diff --git a/commands/http/parse.go b/commands/http/parse.go
index 3d972db73..c579a0394 100644
--- a/commands/http/parse.go
+++ b/commands/http/parse.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 	cmds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/commands"
 	files "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/commands/files"
+	path "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path"
 )
 
 // Parse parses the data in a http.Request and returns a command Request object
@@ -16,32 +17,33 @@ func Parse(r *http.Request, root *cmds.Command) (cmds.Request, error) {
 	if !strings.HasPrefix(r.URL.Path, ApiPath) {
 		return nil, errors.New("Unexpected path prefix")
 	}
-	path := strings.Split(strings.TrimPrefix(r.URL.Path, ApiPath+"/"), "/")
+	pth := path.SplitList(strings.TrimPrefix(r.URL.Path, ApiPath+"/"))
 
 	stringArgs := make([]string, 0)
 
 	if err := apiVersionMatches(r); err != nil {
-		if path[0] != "version" { // compatibility with previous version check
+		if pth[0] != "version" { // compatibility with previous version check
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
 
-	cmd, err := root.Get(path[:len(path)-1])
+	cmd, err := root.Get(pth[:len(pth)-1])
 	if err != nil {
 		// 404 if there is no command at that path
 		return nil, ErrNotFound
 
 	}
 
-	if sub := cmd.Subcommand(path[len(path)-1]); sub == nil {
-		if len(path) <= 1 {
+	if sub := cmd.Subcommand(pth[len(pth)-1]); sub == nil {
+		if len(pth) <= 1 {
 			return nil, ErrNotFound
 		}
 
 		// if the last string in the path isn't a subcommand, use it as an argument
 		// e.g. /objects/Qabc12345 (we are passing "Qabc12345" to the "objects" command)
-		stringArgs = append(stringArgs, path[len(path)-1])
-		path = path[:len(path)-1]
+		stringArgs = append(stringArgs, pth[len(pth)-1])
+		pth = pth[:len(pth)-1]
+
 	} else {
 		cmd = sub
 	}
@@ -93,7 +95,7 @@ func Parse(r *http.Request, root *cmds.Command) (cmds.Request, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	optDefs, err := root.GetOptions(path)
+	optDefs, err := root.GetOptions(pth)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -116,7 +118,7 @@ func Parse(r *http.Request, root *cmds.Command) (cmds.Request, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("File argument '%s' is required", requiredFile)
 	}
 
-	req, err := cmds.NewRequest(path, opts, args, f, cmd, optDefs)
+	req, err := cmds.NewRequest(pth, opts, args, f, cmd, optDefs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/core/commands/dht.go b/core/commands/dht.go
index c5c413ee2..3cf710949 100644
--- a/core/commands/dht.go
+++ b/core/commands/dht.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	key "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/blocks/key"
@@ -600,7 +599,7 @@ PutValue will store the given key value pair in the dht.
 }
 
 func escapeDhtKey(s string) (key.Key, error) {
-	parts := strings.Split(s, "/")
+	parts := path.SplitList(s)
 	switch len(parts) {
 	case 1:
 		return key.B58KeyDecode(s), nil
diff --git a/core/commands/files/files.go b/core/commands/files/files.go
index cffb6f2d0..e01fae5a8 100644
--- a/core/commands/files/files.go
+++ b/core/commands/files/files.go
@@ -245,8 +245,7 @@ Examples:
 			res.SetOutput(&FilesLsOutput{listing})
 			return
 		case *mfs.File:
-			parts := strings.Split(path, "/")
-			name := parts[len(parts)-1]
+			_, name := gopath.Split(path)
 			out := &FilesLsOutput{[]mfs.NodeListing{mfs.NodeListing{Name: name, Type: 1}}}
 			res.SetOutput(out)
 			return
diff --git a/core/corehttp/gateway_handler.go b/core/corehttp/gateway_handler.go
index 24fedd1fd..1bb03ec00 100644
--- a/core/corehttp/gateway_handler.go
+++ b/core/corehttp/gateway_handler.go
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ func (i *gatewayHandler) getOrHeadHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request
 			var backLink string = prefix + urlPath
 
 			// don't go further up than /ipfs/$hash/
-			pathSplit := strings.Split(backLink, "/")
+			pathSplit := path.SplitList(backLink)
 			switch {
 			// keep backlink
 			case len(pathSplit) == 3: // url: /ipfs/$hash
diff --git a/merkledag/utils/utils.go b/merkledag/utils/utils.go
index 1f19e3380..97e2ebb4e 100644
--- a/merkledag/utils/utils.go
+++ b/merkledag/utils/utils.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package dagutils
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"strings"
 
 	ds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/jbenet/go-datastore"
 	syncds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/jbenet/go-datastore/sync"
@@ -12,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	bserv "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/blockservice"
 	offline "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/exchange/offline"
 	dag "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/merkledag"
+	path "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path"
 )
 
 type Editor struct {
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ func addLink(ctx context.Context, ds dag.DAGService, root *dag.Node, childname s
 	return root, nil
 }
 
-func (e *Editor) InsertNodeAtPath(ctx context.Context, path string, toinsert *dag.Node, create func() *dag.Node) error {
-	splpath := strings.Split(path, "/")
+func (e *Editor) InsertNodeAtPath(ctx context.Context, pth string, toinsert *dag.Node, create func() *dag.Node) error {
+	splpath := path.SplitList(pth)
 	nd, err := e.insertNodeAtPath(ctx, e.root, splpath, toinsert, create)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -130,8 +130,8 @@ func (e *Editor) insertNodeAtPath(ctx context.Context, root *dag.Node, path []st
 	return root, nil
 }
 
-func (e *Editor) RmLink(ctx context.Context, path string) error {
-	splpath := strings.Split(path, "/")
+func (e *Editor) RmLink(ctx context.Context, pth string) error {
+	splpath := path.SplitList(pth)
 	nd, err := e.rmLink(ctx, e.root, splpath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/merkledag/utils/utils_test.go b/merkledag/utils/utils_test.go
index 498f676b2..d4b2af5f3 100644
--- a/merkledag/utils/utils_test.go
+++ b/merkledag/utils/utils_test.go
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 package dagutils
 
 import (
-	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	key "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/blocks/key"
 	dag "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/merkledag"
 	mdtest "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/merkledag/test"
+	path "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path"
 
 	context "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/golang.org/x/net/context"
 )
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ func TestAddLink(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func assertNodeAtPath(t *testing.T, ds dag.DAGService, root *dag.Node, path string, exp key.Key) {
-	parts := strings.Split(path, "/")
+func assertNodeAtPath(t *testing.T, ds dag.DAGService, root *dag.Node, pth string, exp key.Key) {
+	parts := path.SplitList(pth)
 	cur := root
 	for _, e := range parts {
 		nxt, err := cur.GetLinkedNode(context.Background(), ds, e)
diff --git a/mfs/mfs_test.go b/mfs/mfs_test.go
index 609d81a29..13797c460 100644
--- a/mfs/mfs_test.go
+++ b/mfs/mfs_test.go
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"sort"
-	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	ds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/jbenet/go-datastore"
 	dssync "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/jbenet/go-datastore/sync"
 	"github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/golang.org/x/net/context"
+	"github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path"
 
 	bstore "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/blocks/blockstore"
 	key "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/blocks/key"
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ func getRandFile(t *testing.T, ds dag.DAGService, size int64) *dag.Node {
 	return nd
 }
 
-func mkdirP(t *testing.T, root *Directory, path string) *Directory {
-	dirs := strings.Split(path, "/")
+func mkdirP(t *testing.T, root *Directory, pth string) *Directory {
+	dirs := path.SplitList(pth)
 	cur := root
 	for _, d := range dirs {
 		n, err := cur.Mkdir(d)
@@ -69,15 +69,15 @@ func mkdirP(t *testing.T, root *Directory, path string) *Directory {
 	return cur
 }
 
-func assertDirAtPath(root *Directory, path string, children []string) error {
-	fsn, err := DirLookup(root, path)
+func assertDirAtPath(root *Directory, pth string, children []string) error {
+	fsn, err := DirLookup(root, pth)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
 	dir, ok := fsn.(*Directory)
 	if !ok {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%s was not a directory", path)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s was not a directory", pth)
 	}
 
 	listing, err := dir.List()
@@ -113,13 +113,13 @@ func compStrArrs(a, b []string) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func assertFileAtPath(ds dag.DAGService, root *Directory, exp *dag.Node, path string) error {
-	parts := strings.Split(path, "/")
+func assertFileAtPath(ds dag.DAGService, root *Directory, exp *dag.Node, pth string) error {
+	parts := path.SplitList(pth)
 	cur := root
 	for i, d := range parts[:len(parts)-1] {
 		next, err := cur.Child(d)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("looking for %s failed: %s", path, err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("looking for %s failed: %s", pth, err)
 		}
 
 		nextDir, ok := next.(*Directory)
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func assertFileAtPath(ds dag.DAGService, root *Directory, exp *dag.Node, path st
 
 	file, ok := finaln.(*File)
 	if !ok {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%s was not a file!", path)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s was not a file!", pth)
 	}
 
 	out, err := ioutil.ReadAll(file)
diff --git a/mfs/ops.go b/mfs/ops.go
index 9e8ec1674..c7309a31d 100644
--- a/mfs/ops.go
+++ b/mfs/ops.go
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func PutNode(r *Root, path string, nd *dag.Node) error {
 // Mkdir creates a directory at 'path' under the directory 'd', creating
 // intermediary directories as needed if 'parents' is set to true
 func Mkdir(r *Root, pth string, parents bool) error {
-	parts := strings.Split(pth, "/")
+	parts := path.SplitList(pth)
 	if parts[0] == "" {
 		parts = parts[1:]
 	}
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ func Lookup(r *Root, path string) (FSNode, error) {
 // under the directory 'd'
 func DirLookup(d *Directory, pth string) (FSNode, error) {
 	pth = strings.Trim(pth, "/")
-	parts := strings.Split(pth, "/")
+	parts := path.SplitList(pth)
 	if len(parts) == 1 && parts[0] == "" {
 		return d, nil
 	}
diff --git a/path/path.go b/path/path.go
index b6aa187b9..6f14f9016 100644
--- a/path/path.go
+++ b/path/path.go
@@ -106,3 +106,7 @@ func (p *Path) IsValid() error {
 func Join(pths []string) string {
 	return strings.Join(pths, "/")
 }
+
+func SplitList(pth string) []string {
+	return strings.Split(pth, "/")
+}
diff --git a/routing/record/selection.go b/routing/record/selection.go
index e90ebcd39..8e68006c1 100644
--- a/routing/record/selection.go
+++ b/routing/record/selection.go
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ package record
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"strings"
 
 	key "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/blocks/key"
+	path "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path"
 )
 
 // A SelectorFunc selects the best value for the given key from
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func (s Selector) BestRecord(k key.Key, recs [][]byte) (int, error) {
 		return 0, errors.New("no records given!")
 	}
 
-	parts := strings.Split(string(k), "/")
+	parts := path.SplitList(string(k))
 	if len(parts) < 3 {
 		log.Infof("Record key does not have selectorfunc: %s", k)
 		return 0, errors.New("record key does not have selectorfunc")
diff --git a/routing/record/validation.go b/routing/record/validation.go
index f186bea90..a2afc0dfa 100644
--- a/routing/record/validation.go
+++ b/routing/record/validation.go
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ package record
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"errors"
-	"strings"
 
 	key "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/blocks/key"
 	ci "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/p2p/crypto"
+	path "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path"
 	pb "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/routing/dht/pb"
 	u "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/util"
 )
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ type ValidChecker struct {
 // It runs needed validators
 func (v Validator) VerifyRecord(r *pb.Record) error {
 	// Now, check validity func
-	parts := strings.Split(r.GetKey(), "/")
+	parts := path.SplitList(r.GetKey())
 	if len(parts) < 3 {
 		log.Infof("Record key does not have validator: %s", key.Key(r.GetKey()))
 		return nil
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func (v Validator) VerifyRecord(r *pb.Record) error {
 
 func (v Validator) IsSigned(k key.Key) (bool, error) {
 	// Now, check validity func
-	parts := strings.Split(string(k), "/")
+	parts := path.SplitList(string(k))
 	if len(parts) < 3 {
 		log.Infof("Record key does not have validator: %s", k)
 		return false, nil
diff --git a/tar/format.go b/tar/format.go
index 547e77c87..3fab02b6e 100644
--- a/tar/format.go
+++ b/tar/format.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func ImportTar(r io.Reader, ds dag.DAGService) (*dag.Node, error) {
 // adds a '-' to the beginning of each path element so we can use 'data' as a
 // special link in the structure without having to worry about
 func escapePath(pth string) string {
-	elems := strings.Split(strings.Trim(pth, "/"), "/")
+	elems := path.SplitList(strings.Trim(pth, "/"))
 	for i, e := range elems {
 		elems[i] = "-" + e
 	}
diff --git a/util/ipfsaddr/ipfsaddr.go b/util/ipfsaddr/ipfsaddr.go
index dec09303f..1a911d4e8 100644
--- a/util/ipfsaddr/ipfsaddr.go
+++ b/util/ipfsaddr/ipfsaddr.go
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ package ipfsaddr
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"strings"
 
 	ma "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/jbenet/go-multiaddr"
 
 	peer "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/p2p/peer"
+	path "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path"
 	logging "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/vendor/QmQg1J6vikuXF9oDvm4wpdeAUvvkVEKW1EYDw9HhTMnP2b/go-log"
 )
 
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func ParseMultiaddr(m ma.Multiaddr) (a IPFSAddr, err error) {
 	}
 
 	// make sure ipfs id parses as a peer.ID
-	peerIdParts := strings.Split(ipfspart.String(), "/")
+	peerIdParts := path.SplitList(ipfspart.String())
 	peerIdStr := peerIdParts[len(peerIdParts)-1]
 	id, err := peer.IDB58Decode(peerIdStr)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/util/ipfsaddr/ipfsaddr_test.go b/util/ipfsaddr/ipfsaddr_test.go
index ecdb0f32a..aca4ae238 100644
--- a/util/ipfsaddr/ipfsaddr_test.go
+++ b/util/ipfsaddr/ipfsaddr_test.go
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 package ipfsaddr
 
 import (
-	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	ma "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/jbenet/go-multiaddr"
 	peer "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/p2p/peer"
+	path "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path"
 )
 
 var good = []string{
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func TestIDMatches(t *testing.T) {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		sp := strings.Split(g, "/")
+		sp := path.SplitList(g)
 		sid := sp[len(sp)-1]
 		id, err := peer.IDB58Decode(sid)
 		if err != nil {