diff --git a/manticore/__init__.py b/manticore/__init__.py
index f200a0221..4cae29336 100644
--- a/manticore/__init__.py
+++ b/manticore/__init__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 from .utils import config, log
 from .utils.log import set_verbosity
-from .utils.helpers import issymbolic, istainted
+from .core.smtlib import issymbolic, istainted
 from .ethereum.manticore import ManticoreEVM
 
 __all__ = [issymbolic.__name__, istainted.__name__, ManticoreEVM.__name__, set_verbosity.__name__]
diff --git a/manticore/core/plugin.py b/manticore/core/plugin.py
index bf88a3749..b49269bfe 100644
--- a/manticore/core/plugin.py
+++ b/manticore/core/plugin.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import pstats
 import threading
 
-from ..utils.helpers import issymbolic
+from .smtlib import issymbolic
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/manticore/core/smtlib/__init__.py b/manticore/core/smtlib/__init__.py
index 10fd8a37e..0128c94f6 100644
--- a/manticore/core/smtlib/__init__.py
+++ b/manticore/core/smtlib/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from .expression import Expression, Bool, BitVec, Array, BitVecConstant  # noqa
+from .expression import Expression, Bool, BitVec, Array, BitVecConstant, issymbolic  # noqa
 from .constraints import ConstraintSet  # noqa
 from .solver import *  # noqa
 from . import operators as Operators  # noqa
diff --git a/manticore/core/smtlib/expression.py b/manticore/core/smtlib/expression.py
index 3311d5951..99e709de6 100644
--- a/manticore/core/smtlib/expression.py
+++ b/manticore/core/smtlib/expression.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 from functools import reduce
 import uuid
 
+import re
+import copy
+
 
 class Expression:
     """ Abstract taintable Expression. """
@@ -24,6 +27,78 @@ def taint(self):
         return self._taint
 
 
+def issymbolic(value):
+    """
+        Helper to determine whether an object is symbolic (e.g checking
+        if data read from memory is symbolic)
+
+        :param object value: object to check
+        :return: whether `value` is symbolic
+        :rtype: bool
+        """
+    return isinstance(value, Expression)
+
+
+def istainted(arg, taint=None):
+    """
+    Helper to determine whether an object if tainted.
+    :param arg: a value or Expression
+    :param taint: a regular expression matching a taint value (eg. 'IMPORTANT.*'). If None, this function checks for any taint value.
+    """
+
+    if not issymbolic(arg):
+        return False
+    if taint is None:
+        return len(arg.taint) != 0
+    for arg_taint in arg.taint:
+        m = re.match(taint, arg_taint, re.DOTALL | re.IGNORECASE)
+        if m:
+            return True
+    return False
+
+
+def get_taints(arg, taint=None):
+    """
+    Helper to list an object taints.
+    :param arg: a value or Expression
+    :param taint: a regular expression matching a taint value (eg. 'IMPORTANT.*'). If None, this function checks for any taint value.
+    """
+
+    if not issymbolic(arg):
+        return
+    for arg_taint in arg.taint:
+        if taint is not None:
+            m = re.match(taint, arg_taint, re.DOTALL | re.IGNORECASE)
+            if m:
+                yield arg_taint
+        else:
+            yield arg_taint
+    return
+
+
+def taint_with(arg, taint, value_bits=256, index_bits=256):
+    """
+    Helper to taint a value.
+    :param arg: a value or Expression
+    :param taint: a regular expression matching a taint value (eg. 'IMPORTANT.*'). If None, this function checks for any taint value.
+    """
+
+    tainted_fset = frozenset((taint,))
+
+    if not issymbolic(arg):
+        if isinstance(arg, int):
+            arg = BitVecConstant(value_bits, arg)
+            arg._taint = tainted_fset
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("type not supported")
+
+    else:
+        arg = copy.copy(arg)
+        arg._taint |= tainted_fset
+
+    return arg
+
+
 class Variable(Expression):
     def __init__(self, name, *args, **kwargs):
         if self.__class__ is Variable:
diff --git a/manticore/core/smtlib/operators.py b/manticore/core/smtlib/operators.py
index 61ec8bb46..5be8f7984 100644
--- a/manticore/core/smtlib/operators.py
+++ b/manticore/core/smtlib/operators.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     BoolConstant,
     BoolITE,
 )
-from ...utils.helpers import issymbolic
+from . import issymbolic
 import math
 
 
diff --git a/manticore/core/smtlib/solver.py b/manticore/core/smtlib/solver.py
index a666de991..f12894466 100644
--- a/manticore/core/smtlib/solver.py
+++ b/manticore/core/smtlib/solver.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 from .visitors import *
 from ...exceptions import Z3NotFoundError, SolverError, SolverUnknown, TooManySolutions
 from ...utils import config
-from ...utils.helpers import issymbolic
+from . import issymbolic
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 consts = config.get_group("smt")
diff --git a/manticore/core/state.py b/manticore/core/state.py
index c2e1c6ce8..186cf63c1 100644
--- a/manticore/core/state.py
+++ b/manticore/core/state.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import copy
 import logging
 
-from .smtlib import solver, Bool
-from ..utils.helpers import issymbolic
+from .smtlib import solver, Bool, issymbolic
 from ..utils.event import Eventful
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/manticore/ethereum/abi.py b/manticore/ethereum/abi.py
index 15b5903ef..161d4dd3b 100644
--- a/manticore/ethereum/abi.py
+++ b/manticore/ethereum/abi.py
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@
 import sha3
 
 from . import abitypes
-from ..utils.helpers import issymbolic
-from ..core.smtlib import Array, Operators, BitVec, ArrayVariable, ArrayProxy
+from ..core.smtlib import Array, Operators, BitVec, ArrayVariable, ArrayProxy, issymbolic
 from ..exceptions import EthereumError
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/manticore/ethereum/detectors.py b/manticore/ethereum/detectors.py
index b79642d6b..1fc4cdaf3 100644
--- a/manticore/ethereum/detectors.py
+++ b/manticore/ethereum/detectors.py
@@ -3,8 +3,15 @@
 import logging
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
-from ..core.smtlib import Operators, Constant, simplify
-from ..utils.helpers import istainted, issymbolic, taint_with, get_taints
+from ..core.smtlib import (
+    Operators,
+    Constant,
+    simplify,
+    istainted,
+    issymbolic,
+    get_taints,
+    taint_with,
+)
 from ..core.plugin import Plugin
 
 
diff --git a/manticore/ethereum/manticore.py b/manticore/ethereum/manticore.py
index 4ff0c7f2f..9628fe69f 100644
--- a/manticore/ethereum/manticore.py
+++ b/manticore/ethereum/manticore.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
     BoolConstant,
     BoolOperation,
     Expression,
+    issymbolic,
 )
 from ..core.state import TerminateState, AbandonState
 from .account import EVMContract, EVMAccount, ABI
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@
 from ..exceptions import EthereumError, DependencyError, NoAliveStates
 from ..platforms import evm
 from ..utils import config, log
-from ..utils.helpers import PickleSerializer, issymbolic
+from ..utils.helpers import PickleSerializer
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/manticore/native/cpu/abstractcpu.py b/manticore/native/cpu/abstractcpu.py
index 2ea4c43cd..1e425b69f 100644
--- a/manticore/native/cpu/abstractcpu.py
+++ b/manticore/native/cpu/abstractcpu.py
@@ -11,13 +11,12 @@
 from .disasm import init_disassembler
 from ..memory import ConcretizeMemory, InvalidMemoryAccess, FileMap, AnonMap
 from ..memory import LazySMemory
-from ...core.smtlib import Expression, BitVec, Operators, Constant
+from ...core.smtlib import Expression, BitVec, Operators, Constant, issymbolic
 from ...core.smtlib import visitors
 from ...core.smtlib.solver import Z3Solver
 from ...utils.emulate import ConcreteUnicornEmulator
 from ...utils.event import Eventful
 from ...utils.fallback_emulator import UnicornEmulator
-from ...utils.helpers import issymbolic
 
 from capstone import CS_ARCH_ARM64, CS_ARCH_X86, CS_ARCH_ARM
 from capstone.arm64 import ARM64_REG_ENDING
diff --git a/manticore/native/cpu/arm.py b/manticore/native/cpu/arm.py
index cffd11419..4bd52fcdc 100644
--- a/manticore/native/cpu/arm.py
+++ b/manticore/native/cpu/arm.py
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@
 from .abstractcpu import instruction as abstract_instruction
 from .bitwise import *
 from .register import Register
-from ...core.smtlib import Operators, BitVecConstant
-from ...utils.helpers import issymbolic
+from ...core.smtlib import Operators, BitVecConstant, issymbolic
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/manticore/native/cpu/x86.py b/manticore/native/cpu/x86.py
index 127cb2be1..14d6b91a1 100644
--- a/manticore/native/cpu/x86.py
+++ b/manticore/native/cpu/x86.py
@@ -19,9 +19,8 @@
 )
 
 
-from ...core.smtlib import Operators, BitVec, Bool, BitVecConstant, operator, visitors
+from ...core.smtlib import Operators, BitVec, Bool, BitVecConstant, operator, visitors, issymbolic
 from ..memory import ConcretizeMemory
-from ...utils.helpers import issymbolic
 from functools import reduce
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/manticore/native/manticore.py b/manticore/native/manticore.py
index 74363ef4a..1cc2dbf94 100644
--- a/manticore/native/manticore.py
+++ b/manticore/native/manticore.py
@@ -12,9 +12,8 @@
 from .state import State
 from ..core.manticore import ManticoreBase
 from ..core.smtlib import ConstraintSet
-from ..core.smtlib.solver import Z3Solver
+from ..core.smtlib.solver import Z3Solver, issymbolic
 from ..utils import log, config
-from ..utils.helpers import issymbolic
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/manticore/native/memory.py b/manticore/native/memory.py
index c09f78bb2..a4c4d0ac8 100644
--- a/manticore/native/memory.py
+++ b/manticore/native/memory.py
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@
     BitVec,
     BitVecConstant,
     expression,
+    issymbolic,
 )
 from ..native.mappings import mmap, munmap
-from ..utils.helpers import issymbolic, interval_intersection
+from ..utils.helpers import interval_intersection
 
 import functools
 import logging
diff --git a/manticore/native/models.py b/manticore/native/models.py
index ddaec1b5a..56d7ebd64 100644
--- a/manticore/native/models.py
+++ b/manticore/native/models.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 """
 
 from .cpu.abstractcpu import ConcretizeArgument
-from ..utils.helpers import issymbolic
+from ..core.smtlib import issymbolic
 from ..core.smtlib.solver import Z3Solver
 from ..core.smtlib.operators import ITEBV, ZEXTEND
 
diff --git a/manticore/platforms/decree.py b/manticore/platforms/decree.py
index b74a2f3d5..6fb8633f1 100644
--- a/manticore/platforms/decree.py
+++ b/manticore/platforms/decree.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 from ..native.memory import SMemory32, Memory32
 from ..core.smtlib import *
 from ..core.state import TerminateState
-from ..utils.helpers import issymbolic
 from ..binary import CGCElf
 from ..platforms.platform import Platform
 import logging
diff --git a/manticore/platforms/evm.py b/manticore/platforms/evm.py
index 0c6a04db6..9ec84fa20 100644
--- a/manticore/platforms/evm.py
+++ b/manticore/platforms/evm.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 import inspect
 from functools import wraps
 from typing import List, Set, Tuple, Union
-from ..utils.helpers import issymbolic, get_taints, taint_with, istainted
 from ..platforms.platform import *
 from ..core.smtlib import (
     Z3Solver,
@@ -21,6 +20,10 @@
     translate_to_smtlib,
     to_constant,
     simplify,
+    issymbolic,
+    get_taints,
+    istainted,
+    taint_with,
 )
 from ..core.state import Concretize, TerminateState
 from ..utils.event import Eventful
diff --git a/manticore/platforms/linux.py b/manticore/platforms/linux.py
index 7c3b141e6..f88cc1aaa 100644
--- a/manticore/platforms/linux.py
+++ b/manticore/platforms/linux.py
@@ -21,14 +21,13 @@
 from . import linux_syscalls
 from .linux_syscall_stubs import SyscallStubs
 from ..core.state import TerminateState
-from ..core.smtlib import ConstraintSet, Operators, Expression
+from ..core.smtlib import ConstraintSet, Operators, Expression, issymbolic
 from ..core.smtlib.solver import Z3Solver
 from ..exceptions import SolverError
 from ..native.cpu.abstractcpu import Syscall, ConcretizeArgument, Interruption
 from ..native.cpu.cpufactory import CpuFactory
 from ..native.memory import SMemory32, SMemory64, Memory32, Memory64, LazySMemory32, LazySMemory64
 from ..platforms.platform import Platform, SyscallNotImplemented, unimplemented
-from ..utils.helpers import issymbolic
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/manticore/utils/emulate.py b/manticore/utils/emulate.py
index b74d68321..41cf918e6 100644
--- a/manticore/utils/emulate.py
+++ b/manticore/utils/emulate.py
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@
 from unicorn.arm_const import *
 from unicorn.x86_const import *
 
-from .helpers import issymbolic
-from ..core.smtlib import Operators, solver
+from ..core.smtlib import Operators, solver, issymbolic
 from ..native.memory import MemoryException
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/manticore/utils/fallback_emulator.py b/manticore/utils/fallback_emulator.py
index 22ab3b97a..237059a87 100644
--- a/manticore/utils/fallback_emulator.py
+++ b/manticore/utils/fallback_emulator.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from ..native.memory import MemoryException
 
-from .helpers import issymbolic
+from ..core.smtlib import issymbolic
 
 ######################################################################
 # Abstract classes for capstone/unicorn based cpus
diff --git a/manticore/utils/helpers.py b/manticore/utils/helpers.py
index 21af30fc5..288ef2ebe 100644
--- a/manticore/utils/helpers.py
+++ b/manticore/utils/helpers.py
@@ -3,88 +3,10 @@
 import sys
 from collections import OrderedDict
 
-import copy
-import re
-
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def issymbolic(value):
-    """
-    Helper to determine whether an object is symbolic (e.g checking
-    if data read from memory is symbolic)
-
-    :param object value: object to check
-    :return: whether `value` is symbolic
-    :rtype: bool
-    """
-    from ..core.smtlib import Expression  # prevent circular imports
-
-    return isinstance(value, Expression)
-
-
-def istainted(arg, taint=None):
-    """
-    Helper to determine whether an object if tainted.
-    :param arg: a value or Expression
-    :param taint: a regular expression matching a taint value (eg. 'IMPORTANT.*'). If None, this function checks for any taint value.
-    """
-
-    if not issymbolic(arg):
-        return False
-    if taint is None:
-        return len(arg.taint) != 0
-    for arg_taint in arg.taint:
-        m = re.match(taint, arg_taint, re.DOTALL | re.IGNORECASE)
-        if m:
-            return True
-    return False
-
-
-def get_taints(arg, taint=None):
-    """
-    Helper to list an object taints.
-    :param arg: a value or Expression
-    :param taint: a regular expression matching a taint value (eg. 'IMPORTANT.*'). If None, this function checks for any taint value.
-    """
-
-    if not issymbolic(arg):
-        return
-    for arg_taint in arg.taint:
-        if taint is not None:
-            m = re.match(taint, arg_taint, re.DOTALL | re.IGNORECASE)
-            if m:
-                yield arg_taint
-        else:
-            yield arg_taint
-    return
-
-
-def taint_with(arg, taint, value_bits=256, index_bits=256):
-    """
-    Helper to taint a value.
-    :param arg: a value or Expression
-    :param taint: a regular expression matching a taint value (eg. 'IMPORTANT.*'). If None, this function checks for any taint value.
-    """
-    from ..core.smtlib import BitVecConstant  # prevent circular imports
-
-    tainted_fset = frozenset((taint,))
-
-    if not issymbolic(arg):
-        if isinstance(arg, int):
-            arg = BitVecConstant(value_bits, arg)
-            arg._taint = tainted_fset
-        else:
-            raise ValueError("type not supported")
-
-    else:
-        arg = copy.copy(arg)
-        arg._taint |= tainted_fset
-
-    return arg
-
-
 def interval_intersection(min1, max1, min2, max2):
     """
     Given two intervals, (min1, max1) and (min2, max2) return their intersecting interval,
diff --git a/tests/native/test_lazy_memory.py b/tests/native/test_lazy_memory.py
index c53bf800b..9d4d6d291 100644
--- a/tests/native/test_lazy_memory.py
+++ b/tests/native/test_lazy_memory.py
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from manticore.native.memory import *
-from manticore.utils.helpers import issymbolic
-from manticore.core.smtlib import Z3Solver, Operators
+from manticore.core.smtlib import Z3Solver, Operators, issymbolic
 from manticore.core.smtlib.expression import *
 from manticore.core.smtlib.visitors import *