100644
--- a/src/esx/esx_driver.c
+++ b/src/esx/esx_driver.c
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 #include "domain_conf.h"
 #include "snapshot_conf.h"
 #include "virauth.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
@@ -46,6 +45,7 @@
 #include "esx_vi_methods.h"
 #include "esx_util.h"
 #include "viruri.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_ESX
 
diff --git a/src/esx/esx_interface_driver.c b/src/esx/esx_interface_driver.c
index 44055a1bd1..fe5194c36a 100644
--- a/src/esx/esx_interface_driver.c
+++ b/src/esx/esx_interface_driver.c
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 #include <config.h>
 
 #include "internal.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/esx/esx_network_driver.c b/src/esx/esx_network_driver.c
index c5be2083cc..fd57b611c0 100644
--- a/src/esx/esx_network_driver.c
+++ b/src/esx/esx_network_driver.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 
 #include "md5.h"
 #include "internal.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/esx/esx_nwfilter_driver.c b/src/esx/esx_nwfilter_driver.c
index 03b74174db..3b932de1c4 100644
--- a/src/esx/esx_nwfilter_driver.c
+++ b/src/esx/esx_nwfilter_driver.c
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 #include <config.h>
 
 #include "internal.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/esx/esx_secret_driver.c b/src/esx/esx_secret_driver.c
index 2e36e15e79..5607a2efb3 100644
--- a/src/esx/esx_secret_driver.c
+++ b/src/esx/esx_secret_driver.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <config.h>
 
 #include "internal.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/esx/esx_storage_backend_iscsi.c b/src/esx/esx_storage_backend_iscsi.c
index a3336a24c0..941e8002ac 100644
--- a/src/esx/esx_storage_backend_iscsi.c
+++ b/src/esx/esx_storage_backend_iscsi.c
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "md5.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/esx/esx_storage_backend_vmfs.c b/src/esx/esx_storage_backend_vmfs.c
index 329022e8c7..dea6716453 100644
--- a/src/esx/esx_storage_backend_vmfs.c
+++ b/src/esx/esx_storage_backend_vmfs.c
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "md5.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
@@ -42,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "esx_vi.h"
 #include "esx_vi_methods.h"
 #include "esx_util.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_ESX
 
diff --git a/src/esx/esx_util.c b/src/esx/esx_util.c
index 4d2019b34d..4566fec90e 100644
--- a/src/esx/esx_util.c
+++ b/src/esx/esx_util.c
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@
 
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "vmx.h"
 #include "esx_private.h"
 #include "esx_util.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_ESX
 
diff --git a/src/esx/esx_vi.c b/src/esx/esx_vi.c
index d84ce19075..ee48159f0e 100644
--- a/src/esx/esx_vi.c
+++ b/src/esx/esx_vi.c
@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "vmx.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "esx_vi.h"
 #include "esx_vi_methods.h"
 #include "esx_util.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_ESX
 
diff --git a/src/esx/esx_vi_types.c b/src/esx/esx_vi_types.c
index d1f91ffa2f..7f4030818a 100644
--- a/src/esx/esx_vi_types.c
+++ b/src/esx/esx_vi_types.c
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "esx_vi.h"
 #include "esx_vi_types.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_ESX
 
diff --git a/src/fdstream.c b/src/fdstream.c
index 53dde97ccb..6f8ce530af 100644
--- a/src/fdstream.c
+++ b/src/fdstream.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "virutil.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STREAMS
 
diff --git a/src/hyperv/hyperv_device_monitor.c b/src/hyperv/hyperv_device_monitor.c
index c362a1239f..83ea72a303 100644
--- a/src/hyperv/hyperv_device_monitor.c
+++ b/src/hyperv/hyperv_device_monitor.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c b/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c
index 3b381de020..7031fdbb61 100644
--- a/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c
+++ b/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "domain_conf.h"
 #include "virauth.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
@@ -42,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "hyperv_util.h"
 #include "hyperv_wmi.h"
 #include "openwsman.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_HYPERV
 
diff --git a/src/hyperv/hyperv_interface_driver.c b/src/hyperv/hyperv_interface_driver.c
index 477b661241..62123a4f36 100644
--- a/src/hyperv/hyperv_interface_driver.c
+++ b/src/hyperv/hyperv_interface_driver.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/hyperv/hyperv_network_driver.c b/src/hyperv/hyperv_network_driver.c
index 336d722ad0..e23f53a16c 100644
--- a/src/hyperv/hyperv_network_driver.c
+++ b/src/hyperv/hyperv_network_driver.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/hyperv/hyperv_nwfilter_driver.c b/src/hyperv/hyperv_nwfilter_driver.c
index e7489712b0..034323845b 100644
--- a/src/hyperv/hyperv_nwfilter_driver.c
+++ b/src/hyperv/hyperv_nwfilter_driver.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/hyperv/hyperv_secret_driver.c b/src/hyperv/hyperv_secret_driver.c
index 09d9b9e2f3..3f9f8f5188 100644
--- a/src/hyperv/hyperv_secret_driver.c
+++ b/src/hyperv/hyperv_secret_driver.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/hyperv/hyperv_storage_driver.c b/src/hyperv/hyperv_storage_driver.c
index b701dc60a1..5acc4d8fe8 100644
--- a/src/hyperv/hyperv_storage_driver.c
+++ b/src/hyperv/hyperv_storage_driver.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/hyperv/hyperv_util.c b/src/hyperv/hyperv_util.c
index 9bc5b814cb..a55b9397a0 100644
--- a/src/hyperv/hyperv_util.c
+++ b/src/hyperv/hyperv_util.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
diff --git a/src/hyperv/hyperv_wmi.c b/src/hyperv/hyperv_wmi.c
index 33ba21f58d..65fc83dcfe 100644
--- a/src/hyperv/hyperv_wmi.c
+++ b/src/hyperv/hyperv_wmi.c
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "hyperv_private.h"
 #include "hyperv_wmi.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define WS_SERIALIZER_FREE_MEM_WORKS 0
 
diff --git a/src/interface/interface_backend_udev.c b/src/interface/interface_backend_udev.c
index 79c57eef6f..7daad16b8e 100644
--- a/src/interface/interface_backend_udev.c
+++ b/src/interface/interface_backend_udev.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "interface_driver.h"
 #include "interface_conf.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_INTERFACE
 
diff --git a/src/libvirt.c b/src/libvirt.c
index 2daa0b4ee0..15b37a3c9f 100644
--- a/src/libvirt.c
+++ b/src/libvirt.c
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
 #include "virrandom.h"
 #include "viruri.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #ifdef WITH_TEST
 # include "test/test_driver.h"
diff --git a/src/libvirt_private.syms b/src/libvirt_private.syms
index a7e1eeb65d..98660dc2b3 100644
--- a/src/libvirt_private.syms
+++ b/src/libvirt_private.syms
@@ -1745,10 +1745,26 @@ virStorageFileResize;
 
 
 # util/virstring.h
+virArgvToString;
+virAsprintf;
+virSkipSpaces;
+virSkipSpacesAndBackslash;
+virSkipSpacesBackwards;
+virStrcpy;
 virStringArrayHasString;
 virStringFreeList;
 virStringJoin;
 virStringSplit;
+virStrncpy;
+virStrToDouble;
+virStrToLong_i;
+virStrToLong_l;
+virStrToLong_ll;
+virStrToLong_ui;
+virStrToLong_ul;
+virStrToLong_ull;
+virTrimSpaces;
+virVasprintf;
 
 
 # util/virsysinfo.h
@@ -1845,8 +1861,6 @@ virUSBDeviceSetUsedBy;
 saferead;
 safewrite;
 safezero;
-virArgvToString;
-virAsprintf;
 virBuildPathInternal;
 virCompareLimitUlong;
 virDirCreate;
@@ -1914,22 +1928,8 @@ virSetInherit;
 virSetNonBlock;
 virSetUIDGID;
 virSetUIDGIDWithCaps;
-virSkipSpaces;
-virSkipSpacesAndBackslash;
-virSkipSpacesBackwards;
-virStrcpy;
 virStrIsPrint;
-virStrncpy;
-virStrToDouble;
-virStrToLong_i;
-virStrToLong_l;
-virStrToLong_ll;
-virStrToLong_ui;
-virStrToLong_ul;
-virStrToLong_ull;
-virTrimSpaces;
 virValidateWWN;
-virVasprintf;
 
 
 # util/viruuid.h
diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
index 212d0fcdfd..736174320d 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 #include "xen_xm.h"
 #include "virtypedparam.h"
 #include "viruri.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_LIBXL
 
diff --git a/src/locking/lock_daemon.c b/src/locking/lock_daemon.c
index 97e5d749c2..0d8ef399ff 100644
--- a/src/locking/lock_daemon.c
+++ b/src/locking/lock_daemon.c
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 #include "virrandom.h"
 #include "virhash.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #include "locking/lock_daemon_dispatch.h"
 #include "locking/lock_protocol.h"
diff --git a/src/locking/lock_daemon_config.c b/src/locking/lock_daemon_config.c
index 12b06e27e2..c3d59bd236 100644
--- a/src/locking/lock_daemon_config.c
+++ b/src/locking/lock_daemon_config.c
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "rpc/virnetserver.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
+#include "virutil.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_CONF
 
diff --git a/src/locking/lock_daemon_dispatch.c b/src/locking/lock_daemon_dispatch.c
index 4c99088265..8a92802b3a 100644
--- a/src/locking/lock_daemon_dispatch.c
+++ b/src/locking/lock_daemon_dispatch.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 
 #include "rpc/virnetserver.h"
 #include "rpc/virnetserverclient.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 
 #include "lock_daemon.h"
diff --git a/src/locking/lock_driver_lockd.c b/src/locking/lock_driver_lockd.c
index 4b72a05ab2..28a4f15c39 100644
--- a/src/locking/lock_driver_lockd.c
+++ b/src/locking/lock_driver_lockd.c
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "rpc/virnetclient.h"
 #include "lock_protocol.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
 #include "sha256.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_LOCKING
 
diff --git a/src/locking/lock_driver_sanlock.c b/src/locking/lock_driver_sanlock.c
index 95f7d61827..48c6d56948 100644
--- a/src/locking/lock_driver_sanlock.c
+++ b/src/locking/lock_driver_sanlock.c
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "md5.h"
 #include "virconf.h"
diff --git a/src/locking/lock_manager.c b/src/locking/lock_manager.c
index ae60caf1c0..82bbe6b7d0 100644
--- a/src/locking/lock_manager.c
+++ b/src/locking/lock_manager.c
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@
 #include "lock_driver_nop.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #if HAVE_DLFCN_H
 # include <dlfcn.h>
diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_cgroup.c b/src/lxc/lxc_cgroup.c
index 4a661da445..bc3b0d1065 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_cgroup.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_cgroup.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "vircgroup.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_LXC
 
diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_container.c b/src/lxc/lxc_container.c
index ac0f69c794..ff4069a320 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_container.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_container.c
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "lxc_container.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virnetdevveth.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
@@ -64,6 +63,7 @@
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "virnetdev.h"
 #include "virprocess.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_LXC
 
diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_controller.c b/src/lxc/lxc_controller.c
index 740b87256e..f1800eb417 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_controller.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_controller.c
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@
 
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 
 #include "lxc_conf.h"
 #include "lxc_container.h"
@@ -66,6 +65,7 @@
 #include "virprocess.h"
 #include "virnuma.h"
 #include "rpc/virnetserver.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_LXC
 
diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c b/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
index 0becdc7862..84a97de4fd 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@
 #include "lxc_driver.h"
 #include "lxc_process.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virnetdevbridge.h"
 #include "virnetdevveth.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
@@ -68,6 +67,7 @@
 #include "virtime.h"
 #include "virtypedparam.h"
 #include "viruri.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_LXC
 
diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_fuse.c b/src/lxc/lxc_fuse.c
index fbd0d56c95..b6df99cb91 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_fuse.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_fuse.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_LXC
 
diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_fuse.h b/src/lxc/lxc_fuse.h
index ccc9b9248e..a42c39a15b 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_fuse.h
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_fuse.h
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 # endif
 
 # include "lxc_conf.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "viralloc.h"
 
 struct virLXCMeminfo {
diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_monitor.c b/src/lxc/lxc_monitor.c
index 6d11edacbf..a205d6962f 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_monitor.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_monitor.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
 #include "rpc/virnetclient.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_LXC
 
diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_process.c b/src/lxc/lxc_process.c
index ab07a1e514..b10e81c4d9 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_process.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_process.c
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "lxc_hostdev.h"
 #include "virhook.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_LXC
 
diff --git a/src/network/bridge_driver.c b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
index 8da28e45d0..35202f1781 100644
--- a/src/network/bridge_driver.c
+++ b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@
 #include "driver.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "virpidfile.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
@@ -66,6 +65,7 @@
 #include "virnetdevvportprofile.h"
 #include "virdbus.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define NETWORK_PID_DIR LOCALSTATEDIR "/run/libvirt/network"
 #define NETWORK_STATE_DIR LOCALSTATEDIR "/lib/libvirt/network"
diff --git a/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c b/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c
index c9bd68b65c..95df2e5a7f 100644
--- a/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c
+++ b/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 #include "node_device_conf.h"
 #include "node_device_hal.h"
 #include "node_device_driver.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NODEDEV
 
diff --git a/src/node_device/node_device_linux_sysfs.c b/src/node_device/node_device_linux_sysfs.c
index fd91430620..71c717269e 100644
--- a/src/node_device/node_device_linux_sysfs.c
+++ b/src/node_device/node_device_linux_sysfs.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NODEDEV
 
diff --git a/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c b/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
index f98841e96f..c3c97d7c8a 100644
--- a/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
+++ b/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "virpci.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NODEDEV
 
diff --git a/src/nodeinfo.c b/src/nodeinfo.c
index a5b5608ed3..95c2f33926 100644
--- a/src/nodeinfo.c
+++ b/src/nodeinfo.c
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
 #include "physmem.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "count-one-bits.h"
@@ -55,7 +54,7 @@
 #include "virarch.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virtypedparam.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_dhcpsnoop.c b/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_dhcpsnoop.c
index 5012b14d17..df11e89134 100644
--- a/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_dhcpsnoop.c
+++ b/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_dhcpsnoop.c
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
 #include "virthreadpool.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
 #include "virtime.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NWFILTER
 
diff --git a/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_driver.c b/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_driver.c
index 789280785b..7eec3de40b 100644
--- a/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_driver.c
+++ b/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_driver.c
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "nwfilter_driver.h"
 #include "nwfilter_gentech_driver.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #include "nwfilter_ipaddrmap.h"
 #include "nwfilter_dhcpsnoop.h"
diff --git a/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_ebiptables_driver.c b/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_ebiptables_driver.c
index 0e39574edb..ac943555ea 100644
--- a/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_ebiptables_driver.c
+++ b/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_ebiptables_driver.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
 #include "intprops.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NWFILTER
 
diff --git a/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_learnipaddr.c b/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_learnipaddr.c
index b399092ef0..14fd32cfc6 100644
--- a/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_learnipaddr.c
+++ b/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_learnipaddr.c
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
 #include "nwfilter_ebiptables_driver.h"
 #include "nwfilter_ipaddrmap.h"
 #include "nwfilter_learnipaddr.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NWFILTER
 
diff --git a/src/openvz/openvz_conf.c b/src/openvz/openvz_conf.c
index a6f96c717f..49fae2894c 100644
--- a/src/openvz/openvz_conf.c
+++ b/src/openvz/openvz_conf.c
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_OPENVZ
 
diff --git a/src/openvz/openvz_driver.c b/src/openvz/openvz_driver.c
index f8bec6239c..e6d71466ad 100644
--- a/src/openvz/openvz_driver.c
+++ b/src/openvz/openvz_driver.c
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@
 #include "openvz_driver.h"
 #include "openvz_util.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "openvz_conf.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
@@ -58,6 +57,7 @@
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "viruri.h"
 #include "virstatslinux.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_OPENVZ
 
diff --git a/src/parallels/parallels_driver.c b/src/parallels/parallels_driver.c
index e1269672bd..c29a5ba24d 100644
--- a/src/parallels/parallels_driver.c
+++ b/src/parallels/parallels_driver.c
@@ -42,13 +42,13 @@
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
 #include "virstoragefile.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
 #include "c-ctype.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #include "parallels_driver.h"
 #include "parallels_utils.h"
diff --git a/src/parallels/parallels_network.c b/src/parallels/parallels_network.c
index 7a9436f860..23109d3843 100644
--- a/src/parallels/parallels_network.c
+++ b/src/parallels/parallels_network.c
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "md5.h"
-
 #include "parallels_utils.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_PARALLELS
 #define PARALLELS_ROUTED_NETWORK_UUID   "eb593dd1-6846-45b0-84a0-de0729286982"
diff --git a/src/parallels/parallels_storage.c b/src/parallels/parallels_storage.c
index 271f3709dc..4c98e4389d 100644
--- a/src/parallels/parallels_storage.c
+++ b/src/parallels/parallels_storage.c
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@
 #include "configmake.h"
 #include "virstoragefile.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-
 #include "parallels_utils.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_PARALLELS
 
diff --git a/src/parallels/parallels_utils.c b/src/parallels/parallels_utils.c
index 0b589abd23..4236ed5073 100644
--- a/src/parallels/parallels_utils.c
+++ b/src/parallels/parallels_utils.c
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virjson.h"
-
 #include "parallels_utils.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_PARALLELS
 
diff --git a/src/phyp/phyp_driver.c b/src/phyp/phyp_driver.c
index f5c66ba56a..85eb650645 100644
--- a/src/phyp/phyp_driver.c
+++ b/src/phyp/phyp_driver.c
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virauth.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
@@ -56,8 +55,8 @@
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "interface_conf.h"
-
 #include "phyp_driver.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_PHYP
 
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_agent.c b/src/qemu/qemu_agent.c
index 8c8c38bab0..d116b2394f 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_agent.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_agent.c
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "virprocess.h"
 #include "virtime.h"
 #include "virobject.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_QEMU
 
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_bridge_filter.c b/src/qemu/qemu_bridge_filter.c
index 3bc1141a4d..ab4db9a0ad 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_bridge_filter.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_bridge_filter.c
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 #include "virebtables.h"
 #include "qemu_conf.h"
 #include "qemu_driver.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c b/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c
index 2acf535e2c..a3a8d1feed 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virpidfile.h"
 #include "virprocess.h"
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_cgroup.c b/src/qemu/qemu_cgroup.c
index 7a7824d83f..4819cfe99b 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_cgroup.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_cgroup.c
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "domain_audit.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_QEMU
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
index 7d851e3786..575dce1376 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virarch.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virnetdev.h"
 #include "virstring.h"
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
index 7c3f317cf0..c16b90d3fe 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "virconf.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index 1ea2bcd76e..47edfba9e5 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "domain_event.h"
 #include "virtime.h"
 #include "virstoragefile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #include <sys/time.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 94928508f0..d5d7de3906 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
 #include "virstatslinux.h"
 #include "capabilities.h"
@@ -92,6 +91,7 @@
 #include "virtime.h"
 #include "virtypedparam.h"
 #include "virbitmap.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_QEMU
 
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
index 0d1ca45016..a4f48b0338 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 #include "virnetdevtap.h"
 #include "device_conf.h"
 #include "virstoragefile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_QEMU
 #define CHANGE_MEDIA_RETRIES 10
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c b/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c
index 6ad1c307f3..0732614f76 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "fdstream.h"
@@ -55,7 +54,7 @@
 #include "virstoragefile.h"
 #include "viruri.h"
 #include "virhook.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_QEMU
 
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_monitor.c b/src/qemu/qemu_monitor.c
index 1b1d4a18d8..4deb2d60ac 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_monitor.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_monitor.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virprocess.h"
 #include "virobject.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #ifdef WITH_DTRACE_PROBES
 # include "libvirt_qemu_probes.h"
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_text.c b/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_text.c
index daade3d554..696961bdab 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_text.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_text.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #ifdef WITH_DTRACE_PROBES
 # include "libvirt_qemu_probes.h"
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
index 58f64b7310..3dd178c19c 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@
 #include "virhook.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virpidfile.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "c-ctype.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
 #include "domain_audit.h"
@@ -64,6 +63,7 @@
 #include "virbitmap.h"
 #include "viratomic.h"
 #include "virnuma.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_QEMU
 
diff --git a/src/remote/remote_driver.c b/src/remote/remote_driver.c
index f66304c3f9..13212d08b0 100644
--- a/src/remote/remote_driver.c
+++ b/src/remote/remote_driver.c
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
 #include "lxc_protocol.h"
 #include "qemu_protocol.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "intprops.h"
@@ -48,6 +47,7 @@
 #include "viruri.h"
 #include "virauth.h"
 #include "virauthconfig.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_REMOTE
 
diff --git a/src/rpc/virkeepalive.c b/src/rpc/virkeepalive.c
index d49082ca96..8ae5c6c24e 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virkeepalive.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virkeepalive.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include "virthread.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virnetsocket.h"
 #include "virkeepaliveprotocol.h"
diff --git a/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c b/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c
index 58fb0b4918..2bde5c74e5 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
 #include "virkeepalive.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
+#include "virutil.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_RPC
 
diff --git a/src/rpc/virnetsocket.c b/src/rpc/virnetsocket.c
index c4fd9ee981..e950d7fd77 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virnetsocket.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virnetsocket.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
 #include "virprocess.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 #include "passfd.h"
 
 #if WITH_SSH2
diff --git a/src/rpc/virnetsshsession.c b/src/rpc/virnetsshsession.c
index 9ce99f85cd..27750fc66b 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virnetsshsession.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virnetsshsession.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virobject.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_SSH
 
diff --git a/src/rpc/virnettlscontext.c b/src/rpc/virnettlscontext.c
index eed0439c32..7f5975dcff 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virnettlscontext.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virnettlscontext.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "gnutls_1_0_compat.h"
 
 #include "virnettlscontext.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
diff --git a/src/secret/secret_driver.c b/src/secret/secret_driver.c
index 646c8ffc93..377b9f4c45 100644
--- a/src/secret/secret_driver.c
+++ b/src/secret/secret_driver.c
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@
 #include "secret_conf.h"
 #include "secret_driver.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_SECRET
 
diff --git a/src/security/security_apparmor.c b/src/security/security_apparmor.c
index 5be5ff02d9..5fb5db318d 100644
--- a/src/security/security_apparmor.c
+++ b/src/security/security_apparmor.c
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 
 #include "security_apparmor.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
@@ -49,6 +48,7 @@
 #include "configmake.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_SECURITY
 #define SECURITY_APPARMOR_VOID_DOI      "0"
diff --git a/src/security/security_dac.c b/src/security/security_dac.c
index e197eff42e..cd214d8860 100644
--- a/src/security/security_dac.c
+++ b/src/security/security_dac.c
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@
 
 #include "security_dac.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virpci.h"
 #include "virusb.h"
 #include "virstoragefile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_SECURITY
 #define SECURITY_DAC_NAME "dac"
diff --git a/src/security/security_selinux.c b/src/security/security_selinux.c
index 0cf4009358..a85f0a3c94 100644
--- a/src/security/security_selinux.c
+++ b/src/security/security_selinux.c
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include "security_driver.h"
 #include "security_selinux.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virpci.h"
@@ -45,6 +44,7 @@
 #include "virrandom.h"
 #include "virconf.h"
 #include "virtpm.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_SECURITY
 
diff --git a/src/security/virt-aa-helper.c b/src/security/virt-aa-helper.c
index 3c9515f19f..b52691992f 100644
--- a/src/security/virt-aa-helper.c
+++ b/src/security/virt-aa-helper.c
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@
 
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
 
@@ -55,6 +54,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
 #include "virrandom.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_SECURITY
 
diff --git a/src/storage/storage_backend.c b/src/storage/storage_backend.c
index d4aabb6bca..b85a5a9aa8 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_backend.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_backend.c
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@
 
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "secret_conf.h"
@@ -55,6 +54,7 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "stat-time.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #if WITH_STORAGE_LVM
 # include "storage_backend_logical.h"
diff --git a/src/storage/storage_backend_disk.c b/src/storage/storage_backend_disk.c
index 1faf1aed36..6da2d12474 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_backend_disk.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_backend_disk.c
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "storage_backend_disk.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STORAGE
 
diff --git a/src/storage/storage_backend_fs.c b/src/storage/storage_backend_fs.c
index c1684f77cb..8288b1e7c8 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_backend_fs.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_backend_fs.c
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STORAGE
 
diff --git a/src/storage/storage_backend_iscsi.c b/src/storage/storage_backend_iscsi.c
index f6b76ed496..cf259193a6 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_backend_iscsi.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_backend_iscsi.c
@@ -38,12 +38,12 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "storage_backend_scsi.h"
 #include "storage_backend_iscsi.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "virrandom.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STORAGE
 
diff --git a/src/storage/storage_backend_logical.c b/src/storage/storage_backend_logical.c
index 4cf664775e..316043fe72 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_backend_logical.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_backend_logical.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STORAGE
 
diff --git a/src/storage/storage_backend_mpath.c b/src/storage/storage_backend_mpath.c
index 60490634f8..6e742f77cd 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_backend_mpath.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_backend_mpath.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STORAGE
 
diff --git a/src/storage/storage_backend_rbd.c b/src/storage/storage_backend_rbd.c
index e815192c22..ca23d4b0fb 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_backend_rbd.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_backend_rbd.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "storage_backend_rbd.h"
 #include "storage_conf.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "base64.h"
diff --git a/src/storage/storage_backend_scsi.c b/src/storage/storage_backend_scsi.c
index 987d218509..154a56aa8e 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_backend_scsi.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_backend_scsi.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STORAGE
 
diff --git a/src/storage/storage_backend_sheepdog.c b/src/storage/storage_backend_sheepdog.c
index 15fa29c7e2..dfa5673257 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_backend_sheepdog.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_backend_sheepdog.c
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 #include "storage_backend_sheepdog.h"
 #include "storage_conf.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 
diff --git a/src/storage/storage_driver.c b/src/storage/storage_driver.c
index f190eb7b7e..990f0b178b 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_driver.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_driver.c
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "driver.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "storage_driver.h"
 #include "storage_conf.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
@@ -48,6 +47,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "fdstream.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STORAGE
 
diff --git a/src/test/test_driver.c b/src/test/test_driver.c
index d964fb2e6f..f60f106bb8 100644
--- a/src/test/test_driver.c
+++ b/src/test/test_driver.c
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "test_driver.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "capabilities.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
@@ -54,6 +53,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virtypedparam.h"
 #include "virrandom.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_TEST
 
diff --git a/src/uml/uml_conf.c b/src/uml/uml_conf.c
index 4fa79271fa..a55b5b1f10 100644
--- a/src/uml/uml_conf.c
+++ b/src/uml/uml_conf.c
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "virconf.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "virnetdevtap.h"
 #include "virnodesuspend.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_UML
 
diff --git a/src/uml/uml_driver.c b/src/uml/uml_driver.c
index 9b0aba6f09..66c00b2beb 100644
--- a/src/uml/uml_driver.c
+++ b/src/uml/uml_driver.c
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@
 #include "uml_driver.h"
 #include "uml_conf.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
 #include "virstatslinux.h"
 #include "capabilities.h"
@@ -65,6 +64,7 @@
 #include "virnodesuspend.h"
 #include "virprocess.h"
 #include "viruri.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_UML
 
diff --git a/src/util/iohelper.c b/src/util/iohelper.c
index 2230bcbbd4..33ba85240a 100644
--- a/src/util/iohelper.c
+++ b/src/util/iohelper.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
 #include "virrandom.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STORAGE
 
diff --git a/src/util/viraudit.c b/src/util/viraudit.c
index 0f4bb4f4a8..5dd4e1fc74 100644
--- a/src/util/viraudit.c
+++ b/src/util/viraudit.c
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viraudit.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 /* Provide the macros in case the header file is old.
    FIXME: should be removed. */
diff --git a/src/util/virauth.c b/src/util/virauth.c
index c26e340ddd..fdcefe1a06 100644
--- a/src/util/virauth.c
+++ b/src/util/virauth.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
 #include "virauthconfig.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_AUTH
 
diff --git a/src/util/virauthconfig.c b/src/util/virauthconfig.c
index 1d1f084ae2..4259cb3bad 100644
--- a/src/util/virauthconfig.c
+++ b/src/util/virauthconfig.c
@@ -26,10 +26,9 @@
 
 #include "virkeyfile.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 struct _virAuthConfig {
     virKeyFilePtr keyfile;
diff --git a/src/util/virbitmap.c b/src/util/virbitmap.c
index 998c302567..c81555acda 100644
--- a/src/util/virbitmap.c
+++ b/src/util/virbitmap.c
@@ -33,10 +33,9 @@
 #include "virbitmap.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "c-ctype.h"
 #include "count-one-bits.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 struct _virBitmap {
     size_t max_bit;
diff --git a/src/util/vircommand.c b/src/util/vircommand.c
index 98521ec9ec..f6f27d9e71 100644
--- a/src/util/vircommand.c
+++ b/src/util/vircommand.c
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 #include "virprocess.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/util/vircommand.h b/src/util/vircommand.h
index 18568feb87..a4021392d1 100644
--- a/src/util/vircommand.h
+++ b/src/util/vircommand.h
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 # define __VIR_COMMAND_H__
 
 # include "internal.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "virbuffer.h"
 
 typedef struct _virCommand virCommand;
diff --git a/src/util/virdnsmasq.c b/src/util/virdnsmasq.c
index 2e63d83af2..4f0563317b 100644
--- a/src/util/virdnsmasq.c
+++ b/src/util/virdnsmasq.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NETWORK
 #define DNSMASQ_HOSTSFILE_SUFFIX "hostsfile"
diff --git a/src/util/virebtables.c b/src/util/virebtables.c
index 65c0ac33b4..6bc6fed3ca 100644
--- a/src/util/virebtables.c
+++ b/src/util/virebtables.c
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
+#include "virutil.h"
 
 #if HAVE_FIREWALLD
 static char *firewall_cmd_path = NULL;
diff --git a/src/util/virerror.c b/src/util/virerror.c
index 8a329a9825..af4da8c8fb 100644
--- a/src/util/virerror.c
+++ b/src/util/virerror.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
 #include "virutil.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 virThreadLocal virLastErr;
 
diff --git a/src/util/virfile.c b/src/util/virfile.c
index fbaeeddbe8..25a0501cdf 100644
--- a/src/util/virfile.c
+++ b/src/util/virfile.c
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/util/virhook.h b/src/util/virhook.h
index a63a12536a..96bf4cf126 100644
--- a/src/util/virhook.h
+++ b/src/util/virhook.h
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 # define __VIR_HOOKS_H__
 
 # include "internal.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 
 enum virHookDriverType {
     VIR_HOOK_DRIVER_DAEMON = 0,        /* Daemon related events */
diff --git a/src/util/virinitctl.c b/src/util/virinitctl.c
index d1e0fe6e51..59db0575a2 100644
--- a/src/util/virinitctl.c
+++ b/src/util/virinitctl.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_INITCTL
 
diff --git a/src/util/viriptables.c b/src/util/viriptables.c
index 19d61610c8..06a1356cf2 100644
--- a/src/util/viriptables.c
+++ b/src/util/viriptables.c
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
+#include "virutil.h"
 
 #if HAVE_FIREWALLD
 static char *firewall_cmd_path = NULL;
diff --git a/src/util/virjson.c b/src/util/virjson.c
index e6a3b1b61e..92138d3673 100644
--- a/src/util/virjson.c
+++ b/src/util/virjson.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 #include "virutil.h"
 
 #if WITH_YAJL
diff --git a/src/util/virlockspace.c b/src/util/virlockspace.c
index 4ff0f3a329..620a460ee2 100644
--- a/src/util/virlockspace.c
+++ b/src/util/virlockspace.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virhash.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
diff --git a/src/util/virlog.c b/src/util/virlog.c
index e31abb091c..bd47b38e2c 100644
--- a/src/util/virlog.c
+++ b/src/util/virlog.c
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virtime.h"
 #include "intprops.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 /* Journald output is only supported on Linux new enough to expose
  * htole64.  */
diff --git a/src/util/virnetdev.c b/src/util/virnetdev.c
index 8013f23346..d987b8eb21 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdev.c
+++ b/src/util/virnetdev.c
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virpci.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
+#include "virutil.h"
 
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #include <net/if.h>
diff --git a/src/util/virnetdevbandwidth.c b/src/util/virnetdevbandwidth.c
index 2c5b63a0d2..ccc1449d76 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdevbandwidth.c
+++ b/src/util/virnetdevbandwidth.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/util/virnetdevbridge.c b/src/util/virnetdevbridge.c
index 9d46cc4a3f..130829cede 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdevbridge.c
+++ b/src/util/virnetdevbridge.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "intprops.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #include <sys/socket.h>
diff --git a/src/util/virnetdevmacvlan.c b/src/util/virnetdevmacvlan.c
index e76e94c5d5..0c4fcbdd79 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdevmacvlan.c
+++ b/src/util/virnetdevmacvlan.c
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 
 #include "virnetdevmacvlan.h"
 #include "virmacaddr.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
 
diff --git a/src/util/virnetdevopenvswitch.c b/src/util/virnetdevopenvswitch.c
index 4fe077aa34..2aee445a58 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdevopenvswitch.c
+++ b/src/util/virnetdevopenvswitch.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virmacaddr.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/util/virnetdevopenvswitch.h b/src/util/virnetdevopenvswitch.h
index 3216ea01e3..0852e4d870 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdevopenvswitch.h
+++ b/src/util/virnetdevopenvswitch.h
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 # define __VIR_NETDEV_OPENVSWITCH_H__
 
 # include "internal.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "virnetdevvportprofile.h"
 # include "virnetdevvlan.h"
 
diff --git a/src/util/virnetdevtap.c b/src/util/virnetdevtap.c
index 7d77f819fd..75599db807 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdevtap.c
+++ b/src/util/virnetdevtap.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #include <net/if.h>
diff --git a/src/util/virnetdevveth.c b/src/util/virnetdevveth.c
index 3f81655e40..5daf21ef7b 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdevveth.c
+++ b/src/util/virnetdevveth.c
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
+#include "virutil.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/util/virnetdevvportprofile.c b/src/util/virnetdevvportprofile.c
index 13ccbab1c8..883aa46b3c 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdevvportprofile.c
+++ b/src/util/virnetdevvportprofile.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "virnetdevvportprofile.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NET
 
diff --git a/src/util/virpci.c b/src/util/virpci.c
index ba60292f15..5865613986 100644
--- a/src/util/virpci.c
+++ b/src/util/virpci.c
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
+#include "virutil.h"
 
 #define PCI_SYSFS "/sys/bus/pci/"
 #define PCI_ID_LEN 10   /* "XXXX XXXX" */
diff --git a/src/util/virpidfile.c b/src/util/virpidfile.c
index 14c9f9f08f..298d57c94c 100644
--- a/src/util/virpidfile.c
+++ b/src/util/virpidfile.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "c-ctype.h"
 #include "areadlink.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/util/virprocess.c b/src/util/virprocess.c
index fb818059f8..73f512313f 100644
--- a/src/util/virprocess.c
+++ b/src/util/virprocess.c
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virutil.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/util/virrandom.c b/src/util/virrandom.c
index 6c5bc9162e..f46d7023e5 100644
--- a/src/util/virrandom.c
+++ b/src/util/virrandom.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/util/virsexpr.c b/src/util/virsexpr.c
index 81dfbe61e3..23b6781135 100644
--- a/src/util/virsexpr.c
+++ b/src/util/virsexpr.c
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@
 
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virsexpr.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_SEXPR
 
diff --git a/src/util/virsocketaddr.c b/src/util/virsocketaddr.c
index 7ee450bb9e..d6a0d934f9 100644
--- a/src/util/virsocketaddr.c
+++ b/src/util/virsocketaddr.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
 #include "virsocketaddr.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #include <netdb.h>
 
diff --git a/src/util/virstatslinux.c b/src/util/virstatslinux.c
index d3e1a0262b..60b72dc0e8 100644
--- a/src/util/virstatslinux.c
+++ b/src/util/virstatslinux.c
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 
 # include "virerror.h"
 # include "datatypes.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "virstatslinux.h"
 # include "viralloc.h"
 # include "virfile.h"
diff --git a/src/util/virstoragefile.c b/src/util/virstoragefile.c
index aabb5c8e2a..c7bb85a86d 100644
--- a/src/util/virstoragefile.c
+++ b/src/util/virstoragefile.c
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "virhash.h"
 #include "virendian.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
+#include "virutil.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STORAGE
 
diff --git a/src/util/virstring.c b/src/util/virstring.c
index 122ebb8f0f..9b4cb0141b 100644
--- a/src/util/virstring.c
+++ b/src/util/virstring.c
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@
 
 #include <config.h>
 
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+#include "c-ctype.h"
 #include "virstring.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
@@ -180,3 +184,334 @@ virStringArrayHasString(char **strings, const char *needle)
 
     return false;
 }
+
+/* Like strtol, but produce an "int" result, and check more carefully.
+   Return 0 upon success;  return -1 to indicate failure.
+   When END_PTR is NULL, the byte after the final valid digit must be NUL.
+   Otherwise, it's like strtol and lets the caller check any suffix for
+   validity.  This function is careful to return -1 when the string S
+   represents a number that is not representable as an "int". */
+int
+virStrToLong_i(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, int *result)
+{
+    long int val;
+    char *p;
+    int err;
+
+    errno = 0;
+    val = strtol(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
+    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s || (int) val != val);
+    if (end_ptr)
+        *end_ptr = p;
+    if (err)
+        return -1;
+    *result = val;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/* Just like virStrToLong_i, above, but produce an "unsigned int" value.  */
+int
+virStrToLong_ui(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, unsigned int *result)
+{
+    unsigned long int val;
+    char *p;
+    int err;
+
+    errno = 0;
+    val = strtoul(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
+    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s || (unsigned int) val != val);
+    if (end_ptr)
+        *end_ptr = p;
+    if (err)
+        return -1;
+    *result = val;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/* Just like virStrToLong_i, above, but produce a "long" value.  */
+int
+virStrToLong_l(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, long *result)
+{
+    long int val;
+    char *p;
+    int err;
+
+    errno = 0;
+    val = strtol(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
+    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s);
+    if (end_ptr)
+        *end_ptr = p;
+    if (err)
+        return -1;
+    *result = val;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/* Just like virStrToLong_i, above, but produce an "unsigned long" value.  */
+int
+virStrToLong_ul(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, unsigned long *result)
+{
+    unsigned long int val;
+    char *p;
+    int err;
+
+    errno = 0;
+    val = strtoul(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
+    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s);
+    if (end_ptr)
+        *end_ptr = p;
+    if (err)
+        return -1;
+    *result = val;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/* Just like virStrToLong_i, above, but produce a "long long" value.  */
+int
+virStrToLong_ll(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, long long *result)
+{
+    long long val;
+    char *p;
+    int err;
+
+    errno = 0;
+    val = strtoll(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
+    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s);
+    if (end_ptr)
+        *end_ptr = p;
+    if (err)
+        return -1;
+    *result = val;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/* Just like virStrToLong_i, above, but produce an "unsigned long long" value.  */
+int
+virStrToLong_ull(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, unsigned long long *result)
+{
+    unsigned long long val;
+    char *p;
+    int err;
+
+    errno = 0;
+    val = strtoull(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
+    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s);
+    if (end_ptr)
+        *end_ptr = p;
+    if (err)
+        return -1;
+    *result = val;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int
+virStrToDouble(char const *s,
+               char **end_ptr,
+               double *result)
+{
+    double val;
+    char *p;
+    int err;
+
+    errno = 0;
+    val = strtod(s, &p); /* exempt from syntax-check */
+    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s);
+    if (end_ptr)
+        *end_ptr = p;
+    if (err)
+        return -1;
+    *result = val;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * virVasprintf
+ *
+ * like glibc's vasprintf but makes sure *strp == NULL on failure
+ */
+int
+virVasprintf(char **strp, const char *fmt, va_list list)
+{
+    int ret;
+
+    if ((ret = vasprintf(strp, fmt, list)) == -1)
+        *strp = NULL;
+
+    return ret;
+}
+
+/**
+ * virAsprintf
+ *
+ * like glibc's_asprintf but makes sure *strp == NULL on failure
+ */
+int
+virAsprintf(char **strp, const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+    va_list ap;
+    int ret;
+
+    va_start(ap, fmt);
+    ret = virVasprintf(strp, fmt, ap);
+    va_end(ap);
+    return ret;
+}
+
+/**
+ * virStrncpy
+ *
+ * A safe version of strncpy.  The last parameter is the number of bytes
+ * available in the destination string, *not* the number of bytes you want
+ * to copy.  If the destination is not large enough to hold all n of the
+ * src string bytes plus a \0, NULL is returned and no data is copied.
+ * If the destination is large enough to hold the n bytes plus \0, then the
+ * string is copied and a pointer to the destination string is returned.
+ */
+char *
+virStrncpy(char *dest, const char *src, size_t n, size_t destbytes)
+{
+    char *ret;
+
+    if (n > (destbytes - 1))
+        return NULL;
+
+    ret = strncpy(dest, src, n);
+    /* strncpy NULL terminates iff the last character is \0.  Therefore
+     * force the last byte to be \0
+     */
+    dest[n] = '\0';
+
+    return ret;
+}
+
+/**
+ * virStrcpy
+ *
+ * A safe version of strcpy.  The last parameter is the number of bytes
+ * available in the destination string, *not* the number of bytes you want
+ * to copy.  If the destination is not large enough to hold all n of the
+ * src string bytes plus a \0, NULL is returned and no data is copied.
+ * If the destination is large enough to hold the source plus \0, then the
+ * string is copied and a pointer to the destination string is returned.
+ */
+char *
+virStrcpy(char *dest, const char *src, size_t destbytes)
+{
+    return virStrncpy(dest, src, strlen(src), destbytes);
+}
+
+/**
+ * virSkipSpaces:
+ * @str: pointer to the char pointer used
+ *
+ * Skip potential blanks, this includes space tabs, line feed,
+ * carriage returns.
+ */
+void
+virSkipSpaces(const char **str)
+{
+    const char *cur = *str;
+
+    while (c_isspace(*cur))
+        cur++;
+    *str = cur;
+}
+
+/**
+ * virSkipSpacesAndBackslash:
+ * @str: pointer to the char pointer used
+ *
+ * Like virSkipSpaces, but also skip backslashes erroneously emitted
+ * by xend
+ */
+void
+virSkipSpacesAndBackslash(const char **str)
+{
+    const char *cur = *str;
+
+    while (c_isspace(*cur) || *cur == '\\')
+        cur++;
+    *str = cur;
+}
+
+/**
+ * virTrimSpaces:
+ * @str: string to modify to remove all trailing spaces
+ * @endp: track the end of the string
+ *
+ * If @endp is NULL on entry, then all spaces prior to the trailing
+ * NUL in @str are removed, by writing NUL into the appropriate
+ * location.  If @endp is non-NULL but points to a NULL pointer,
+ * then all spaces prior to the trailing NUL in @str are removed,
+ * NUL is written to the new string end, and endp is set to the
+ * location of the (new) string end.  If @endp is non-NULL and
+ * points to a non-NULL pointer, then that pointer is used as
+ * the end of the string, endp is set to the (new) location, but
+ * no NUL pointer is written into the string.
+ */
+void
+virTrimSpaces(char *str, char **endp)
+{
+    char *end;
+
+    if (!endp || !*endp)
+        end = str + strlen(str);
+    else
+        end = *endp;
+    while (end > str && c_isspace(end[-1]))
+        end--;
+    if (endp) {
+        if (!*endp)
+            *end = '\0';
+        *endp = end;
+    } else {
+        *end = '\0';
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * virSkipSpacesBackwards:
+ * @str: start of string
+ * @endp: on entry, *endp must be NULL or a location within @str, on exit,
+ * will be adjusted to skip trailing spaces, or to NULL if @str had nothing
+ * but spaces.
+ */
+void
+virSkipSpacesBackwards(const char *str, char **endp)
+{
+    /* Casting away const is safe, since virTrimSpaces does not
+     * modify string with this particular usage.  */
+    char *s = (char*) str;
+
+    if (!*endp)
+        *endp = s + strlen(s);
+    virTrimSpaces(s, endp);
+    if (s == *endp)
+        *endp = NULL;
+}
+
+char *
+virArgvToString(const char *const *argv)
+{
+    int len, i;
+    char *ret, *p;
+
+    for (len = 1, i = 0; argv[i]; i++)
+        len += strlen(argv[i]) + 1;
+
+    if (VIR_ALLOC_N(ret, len) < 0)
+        return NULL;
+    p = ret;
+
+    for (i = 0; argv[i]; i++) {
+        if (i != 0)
+            *(p++) = ' ';
+
+        strcpy(p, argv[i]);
+        p += strlen(argv[i]);
+    }
+
+    *p = '\0';
+
+    return ret;
+}
diff --git a/src/util/virstring.h b/src/util/virstring.h
index 2ceadc6b84..457caa2fb5 100644
--- a/src/util/virstring.h
+++ b/src/util/virstring.h
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 #ifndef __VIR_STRING_H__
 # define __VIR_STRING_H__
 
+# include <stdarg.h>
+
 # include "internal.h"
 
 char **virStringSplit(const char *string,
@@ -37,4 +39,52 @@ void virStringFreeList(char **strings);
 
 bool virStringArrayHasString(char **strings, const char *needle);
 
+char *virArgvToString(const char *const *argv);
+
+int virStrToLong_i(char const *s,
+                   char **end_ptr,
+                   int base,
+                   int *result);
+
+int virStrToLong_ui(char const *s,
+                    char **end_ptr,
+                    int base,
+                    unsigned int *result);
+int virStrToLong_l(char const *s,
+                   char **end_ptr,
+                   int base,
+                   long *result);
+int virStrToLong_ul(char const *s,
+                    char **end_ptr,
+                    int base,
+                    unsigned long *result);
+int virStrToLong_ll(char const *s,
+                    char **end_ptr,
+                    int base,
+                    long long *result);
+int virStrToLong_ull(char const *s,
+                     char **end_ptr,
+                     int base,
+                     unsigned long long *result);
+int virStrToDouble(char const *s,
+                   char **end_ptr,
+                   double *result);
+
+void virSkipSpaces(const char **str) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1);
+void virSkipSpacesAndBackslash(const char **str) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1);
+void virTrimSpaces(char *str, char **endp) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1);
+void virSkipSpacesBackwards(const char *str, char **endp)
+    ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(2);
+
+int virAsprintf(char **strp, const char *fmt, ...)
+    ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(2) ATTRIBUTE_FMT_PRINTF(2, 3)
+    ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
+int virVasprintf(char **strp, const char *fmt, va_list list)
+    ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(2) ATTRIBUTE_FMT_PRINTF(2, 0)
+    ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
+char *virStrncpy(char *dest, const char *src, size_t n, size_t destbytes)
+    ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
+char *virStrcpy(char *dest, const char *src, size_t destbytes)
+    ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
+# define virStrcpyStatic(dest, src) virStrcpy((dest), (src), sizeof(dest))
 #endif /* __VIR_STRING_H__ */
diff --git a/src/util/virsysinfo.c b/src/util/virsysinfo.c
index ba0c245f99..2efe634957 100644
--- a/src/util/virsysinfo.c
+++ b/src/util/virsysinfo.c
@@ -32,10 +32,10 @@
 
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virsysinfo.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_SYSINFO
 
diff --git a/src/util/virtime.c b/src/util/virtime.c
index b54a4e8d6b..37c639cbbb 100644
--- a/src/util/virtime.c
+++ b/src/util/virtime.c
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
 #include <sys/time.h>
 
 #include "virtime.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 
diff --git a/src/util/virtpm.c b/src/util/virtpm.c
index fbe5e9dbcc..b5504b573c 100644
--- a/src/util/virtpm.c
+++ b/src/util/virtpm.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 
-#include "virutil.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virtpm.h"
 
diff --git a/src/util/virtypedparam.c b/src/util/virtypedparam.c
index c19632177e..a9f8a33320 100644
--- a/src/util/virtypedparam.c
+++ b/src/util/virtypedparam.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/src/util/viruri.c b/src/util/viruri.c
index 2888cb0c0a..2a75425d74 100644
--- a/src/util/viruri.c
+++ b/src/util/viruri.c
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@
 #include "viruri.h"
 
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_URI
 
diff --git a/src/util/virusb.c b/src/util/virusb.c
index 6e43f8efd5..3192634f4e 100644
--- a/src/util/virusb.c
+++ b/src/util/virusb.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define USB_SYSFS "/sys/bus/usb"
 #define USB_ID_LEN 10 /* "1234 5678" */
diff --git a/src/util/virutil.c b/src/util/virutil.c
index b9de33c4eb..dc14c15238 100644
--- a/src/util/virutil.c
+++ b/src/util/virutil.c
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 #include <dirent.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdarg.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <errno.h>
@@ -80,7 +79,6 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virstoragefile.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
@@ -90,6 +88,7 @@
 #include "nonblocking.h"
 #include "passfd.h"
 #include "virprocess.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #ifndef NSIG
 # define NSIG 32
@@ -240,32 +239,6 @@ int virFileStripSuffix(char *str,
     return 1;
 }
 
-char *
-virArgvToString(const char *const *argv)
-{
-    int len, i;
-    char *ret, *p;
-
-    for (len = 1, i = 0; argv[i]; i++)
-        len += strlen(argv[i]) + 1;
-
-    if (VIR_ALLOC_N(ret, len) < 0)
-        return NULL;
-    p = ret;
-
-    for (i = 0; argv[i]; i++) {
-        if (i != 0)
-            *(p++) = ' ';
-
-        strcpy(p, argv[i]);
-        p += strlen(argv[i]);
-    }
-
-    *p = '\0';
-
-    return ret;
-}
-
 #ifndef WIN32
 
 int virSetInherit(int fd, bool inherit) {
@@ -1595,145 +1568,6 @@ virFileSanitizePath(const char *path)
     return cleanpath;
 }
 
-/* Like strtol, but produce an "int" result, and check more carefully.
-   Return 0 upon success;  return -1 to indicate failure.
-   When END_PTR is NULL, the byte after the final valid digit must be NUL.
-   Otherwise, it's like strtol and lets the caller check any suffix for
-   validity.  This function is careful to return -1 when the string S
-   represents a number that is not representable as an "int". */
-int
-virStrToLong_i(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, int *result)
-{
-    long int val;
-    char *p;
-    int err;
-
-    errno = 0;
-    val = strtol(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
-    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s || (int) val != val);
-    if (end_ptr)
-        *end_ptr = p;
-    if (err)
-        return -1;
-    *result = val;
-    return 0;
-}
-
-/* Just like virStrToLong_i, above, but produce an "unsigned int" value.  */
-int
-virStrToLong_ui(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, unsigned int *result)
-{
-    unsigned long int val;
-    char *p;
-    int err;
-
-    errno = 0;
-    val = strtoul(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
-    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s || (unsigned int) val != val);
-    if (end_ptr)
-        *end_ptr = p;
-    if (err)
-        return -1;
-    *result = val;
-    return 0;
-}
-
-/* Just like virStrToLong_i, above, but produce a "long" value.  */
-int
-virStrToLong_l(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, long *result)
-{
-    long int val;
-    char *p;
-    int err;
-
-    errno = 0;
-    val = strtol(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
-    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s);
-    if (end_ptr)
-        *end_ptr = p;
-    if (err)
-        return -1;
-    *result = val;
-    return 0;
-}
-
-/* Just like virStrToLong_i, above, but produce an "unsigned long" value.  */
-int
-virStrToLong_ul(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, unsigned long *result)
-{
-    unsigned long int val;
-    char *p;
-    int err;
-
-    errno = 0;
-    val = strtoul(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
-    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s);
-    if (end_ptr)
-        *end_ptr = p;
-    if (err)
-        return -1;
-    *result = val;
-    return 0;
-}
-
-/* Just like virStrToLong_i, above, but produce a "long long" value.  */
-int
-virStrToLong_ll(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, long long *result)
-{
-    long long val;
-    char *p;
-    int err;
-
-    errno = 0;
-    val = strtoll(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
-    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s);
-    if (end_ptr)
-        *end_ptr = p;
-    if (err)
-        return -1;
-    *result = val;
-    return 0;
-}
-
-/* Just like virStrToLong_i, above, but produce an "unsigned long long" value.  */
-int
-virStrToLong_ull(char const *s, char **end_ptr, int base, unsigned long long *result)
-{
-    unsigned long long val;
-    char *p;
-    int err;
-
-    errno = 0;
-    val = strtoull(s, &p, base); /* exempt from syntax-check */
-    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s);
-    if (end_ptr)
-        *end_ptr = p;
-    if (err)
-        return -1;
-    *result = val;
-    return 0;
-}
-
-int
-virStrToDouble(char const *s,
-               char **end_ptr,
-               double *result)
-{
-    double val;
-    char *p;
-    int err;
-
-    errno = 0;
-    val = strtod(s, &p); /* exempt from syntax-check */
-    err = (errno || (!end_ptr && *p) || p == s);
-    if (end_ptr)
-        *end_ptr = p;
-    if (err)
-        return -1;
-    *result = val;
-    return 0;
-}
-
 /* Convert C from hexadecimal character to integer.  */
 int
 virHexToBin(unsigned char c)
@@ -1819,95 +1653,6 @@ virScaleInteger(unsigned long long *value, const char *suffix,
     return 0;
 }
 
-/**
- * virSkipSpaces:
- * @str: pointer to the char pointer used
- *
- * Skip potential blanks, this includes space tabs, line feed,
- * carriage returns.
- */
-void
-virSkipSpaces(const char **str)
-{
-    const char *cur = *str;
-
-    while (c_isspace(*cur))
-        cur++;
-    *str = cur;
-}
-
-/**
- * virSkipSpacesAndBackslash:
- * @str: pointer to the char pointer used
- *
- * Like virSkipSpaces, but also skip backslashes erroneously emitted
- * by xend
- */
-void
-virSkipSpacesAndBackslash(const char **str)
-{
-    const char *cur = *str;
-
-    while (c_isspace(*cur) || *cur == '\\')
-        cur++;
-    *str = cur;
-}
-
-/**
- * virTrimSpaces:
- * @str: string to modify to remove all trailing spaces
- * @endp: track the end of the string
- *
- * If @endp is NULL on entry, then all spaces prior to the trailing
- * NUL in @str are removed, by writing NUL into the appropriate
- * location.  If @endp is non-NULL but points to a NULL pointer,
- * then all spaces prior to the trailing NUL in @str are removed,
- * NUL is written to the new string end, and endp is set to the
- * location of the (new) string end.  If @endp is non-NULL and
- * points to a non-NULL pointer, then that pointer is used as
- * the end of the string, endp is set to the (new) location, but
- * no NUL pointer is written into the string.
- */
-void
-virTrimSpaces(char *str, char **endp)
-{
-    char *end;
-
-    if (!endp || !*endp)
-        end = str + strlen(str);
-    else
-        end = *endp;
-    while (end > str && c_isspace(end[-1]))
-        end--;
-    if (endp) {
-        if (!*endp)
-            *end = '\0';
-        *endp = end;
-    } else {
-        *end = '\0';
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- * virSkipSpacesBackwards:
- * @str: start of string
- * @endp: on entry, *endp must be NULL or a location within @str, on exit,
- * will be adjusted to skip trailing spaces, or to NULL if @str had nothing
- * but spaces.
- */
-void
-virSkipSpacesBackwards(const char *str, char **endp)
-{
-    /* Casting away const is safe, since virTrimSpaces does not
-     * modify string with this particular usage.  */
-    char *s = (char*) str;
-
-    if (!*endp)
-        *endp = s + strlen(s);
-    virTrimSpaces(s, endp);
-    if (s == *endp)
-        *endp = NULL;
-}
 
 /**
  * virParseNumber:
@@ -1940,7 +1685,6 @@ virParseNumber(const char **str)
     return ret;
 }
 
-
 /**
  * virParseVersionString:
  * @str: const char pointer to the version string
@@ -1987,82 +1731,6 @@ virParseVersionString(const char *str, unsigned long *version,
     return 0;
 }
 
-/**
- * virVasprintf
- *
- * like glibc's vasprintf but makes sure *strp == NULL on failure
- */
-int
-virVasprintf(char **strp, const char *fmt, va_list list)
-{
-    int ret;
-
-    if ((ret = vasprintf(strp, fmt, list)) == -1)
-        *strp = NULL;
-
-    return ret;
-}
-
-/**
- * virAsprintf
- *
- * like glibc's_asprintf but makes sure *strp == NULL on failure
- */
-int
-virAsprintf(char **strp, const char *fmt, ...)
-{
-    va_list ap;
-    int ret;
-
-    va_start(ap, fmt);
-    ret = virVasprintf(strp, fmt, ap);
-    va_end(ap);
-    return ret;
-}
-
-/**
- * virStrncpy
- *
- * A safe version of strncpy.  The last parameter is the number of bytes
- * available in the destination string, *not* the number of bytes you want
- * to copy.  If the destination is not large enough to hold all n of the
- * src string bytes plus a \0, NULL is returned and no data is copied.
- * If the destination is large enough to hold the n bytes plus \0, then the
- * string is copied and a pointer to the destination string is returned.
- */
-char *
-virStrncpy(char *dest, const char *src, size_t n, size_t destbytes)
-{
-    char *ret;
-
-    if (n > (destbytes - 1))
-        return NULL;
-
-    ret = strncpy(dest, src, n);
-    /* strncpy NULL terminates iff the last character is \0.  Therefore
-     * force the last byte to be \0
-     */
-    dest[n] = '\0';
-
-    return ret;
-}
-
-/**
- * virStrcpy
- *
- * A safe version of strcpy.  The last parameter is the number of bytes
- * available in the destination string, *not* the number of bytes you want
- * to copy.  If the destination is not large enough to hold all n of the
- * src string bytes plus a \0, NULL is returned and no data is copied.
- * If the destination is large enough to hold the source plus \0, then the
- * string is copied and a pointer to the destination string is returned.
- */
-char *
-virStrcpy(char *dest, const char *src, size_t destbytes)
-{
-    return virStrncpy(dest, src, strlen(src), destbytes);
-}
-
 int virEnumFromString(const char *const*types,
                       unsigned int ntypes,
                       const char *type)
diff --git a/src/util/virutil.h b/src/util/virutil.h
index 39033db780..8a2d25cdad 100644
--- a/src/util/virutil.h
+++ b/src/util/virutil.h
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 # include <unistd.h>
 # include <sys/select.h>
 # include <sys/types.h>
-# include <stdarg.h>
 
 # ifndef MIN
 #  define MIN(a, b) ((a) < (b) ? (a) : (b))
@@ -155,63 +154,15 @@ int virFileOpenTty(int *ttymaster,
                    char **ttyName,
                    int rawmode);
 
-char *virArgvToString(const char *const *argv);
-
-int virStrToLong_i(char const *s,
-                     char **end_ptr,
-                     int base,
-                     int *result);
-
-int virStrToLong_ui(char const *s,
-                    char **end_ptr,
-                    int base,
-                    unsigned int *result);
-int virStrToLong_l(char const *s,
-                   char **end_ptr,
-                   int base,
-                   long *result);
-int virStrToLong_ul(char const *s,
-                    char **end_ptr,
-                    int base,
-                    unsigned long *result);
-int virStrToLong_ll(char const *s,
-                    char **end_ptr,
-                    int base,
-                    long long *result);
-int virStrToLong_ull(char const *s,
-                     char **end_ptr,
-                     int base,
-                     unsigned long long *result);
-int virStrToDouble(char const *s,
-                   char **end_ptr,
-                   double *result);
-
 int virScaleInteger(unsigned long long *value, const char *suffix,
                     unsigned long long scale, unsigned long long limit)
     ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1) ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
 
 int virHexToBin(unsigned char c);
 
-void virSkipSpaces(const char **str) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1);
-void virSkipSpacesAndBackslash(const char **str) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1);
-void virTrimSpaces(char *str, char **endp) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1);
-void virSkipSpacesBackwards(const char *str, char **endp)
-    ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(2);
-
 int virParseNumber(const char **str);
 int virParseVersionString(const char *str, unsigned long *version,
                           bool allowMissing);
-int virAsprintf(char **strp, const char *fmt, ...)
-    ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(2) ATTRIBUTE_FMT_PRINTF(2, 3)
-    ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
-int virVasprintf(char **strp, const char *fmt, va_list list)
-    ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1) ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(2) ATTRIBUTE_FMT_PRINTF(2, 0)
-    ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
-char *virStrncpy(char *dest, const char *src, size_t n, size_t destbytes)
-    ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
-char *virStrcpy(char *dest, const char *src, size_t destbytes)
-    ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
-# define virStrcpyStatic(dest, src) virStrcpy((dest), (src), sizeof(dest))
 
 int virDoubleToStr(char **strp, double number)
     ATTRIBUTE_NONNULL(1) ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
diff --git a/src/util/virxml.c b/src/util/virxml.c
index aa55a33874..26120b6fc8 100644
--- a/src/util/virxml.c
+++ b/src/util/virxml.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_XML
 
diff --git a/src/vbox/vbox_MSCOMGlue.c b/src/vbox/vbox_MSCOMGlue.c
index b5fb821c92..6cebfaf242 100644
--- a/src/vbox/vbox_MSCOMGlue.c
+++ b/src/vbox/vbox_MSCOMGlue.c
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "vbox_MSCOMGlue.h"
diff --git a/src/vbox/vbox_XPCOMCGlue.c b/src/vbox/vbox_XPCOMCGlue.c
index 2b568e238b..e0b606fe4a 100644
--- a/src/vbox/vbox_XPCOMCGlue.c
+++ b/src/vbox/vbox_XPCOMCGlue.c
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "virutil.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_VBOX
 
diff --git a/src/vbox/vbox_driver.c b/src/vbox/vbox_driver.c
index dc1e8c356e..30721fd12a 100644
--- a/src/vbox/vbox_driver.c
+++ b/src/vbox/vbox_driver.c
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 #include "vbox_driver.h"
 #include "vbox_glue.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_VBOX
 
diff --git a/src/vbox/vbox_tmpl.c b/src/vbox/vbox_tmpl.c
index 315ba9c878..43ddac8a61 100644
--- a/src/vbox/vbox_tmpl.c
+++ b/src/vbox/vbox_tmpl.c
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "fdstream.h"
 #include "viruri.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 /* This one changes from version to version. */
 #if VBOX_API_VERSION == 2002
diff --git a/src/vmware/vmware_conf.c b/src/vmware/vmware_conf.c
index 573fb336ad..4fb61a8a5a 100644
--- a/src/vmware/vmware_conf.c
+++ b/src/vmware/vmware_conf.c
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "vmx.h"
-
 #include "vmware_conf.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 /* Free all memory associated with a vmware_driver structure */
 void
diff --git a/src/vmware/vmware_driver.c b/src/vmware/vmware_driver.c
index 00852bec7d..1e2634eb91 100644
--- a/src/vmware/vmware_driver.c
+++ b/src/vmware/vmware_driver.c
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "vmx.h"
diff --git a/src/vmx/vmx.c b/src/vmx/vmx.c
index 87bec5beb8..9ec02694e9 100644
--- a/src/vmx/vmx.c
+++ b/src/vmx/vmx.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "vmx.h"
 #include "viruri.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 /*
 
diff --git a/src/xen/block_stats.c b/src/xen/block_stats.c
index 9f5823cc93..8c18ed591f 100644
--- a/src/xen/block_stats.c
+++ b/src/xen/block_stats.c
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@
 
 # include "virerror.h"
 # include "datatypes.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "block_stats.h"
 # include "viralloc.h"
 # include "virfile.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 # define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STATS_LINUX
 
diff --git a/src/xen/xen_driver.c b/src/xen/xen_driver.c
index 0642edb59b..938205ed5d 100644
--- a/src/xen/xen_driver.c
+++ b/src/xen/xen_driver.c
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@
 # include "xen_inotify.h"
 #endif
 #include "virxml.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "node_device_conf.h"
 #include "virpci.h"
@@ -66,6 +65,7 @@
 #include "virnodesuspend.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
 #include "configmake.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_XEN
 #define XEN_SAVE_DIR LOCALSTATEDIR "/lib/libvirt/xen/save"
diff --git a/src/xen/xen_hypervisor.c b/src/xen/xen_hypervisor.c
index 9dbbe0745b..e15f7f2e1f 100644
--- a/src/xen/xen_hypervisor.c
+++ b/src/xen/xen_hypervisor.c
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "driver.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "xen_driver.h"
 #include "xen_hypervisor.h"
 #include "xs_internal.h"
@@ -80,6 +79,7 @@
 #include "virnodesuspend.h"
 #include "virtypedparam.h"
 #include "virendian.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_XEN
 
diff --git a/src/xen/xend_internal.c b/src/xen/xend_internal.c
index 860bf11dcd..97f44abe4a 100644
--- a/src/xen/xend_internal.c
+++ b/src/xen/xend_internal.c
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "xend_internal.h"
 #include "driver.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virsexpr.h"
 #include "xen_sxpr.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
@@ -47,6 +46,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "viruri.h"
 #include "device_conf.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 /* required for cpumap_t */
 #include <xen/dom0_ops.h>
diff --git a/src/xen/xm_internal.c b/src/xen/xm_internal.c
index 8ac7cb0571..921c66aeba 100644
--- a/src/xen/xm_internal.c
+++ b/src/xen/xm_internal.c
@@ -45,10 +45,10 @@
 #include "virhash.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "count-one-bits.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_XENXM
 
diff --git a/src/xenapi/xenapi_driver.c b/src/xenapi/xenapi_driver.c
index 1135c4e673..7e64df690e 100644
--- a/src/xenapi/xenapi_driver.c
+++ b/src/xenapi/xenapi_driver.c
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "virauth.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
@@ -39,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "xenapi_driver.h"
 #include "xenapi_driver_private.h"
 #include "xenapi_utils.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_XENAPI
 
diff --git a/src/xenapi/xenapi_utils.c b/src/xenapi/xenapi_utils.c
index 3b8384eb92..55fbb242e9 100644
--- a/src/xenapi/xenapi_utils.c
+++ b/src/xenapi/xenapi_utils.c
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 #include "domain_conf.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "datatypes.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viruuid.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
@@ -37,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "viruri.h"
 #include "xenapi_driver_private.h"
 #include "xenapi_utils.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 void
 xenSessionFree(xen_session *session)
diff --git a/src/xenxs/xen_sxpr.c b/src/xenxs/xen_sxpr.c
index 76e57ee685..9a76d0462c 100644
--- a/src/xenxs/xen_sxpr.c
+++ b/src/xenxs/xen_sxpr.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "xenxs_private.h"
 #include "xen_sxpr.h"
 #include "virstoragefile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 /* Get a domain id from a S-expression string */
 int xenGetDomIdFromSxprString(const char *sexpr, int xendConfigVersion)
diff --git a/src/xenxs/xen_xm.c b/src/xenxs/xen_xm.c
index 275e6ede58..57ce2e714f 100644
--- a/src/xenxs/xen_xm.c
+++ b/src/xenxs/xen_xm.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "xen_sxpr.h"
 #include "domain_conf.h"
 #include "virstoragefile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 /* Convenience method to grab a long int from the config file object */
 static int xenXMConfigGetBool(virConfPtr conf,
diff --git a/tests/commandtest.c b/tests/commandtest.c
index ac369f97f7..6cb88c5072 100644
--- a/tests/commandtest.c
+++ b/tests/commandtest.c
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virpidfile.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virthread.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/tests/cputest.c b/tests/cputest.c
index ab96824b98..0105440772 100644
--- a/tests/cputest.c
+++ b/tests/cputest.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "cpu_conf.h"
 #include "cpu/cpu.h"
 #include "cpu/cpu_map.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static const char *abs_top_srcdir;
 
diff --git a/tests/domainsnapshotxml2xmltest.c b/tests/domainsnapshotxml2xmltest.c
index 694c382f59..9eddf458fe 100644
--- a/tests/domainsnapshotxml2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/domainsnapshotxml2xmltest.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # include "qemu/qemu_conf.h"
 # include "qemu/qemu_domain.h"
 # include "testutilsqemu.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 static virQEMUDriver driver;
 
diff --git a/tests/esxutilstest.c b/tests/esxutilstest.c
index e2baea2146..bb58a3ab28 100644
--- a/tests/esxutilstest.c
+++ b/tests/esxutilstest.c
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 # include "internal.h"
 # include "viralloc.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "vmx/vmx.h"
 # include "esx/esx_util.h"
 # include "esx/esx_vi_types.h"
diff --git a/tests/interfacexml2xmltest.c b/tests/interfacexml2xmltest.c
index f969fa1782..9d86198bcb 100644
--- a/tests/interfacexml2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/interfacexml2xmltest.c
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "interface_conf.h"
 #include "testutilsqemu.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static int
 testCompareXMLToXMLFiles(const char *xml)
diff --git a/tests/libvirtdconftest.c b/tests/libvirtdconftest.c
index 01e94153c6..df8d3d8dbc 100644
--- a/tests/libvirtdconftest.c
+++ b/tests/libvirtdconftest.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virconf.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/tests/lxcxml2xmltest.c b/tests/lxcxml2xmltest.c
index 4870f4282b..827c2fd267 100644
--- a/tests/lxcxml2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/lxcxml2xmltest.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # include "internal.h"
 # include "lxc/lxc_conf.h"
 # include "testutilslxc.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 static virCapsPtr caps;
 static virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt;
diff --git a/tests/networkxml2conftest.c b/tests/networkxml2conftest.c
index 88016ee119..520febacef 100644
--- a/tests/networkxml2conftest.c
+++ b/tests/networkxml2conftest.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "vircommand.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "network/bridge_driver.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static int
 testCompareXMLToConfFiles(const char *inxml, const char *outconf, dnsmasqCapsPtr caps)
diff --git a/tests/networkxml2xmltest.c b/tests/networkxml2xmltest.c
index 1063435651..5eca143ccc 100644
--- a/tests/networkxml2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/networkxml2xmltest.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "network_conf.h"
 #include "testutilsqemu.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static int
 testCompareXMLToXMLFiles(const char *inxml, const char *outxml,
diff --git a/tests/nodedevxml2xmltest.c b/tests/nodedevxml2xmltest.c
index 38f2e9a027..e81c617974 100644
--- a/tests/nodedevxml2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/nodedevxml2xmltest.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "node_device_conf.h"
 #include "testutilsqemu.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static int
 testCompareXMLToXMLFiles(const char *xml)
diff --git a/tests/nodeinfotest.c b/tests/nodeinfotest.c
index d900eb9ae9..733d350a2f 100644
--- a/tests/nodeinfotest.c
+++ b/tests/nodeinfotest.c
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "nodeinfo.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #if ! (defined __linux__  &&  (defined(__x86_64__) || \
                                defined(__amd64__)  || \
diff --git a/tests/nwfilterxml2xmltest.c b/tests/nwfilterxml2xmltest.c
index a215bf8ab7..158bc9f4ce 100644
--- a/tests/nwfilterxml2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/nwfilterxml2xmltest.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "nwfilter_params.h"
 #include "nwfilter_conf.h"
 #include "testutilsqemu.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static int
 testCompareXMLToXMLFiles(const char *inxml, const char *outxml,
diff --git a/tests/openvzutilstest.c b/tests/openvzutilstest.c
index 616b6be063..be0c74cbd5 100644
--- a/tests/openvzutilstest.c
+++ b/tests/openvzutilstest.c
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
 
 # include "internal.h"
 # include "viralloc.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "openvz/openvz_conf.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 static int
 testLocateConfFile(int vpsid ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, char **conffile,
diff --git a/tests/qemuargv2xmltest.c b/tests/qemuargv2xmltest.c
index 9f1bb242d8..005aa0cfe8 100644
--- a/tests/qemuargv2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/qemuargv2xmltest.c
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@
 
 # include "internal.h"
 # include "qemu/qemu_command.h"
-
 # include "testutilsqemu.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 static virQEMUDriver driver;
 
diff --git a/tests/qemuhelptest.c b/tests/qemuhelptest.c
index eeba4d4201..fa56406f46 100644
--- a/tests/qemuhelptest.c
+++ b/tests/qemuhelptest.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 # include "qemu/qemu_capabilities.h"
 # include "viralloc.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 struct testInfo {
     const char *name;
diff --git a/tests/qemumonitortest.c b/tests/qemumonitortest.c
index a8fc57ac71..61ac2d69f1 100644
--- a/tests/qemumonitortest.c
+++ b/tests/qemumonitortest.c
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 
 # include "internal.h"
 # include "viralloc.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "qemu/qemu_monitor.h"
 
 struct testEscapeString
diff --git a/tests/qemumonitortestutils.c b/tests/qemumonitortestutils.c
index 43e7cb904a..c24a37fb99 100644
--- a/tests/qemumonitortestutils.c
+++ b/tests/qemumonitortestutils.c
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@
 #include "qemu/qemu_monitor.h"
 #include "rpc/virnetsocket.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvtest.c b/tests/qemuxml2argvtest.c
index 9699f775a5..128627308e 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvtest.c
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvtest.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 # include "qemu/qemu_domain.h"
 # include "datatypes.h"
 # include "cpu/cpu_map.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 # include "testutilsqemu.h"
 
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2xmltest.c b/tests/qemuxml2xmltest.c
index a81cfcf364..64c1c83023 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2xmltest.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # include "qemu/qemu_conf.h"
 # include "qemu/qemu_domain.h"
 # include "testutilsqemu.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 static virQEMUDriver driver;
 
diff --git a/tests/qemuxmlnstest.c b/tests/qemuxmlnstest.c
index 4e9144befc..cd493e37e1 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxmlnstest.c
+++ b/tests/qemuxmlnstest.c
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 # include "qemu/qemu_domain.h"
 # include "datatypes.h"
 # include "cpu/cpu_map.h"
-
 # include "testutilsqemu.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 static const char *abs_top_srcdir;
 static virQEMUDriver driver;
diff --git a/tests/securityselinuxlabeltest.c b/tests/securityselinuxlabeltest.c
index f585f6fad5..e270a765c3 100644
--- a/tests/securityselinuxlabeltest.c
+++ b/tests/securityselinuxlabeltest.c
@@ -37,9 +37,8 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "security/security_manager.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/tests/securityselinuxtest.c b/tests/securityselinuxtest.c
index da8a12f3d7..dd4cd11270 100644
--- a/tests/securityselinuxtest.c
+++ b/tests/securityselinuxtest.c
@@ -31,11 +31,10 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "security/security_manager.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/tests/sexpr2xmltest.c b/tests/sexpr2xmltest.c
index b7487efe17..f4d119e3b3 100644
--- a/tests/sexpr2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/sexpr2xmltest.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "xenxs/xen_sxpr.h"
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "testutilsxen.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static virCapsPtr caps;
 
diff --git a/tests/storagepoolxml2xmltest.c b/tests/storagepoolxml2xmltest.c
index 9be63c597f..0376e63b54 100644
--- a/tests/storagepoolxml2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/storagepoolxml2xmltest.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "storage_conf.h"
 #include "testutilsqemu.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static int
 testCompareXMLToXMLFiles(const char *inxml, const char *outxml)
diff --git a/tests/storagevolxml2argvtest.c b/tests/storagevolxml2argvtest.c
index 77ba800502..e1507b4495 100644
--- a/tests/storagevolxml2argvtest.c
+++ b/tests/storagevolxml2argvtest.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "datatypes.h"
 #include "storage/storage_backend.h"
 #include "testutilsqemu.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 const char create_tool[] = "qemu-img";
 
diff --git a/tests/storagevolxml2xmltest.c b/tests/storagevolxml2xmltest.c
index 0902496de5..07c79c1cdd 100644
--- a/tests/storagevolxml2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/storagevolxml2xmltest.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "storage_conf.h"
 #include "testutilsqemu.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static int
 testCompareXMLToXMLFiles(const char *poolxml, const char *inxml,
diff --git a/tests/sysinfotest.c b/tests/sysinfotest.c
index 895520809c..dc0451b8d3 100644
--- a/tests/sysinfotest.c
+++ b/tests/sysinfotest.c
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "virsysinfo.h"
 #include "testutils.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #if defined (__linux__)
 
diff --git a/tests/testutils.c b/tests/testutils.c
index 0fb69ec928..b0806defb8 100644
--- a/tests/testutils.c
+++ b/tests/testutils.c
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 #include "virrandom.h"
 #include "dirname.h"
 #include "virprocess.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #if TEST_OOM_TRACE
 # include <execinfo.h>
diff --git a/tests/virauthconfigtest.c b/tests/virauthconfigtest.c
index 67c5de817d..a27bae5539 100644
--- a/tests/virauthconfigtest.c
+++ b/tests/virauthconfigtest.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <signal.h>
 
 #include "testutils.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
diff --git a/tests/virbuftest.c b/tests/virbuftest.c
index 7f9ee665bf..c7a504b2f1 100644
--- a/tests/virbuftest.c
+++ b/tests/virbuftest.c
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "internal.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define TEST_ERROR(...)                             \
     do {                                            \
diff --git a/tests/vircgrouptest.c b/tests/vircgrouptest.c
index e2adef8901..4777fae847 100644
--- a/tests/vircgrouptest.c
+++ b/tests/vircgrouptest.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 # define __VIR_CGROUP_ALLOW_INCLUDE_PRIV_H__
 # include "vircgrouppriv.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 # include "virerror.h"
 # include "virlog.h"
 # include "virfile.h"
diff --git a/tests/virdrivermoduletest.c b/tests/virdrivermoduletest.c
index bbceb966bd..1aae245af7 100644
--- a/tests/virdrivermoduletest.c
+++ b/tests/virdrivermoduletest.c
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 #include <config.h>
 
 #include "testutils.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
diff --git a/tests/virhashtest.c b/tests/virhashtest.c
index 6e4f2670a6..f36fc76c7c 100644
--- a/tests/virhashtest.c
+++ b/tests/virhashtest.c
@@ -10,9 +10,8 @@
 #include "virhashdata.h"
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
-
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define testError(...)                                          \
     do {                                                        \
diff --git a/tests/viridentitytest.c b/tests/viridentitytest.c
index e8987958e8..269a57d137 100644
--- a/tests/viridentitytest.c
+++ b/tests/viridentitytest.c
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 #include "testutils.h"
 
 #include "viridentity.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
diff --git a/tests/virkeyfiletest.c b/tests/virkeyfiletest.c
index fb41840f86..8fe7e38f39 100644
--- a/tests/virkeyfiletest.c
+++ b/tests/virkeyfiletest.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <signal.h>
 
 #include "testutils.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
diff --git a/tests/virnetmessagetest.c b/tests/virnetmessagetest.c
index e58fd1feee..96defe420f 100644
--- a/tests/virnetmessagetest.c
+++ b/tests/virnetmessagetest.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <signal.h>
 
 #include "testutils.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
diff --git a/tests/virnetsockettest.c b/tests/virnetsockettest.c
index aaa6acb6bb..5e2925da16 100644
--- a/tests/virnetsockettest.c
+++ b/tests/virnetsockettest.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #include "rpc/virnetsocket.h"
 
diff --git a/tests/virportallocatortest.c b/tests/virportallocatortest.c
index 1935602c97..a52850687d 100644
--- a/tests/virportallocatortest.c
+++ b/tests/virportallocatortest.c
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ int bind(int sockfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 # include "virerror.h"
 # include "viralloc.h"
 # include "virlog.h"
-
 # include "virportallocator.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 # define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_RPC
 
diff --git a/tests/virshtest.c b/tests/virshtest.c
index b82a4c4901..fad67745be 100644
--- a/tests/virshtest.c
+++ b/tests/virshtest.c
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "testutils.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #ifdef WIN32
 
diff --git a/tests/virstoragetest.c b/tests/virstoragetest.c
index 0e6ba9e75c..0016052e33 100644
--- a/tests/virstoragetest.c
+++ b/tests/virstoragetest.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
 #include "virstoragefile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_NONE
 
diff --git a/tests/virstringtest.c b/tests/virstringtest.c
index 86d8986cd7..db1e8a9b49 100644
--- a/tests/virstringtest.c
+++ b/tests/virstringtest.c
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
 #include "testutils.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
diff --git a/tests/virtimetest.c b/tests/virtimetest.c
index 18f621a610..7768ecb265 100644
--- a/tests/virtimetest.c
+++ b/tests/virtimetest.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <signal.h>
 
 #include "testutils.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
diff --git a/tests/viruritest.c b/tests/viruritest.c
index 3cb88daee3..0bcd78d560 100644
--- a/tests/viruritest.c
+++ b/tests/viruritest.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <signal.h>
 
 #include "testutils.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virerror.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virlog.h"
diff --git a/tests/vmx2xmltest.c b/tests/vmx2xmltest.c
index 0003f5f4a5..bd7cbc6a0b 100644
--- a/tests/vmx2xmltest.c
+++ b/tests/vmx2xmltest.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 # include "internal.h"
 # include "viralloc.h"
 # include "vmx/vmx.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 static virCapsPtr caps;
 static virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt;
diff --git a/tests/xencapstest.c b/tests/xencapstest.c
index 381802ed70..e220234b6a 100644
--- a/tests/xencapstest.c
+++ b/tests/xencapstest.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "xen/xen_hypervisor.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static int
 testCompareFiles(virArch hostmachine, const char *xml_rel,
diff --git a/tests/xmconfigtest.c b/tests/xmconfigtest.c
index b7ff48ca46..8e0c59e459 100644
--- a/tests/xmconfigtest.c
+++ b/tests/xmconfigtest.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "testutilsxen.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static virCapsPtr caps;
 static virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt;
diff --git a/tests/xml2sexprtest.c b/tests/xml2sexprtest.c
index 062ff075cd..ec196c41d4 100644
--- a/tests/xml2sexprtest.c
+++ b/tests/xml2sexprtest.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "xenxs/xen_sxpr.h"
 #include "testutils.h"
 #include "testutilsxen.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static virCapsPtr caps;
 static virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt;
diff --git a/tests/xml2vmxtest.c b/tests/xml2vmxtest.c
index fa4f6f9fd0..38b5a4de49 100644
--- a/tests/xml2vmxtest.c
+++ b/tests/xml2vmxtest.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 # include "internal.h"
 # include "viralloc.h"
 # include "vmx/vmx.h"
+# include "virstring.h"
 
 static virCapsPtr caps;
 static virVMXContext ctx;
diff --git a/tools/console.c b/tools/console.c
index e423134751..9abfb584f8 100644
--- a/tools/console.c
+++ b/tools/console.c
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@
 # include "internal.h"
 # include "console.h"
 # include "virlog.h"
-# include "virutil.h"
 # include "virfile.h"
 # include "viralloc.h"
 # include "virthread.h"
diff --git a/tools/virsh-domain-monitor.c b/tools/virsh-domain-monitor.c
index f7297f5ae1..5ed89d1d50 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-domain-monitor.c
+++ b/tools/virsh-domain-monitor.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "virmacaddr.h"
 #include "virsh-domain.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static const char *
 vshDomainIOErrorToString(int error)
diff --git a/tools/virsh-domain.c b/tools/virsh-domain.c
index 5c8bcbaf15..9ac9bd14fb 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-domain.c
+++ b/tools/virsh-domain.c
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@
 #include "console.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "vircommand.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virjson.h"
 #include "virkeycode.h"
diff --git a/tools/virsh-host.c b/tools/virsh-host.c
index a7e31da613..a75d8440e9 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-host.c
+++ b/tools/virsh-host.c
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virsh-domain.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "virtypedparam.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 /*
  * "capabilities" command
diff --git a/tools/virsh-interface.c b/tools/virsh-interface.c
index c022e1d2ed..706074faad 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-interface.c
+++ b/tools/virsh-interface.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virutil.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 virInterfacePtr
 vshCommandOptInterfaceBy(vshControl *ctl, const vshCmd *cmd,
diff --git a/tools/virsh-network.c b/tools/virsh-network.c
index bc1a64a991..81267bcaa8 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-network.c
+++ b/tools/virsh-network.c
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "conf/network_conf.h"
 
diff --git a/tools/virsh-nodedev.c b/tools/virsh-nodedev.c
index c196e7aead..8fa67fcc86 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-nodedev.c
+++ b/tools/virsh-nodedev.c
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "conf/node_device_conf.h"
 
diff --git a/tools/virsh-pool.c b/tools/virsh-pool.c
index c1e91ea94c..f154366b39 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-pool.c
+++ b/tools/virsh-pool.c
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "conf/storage_conf.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 virStoragePoolPtr
 vshCommandOptPoolBy(vshControl *ctl, const vshCmd *cmd, const char *optname,
diff --git a/tools/virsh-snapshot.c b/tools/virsh-snapshot.c
index 44a1e03faa..4f5fa156da 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-snapshot.c
+++ b/tools/virsh-snapshot.c
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "virsh-domain.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include "conf/snapshot_conf.h"
diff --git a/tools/virsh-volume.c b/tools/virsh-volume.c
index 728bc23a92..a222cca62e 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-volume.c
+++ b/tools/virsh-volume.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virsh-pool.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 virStorageVolPtr
 vshCommandOptVolBy(vshControl *ctl, const vshCmd *cmd,
diff --git a/tools/virsh.c b/tools/virsh.c
index ac86608a1a..22bcec2bed 100644
--- a/tools/virsh.c
+++ b/tools/virsh.c
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@
 #include "base64.h"
 #include "virbuffer.h"
 #include "console.h"
-#include "virutil.h"
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virxml.h"
 #include <libvirt/libvirt-qemu.h>
@@ -71,6 +70,7 @@
 #include "virbitmap.h"
 #include "conf/domain_conf.h"
 #include "virtypedparam.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 #include "virsh-domain.h"
 #include "virsh-domain-monitor.h"
diff --git a/tools/virt-host-validate-common.c b/tools/virt-host-validate-common.c
index 34a527f7c7..c17c2574d1 100644
--- a/tools/virt-host-validate-common.c
+++ b/tools/virt-host-validate-common.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "viralloc.h"
 #include "virfile.h"
 #include "virt-host-validate-common.h"
+#include "virstring.h"
 
 static bool quiet;