diff --git a/src/guard.c b/src/guard.c
index adacd1bf6..ee26e467b 100644
--- a/src/guard.c
+++ b/src/guard.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include "monster.h"
 
 #include <kernel/ally.h>
-#include <kernel/save.h>
 #include <kernel/unit.h>
 #include <kernel/faction.h>
 #include <kernel/race.h>
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index 4a1b7897e..80b8becc9 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -670,36 +670,6 @@ writeorder(struct gamedata *data, const struct order *ord,
         WRITE_STR(data->store, obuf);
 }
 
-int read_attribs(gamedata *data, attrib **alist, void *owner) {
-    int result;
-    if (data->version < ATHASH_VERSION) {
-        result = a_read_orig(data, alist, owner);
-    }
-    else {
-        result = a_read(data, alist, owner);
-    }
-    if (result == AT_READ_DEPR) {
-        /* handle deprecated attributes */
-        attrib *a = *alist;
-        while (a) {
-            if (a->type->upgrade) {
-                a->type->upgrade(alist, a);
-            }
-            a = a->nexttype;
-        }
-    }
-    return result;
-}
-
-void write_attribs(storage *store, attrib *alist, const void *owner)
-{
-#if RELEASE_VERSION < ATHASH_VERSION
-    a_write_orig(store, alist, owner);
-#else
-    a_write(store, alist, owner);
-#endif
-}
-
 unit *read_unit(struct gamedata *data)
 {
     unit *u;
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.h b/src/kernel/save.h
index aa11ac1ad..883df6ea8 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.h
+++ b/src/kernel/save.h
@@ -56,9 +56,6 @@ extern "C" {
     void read_spellbook(struct spellbook **bookp, struct gamedata *data, int(*get_level)(const struct spell * sp, void *), void * cbdata);
     void write_spellbook(const struct spellbook *book, struct storage *store);
 
-    void write_attribs(struct storage *store, struct attrib *alist, const void *owner);
-    int read_attribs(struct gamedata *store, struct attrib **alist, void *owner);
-
     void write_unit(struct gamedata *data, const struct unit *u);
     struct unit *read_unit(struct gamedata *data);
     
diff --git a/src/util/attrib.c b/src/util/attrib.c
index 5e158f263..6b39b56ae 100644
--- a/src/util/attrib.c
+++ b/src/util/attrib.c
@@ -29,6 +29,36 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
+int read_attribs(gamedata *data, attrib **alist, void *owner) {
+    int result;
+    if (data->version < ATHASH_VERSION) {
+        result = a_read_orig(data, alist, owner);
+    }
+    else {
+        result = a_read(data, alist, owner);
+    }
+    if (result == AT_READ_DEPR) {
+        /* handle deprecated attributes */
+        attrib *a = *alist;
+        while (a) {
+            if (a->type->upgrade) {
+                a->type->upgrade(alist, a);
+            }
+            a = a->nexttype;
+        }
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+void write_attribs(storage *store, attrib *alist, const void *owner)
+{
+#if RELEASE_VERSION < ATHASH_VERSION
+    a_write_orig(store, alist, owner);
+#else
+    a_write(store, alist, owner);
+#endif
+}
+
 int a_readint(attrib * a, void *owner, struct gamedata *data)
 {
     int n;
diff --git a/src/util/attrib.h b/src/util/attrib.h
index 8b7a00e6a..d93ce1240 100644
--- a/src/util/attrib.h
+++ b/src/util/attrib.h
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ extern "C" {
     extern void at_register(attrib_type * at);
     extern void at_deprecate(const char * name, int(*reader)(attrib *, void *, struct gamedata *));
 
+    void write_attribs(struct storage *store, struct attrib *alist, const void *owner);
+    int read_attribs(struct gamedata *store, struct attrib **alist, void *owner);
+
     extern attrib *a_select(attrib * a, const void *data,
         bool(*compare) (const attrib *, const void *));
     extern attrib *a_find(attrib * a, const attrib_type * at);