diff --git a/Annex.hs b/Annex.hs
index 54f9b9dff8..c26baabef5 100644
--- a/Annex.hs
+++ b/Annex.hs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import List
 import qualified GitRepo as Git
 import Utility
 import Locations
-import Backend
+import qualified Backend
 import BackendList
 import UUID
 import LocationLog
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ start = do
 			prepUUID
 
 inBackend file yes no = do
-	r <- liftIO $ lookupFile file
+	r <- liftIO $ Backend.lookupFile file
 	case (r) of
 		Just v -> yes v
 		Nothing -> no
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ notinBackend file yes no = inBackend file no yes
 annexCmd :: FilePath -> Annex ()
 annexCmd file = inBackend file err $ do
 	liftIO $ checkLegal file
-	stored <- storeFile file
+	stored <- Backend.storeFile file
 	g <- gitAnnex
 	case (stored) of
 		Nothing -> error $ "no backend could store: " ++ file
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ annexCmd file = inBackend file err $ do
 {- Inverse of annexCmd. -}
 unannexCmd :: FilePath -> Annex ()
 unannexCmd file = notinBackend file err $ \(key, backend) -> do
-	dropFile backend key
+	Backend.dropFile backend key
 	logStatus key ValueMissing
 	g <- gitAnnex
 	let src = annexLocation g backend key
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ getCmd file = notinBackend file err $ \(key, backend) -> do
 			g <- gitAnnex
 			let dest = annexLocation g backend key
 			liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir dest)
-			success <- retrieveFile backend key dest
+			success <- Backend.retrieveFile backend key dest
 			if (success)
 				then do
 					logStatus key ValuePresent
diff --git a/BackendFile.hs b/BackendFile.hs
index 6c1dc06233..a0396f51da 100644
--- a/BackendFile.hs
+++ b/BackendFile.hs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import Control.Exception
 import Types
 import LocationLog
 import Locations
-import Remotes
+import qualified Remotes
 import qualified GitRepo as Git
 
 backend = Backend {
@@ -39,17 +39,17 @@ dummyRemove url = return False
  - and copy it over to this one. -}
 copyKeyFile :: Key -> FilePath -> Annex (Bool)
 copyKeyFile key file = do
-	remotes <- remotesWithKey key
+	remotes <- Remotes.withKey key
 	trycopy remotes remotes
 	where
 		trycopy full [] = error $ "unable to get: " ++ (keyFile key) ++ "\n" ++
 			"To get that file, need access to one of these remotes: " ++
-			(remotesList full)
+			(Remotes.list full)
 		trycopy full (r:rs) = do
 			-- annexLocation needs the git config to have been
 			-- read for a remote, so do that now,
 			-- if it hasn't been already
-			r' <- remoteEnsureGitConfigRead r
+			r' <- Remotes.ensureGitConfigRead r
 			result <- liftIO $ (try (copyFromRemote r' key file)::IO (Either SomeException ()))
         		case (result) of
 		                Left err -> do
diff --git a/Remotes.hs b/Remotes.hs
index 39404bf191..918ae2290c 100644
--- a/Remotes.hs
+++ b/Remotes.hs
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 {- git-annex remote repositories -}
 
 module Remotes (
-	remotesList,
-	remotesWithKey,
-	remoteEnsureGitConfigRead
+	list,
+	withKey,
+	ensureGitConfigRead
 ) where
 
 import Control.Monad.State (liftIO)
@@ -17,12 +17,12 @@ import UUID
 import List
 
 {- Human visible list of remotes. -}
-remotesList :: [Git.Repo] -> String
-remotesList remotes = join " " $ map Git.repoDescribe remotes 
+list :: [Git.Repo] -> String
+list remotes = join " " $ map Git.repoDescribe remotes 
 
 {- Cost ordered list of remotes that the LocationLog indicate may have a key. -}
-remotesWithKey :: Key -> Annex [Git.Repo]
-remotesWithKey key = do
+withKey :: Key -> Annex [Git.Repo]
+withKey key = do
 	g <- gitAnnex
 	uuids <- liftIO $ keyLocations g key
 	allremotes <- remotesByCost
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ repoCost r = do
  - because reading it may be expensive. This function ensures that it is
  - read for a specified remote, and updates state. It returns the
  - updated git repo also. -}
-remoteEnsureGitConfigRead :: Git.Repo -> Annex Git.Repo
-remoteEnsureGitConfigRead r = do
+ensureGitConfigRead :: Git.Repo -> Annex Git.Repo
+ensureGitConfigRead r = do
 	if (Map.null $ Git.configMap r)
 		then do
 			r' <- liftIO $ Git.configRead r