diff --git a/patoolib/__init__.py b/patoolib/__init__.py
index f70174f..91487d7 100644
--- a/patoolib/__init__.py
+++ b/patoolib/__init__.py
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ def find_archive_program (format, command):
     for program in programs:
         exe = find_executable(program)
         if exe:
-            if program == '7z' and format == 'rar' and not p7zip_supports_rar():
+            if program == '7z' and format == 'rar' and not util.p7zip_supports_rar():
                 continue
             return exe
     # no programs found
@@ -215,11 +215,6 @@ def find_encoding_program (program, encoding):
     return None
 
 
-def p7zip_supports_rar ():
-    """Determine if the RAR codec is installed for 7z program."""
-    return os.path.exists('/usr/lib/p7zip/Codecs/Rar29.so')
-
-
 def list_formats ():
     for format in ArchiveFormats:
         print format, "files:"
@@ -237,7 +232,7 @@ def list_formats ():
                     if encs:
                         print "(supported encodings: %s)" % ", ".join(encs),
                 elif format == '7z':
-                    if p7zip_supports_rar():
+                    if util.p7zip_supports_rar():
                         print "(rar archives supported)",
                     else:
                         print "(rar archives not supported)",
diff --git a/patoolib/util.py b/patoolib/util.py
index cb9ee03..a5176e7 100644
--- a/patoolib/util.py
+++ b/patoolib/util.py
@@ -98,3 +98,8 @@ def log_internal_error (out=sys.stderr):
     traceback.print_exc()
     print >> out, "System info:"
     print >> out, "Python %s on %s" % (sys.version, sys.platform)
+
+
+def p7zip_supports_rar ():
+    """Determine if the RAR codec is installed for 7z program."""
+    return os.path.exists('/usr/lib/p7zip/Codecs/Rar29.so')
diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
index 56f3ac9..810e1fa 100644
--- a/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/__init__.py
@@ -110,5 +110,5 @@ def needs_codec (program, codec):
 
 def find_codec (program, codec):
     if program == '7z' and codec == 'rar':
-        return patoolib.p7zip_supports_rar()
+        return patoolib.util.p7zip_supports_rar()
     return patoolib.find_encoding_program(program, codec)