diff --git a/src/attr.c b/src/attr.c
index 15ed5c9e0..d8a171d0f 100644
--- a/src/attr.c
+++ b/src/attr.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "repository.h"
-#include "fileops.h"
+#include "sysdir.h"
 #include "config.h"
 #include "attr.h"
 #include "ignore.h"
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ static int collect_attr_files(
 	}
 
 	if ((flags & GIT_ATTR_CHECK_NO_SYSTEM) == 0) {
-		error = git_futils_find_system_file(&dir, GIT_ATTR_FILE_SYSTEM);
+		error = git_sysdir_find_system_file(&dir, GIT_ATTR_FILE_SYSTEM);
 		if (!error)
 			error = push_attr_file(repo, files, NULL, dir.ptr);
 		else if (error == GIT_ENOTFOUND) {
@@ -623,13 +623,13 @@ static int attr_cache__lookup_path(
 
 		/* expand leading ~/ as needed */
 		if (cfgval && cfgval[0] == '~' && cfgval[1] == '/' &&
-			!git_futils_find_global_file(&buf, &cfgval[2]))
+			!git_sysdir_find_global_file(&buf, &cfgval[2]))
 			*out = git_buf_detach(&buf);
 		else if (cfgval)
 			*out = git__strdup(cfgval);
 
 	}
-	else if (!git_futils_find_xdg_file(&buf, fallback))
+	else if (!git_sysdir_find_xdg_file(&buf, fallback))
 		*out = git_buf_detach(&buf);
 
 	git_buf_free(&buf);
diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index 6aa71468a..ae093ed64 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "common.h"
-#include "fileops.h"
+#include "sysdir.h"
 #include "config.h"
 #include "git2/config.h"
 #include "git2/sys/config.h"
@@ -937,17 +937,17 @@ void git_config_iterator_free(git_config_iterator *iter)
 
 int git_config_find_global(git_buf *path)
 {
-	return git_futils_find_global_file(path, GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME_GLOBAL);
+	return git_sysdir_find_global_file(path, GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME_GLOBAL);
 }
 
 int git_config_find_xdg(git_buf *path)
 {
-	return git_futils_find_xdg_file(path, GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME_XDG);
+	return git_sysdir_find_xdg_file(path, GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME_XDG);
 }
 
 int git_config_find_system(git_buf *path)
 {
-	return git_futils_find_system_file(path, GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME_SYSTEM);
+	return git_sysdir_find_system_file(path, GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME_SYSTEM);
 }
 
 int git_config__global_location(git_buf *buf)
@@ -956,7 +956,7 @@ int git_config__global_location(git_buf *buf)
 	const char *sep, *start;
 	size_t len;
 
-	if (git_futils_dirs_get(&paths, GIT_FUTILS_DIR_GLOBAL) < 0)
+	if (git_sysdir_get(&paths, GIT_SYSDIR_GLOBAL) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
 	/* no paths, so give up */
diff --git a/src/config_file.c b/src/config_file.c
index c7727c029..aedf2cb12 100644
--- a/src/config_file.c
+++ b/src/config_file.c
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
 
 #include "common.h"
 #include "config.h"
-#include "fileops.h"
 #include "filebuf.h"
+#include "sysdir.h"
 #include "buffer.h"
 #include "buf_text.h"
 #include "git2/config.h"
@@ -1003,7 +1003,7 @@ static int included_path(git_buf *out, const char *dir, const char *path)
 {
 	/* From the user's home */
 	if (path[0] == '~' && path[1] == '/')
-		return git_futils_find_global_file(out, &path[1]);
+		return git_sysdir_find_global_file(out, &path[1]);
 
 	return git_path_join_unrooted(out, path, dir, NULL);
 }
diff --git a/src/fileops.c b/src/fileops.c
index a60689f3f..5709499b0 100644
--- a/src/fileops.c
+++ b/src/fileops.c
@@ -558,226 +558,6 @@ int git_futils_rmdir_r(
 	return error;
 }
 
-
-static int git_futils_guess_system_dirs(git_buf *out)
-{
-#ifdef GIT_WIN32
-	return git_win32__find_system_dirs(out, L"etc\\");
-#else
-	return git_buf_sets(out, "/etc");
-#endif
-}
-
-static int git_futils_guess_global_dirs(git_buf *out)
-{
-#ifdef GIT_WIN32
-	return git_win32__find_global_dirs(out);
-#else
-	return git_buf_sets(out, getenv("HOME"));
-#endif
-}
-
-static int git_futils_guess_xdg_dirs(git_buf *out)
-{
-#ifdef GIT_WIN32
-	return git_win32__find_xdg_dirs(out);
-#else
-	const char *env = NULL;
-
-	if ((env = getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME")) != NULL)
-		return git_buf_joinpath(out, env, "git");
-	else if ((env = getenv("HOME")) != NULL)
-		return git_buf_joinpath(out, env, ".config/git");
-
-	git_buf_clear(out);
-	return 0;
-#endif
-}
-
-static int git_futils_guess_template_dirs(git_buf *out)
-{
-#ifdef GIT_WIN32
-	return git_win32__find_system_dirs(out, L"share\\git-core\\templates");
-#else
-	return git_buf_sets(out, "/usr/share/git-core/templates");
-#endif
-}
-
-typedef int (*git_futils_dirs_guess_cb)(git_buf *out);
-
-static git_buf git_futils__dirs[GIT_FUTILS_DIR__MAX] =
-	{ GIT_BUF_INIT, GIT_BUF_INIT, GIT_BUF_INIT, GIT_BUF_INIT };
-
-static git_futils_dirs_guess_cb git_futils__dir_guess[GIT_FUTILS_DIR__MAX] = {
-	git_futils_guess_system_dirs,
-	git_futils_guess_global_dirs,
-	git_futils_guess_xdg_dirs,
-	git_futils_guess_template_dirs,
-};
-
-static int git_futils__dirs_shutdown_set = 0;
-
-void git_futils_dirs_global_shutdown(void)
-{
-	int i;
-	for (i = 0; i < GIT_FUTILS_DIR__MAX; ++i)
-		git_buf_free(&git_futils__dirs[i]);
-}
-
-int git_futils_dirs_global_init(void)
-{
-	git_futils_dir_t i;
-	const git_buf *path;
-	int error = 0;
-
-	for (i = 0; !error && i < GIT_FUTILS_DIR__MAX; i++)
-		error = git_futils_dirs_get(&path, i);
-
-	return error;
-}
-
-static int git_futils_check_selector(git_futils_dir_t which)
-{
-	if (which < GIT_FUTILS_DIR__MAX)
-		return 0;
-	giterr_set(GITERR_INVALID, "config directory selector out of range");
-	return -1;
-}
-
-int git_futils_dirs_get(const git_buf **out, git_futils_dir_t which)
-{
-	assert(out);
-
-	*out = NULL;
-
-	GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_futils_check_selector(which));
-
-	if (!git_buf_len(&git_futils__dirs[which])) {
-		/* prepare shutdown if we're going to need it */
-		if (!git_futils__dirs_shutdown_set) {
-			git__on_shutdown(git_futils_dirs_global_shutdown);
-			git_futils__dirs_shutdown_set = 1;
-		}
-
-		GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(
-			git_futils__dir_guess[which](&git_futils__dirs[which]));
-	}
-
-	*out = &git_futils__dirs[which];
-	return 0;
-}
-
-int git_futils_dirs_get_str(char *out, size_t outlen, git_futils_dir_t which)
-{
-	const git_buf *path = NULL;
-
-	GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_futils_check_selector(which));
-	GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_futils_dirs_get(&path, which));
-
-	if (!out || path->size >= outlen) {
-		giterr_set(GITERR_NOMEMORY, "Buffer is too short for the path");
-		return GIT_EBUFS;
-	}
-
-	git_buf_copy_cstr(out, outlen, path);
-	return 0;
-}
-
-#define PATH_MAGIC "$PATH"
-
-int git_futils_dirs_set(git_futils_dir_t which, const char *search_path)
-{
-	const char *expand_path = NULL;
-	git_buf merge = GIT_BUF_INIT;
-
-	GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_futils_check_selector(which));
-
-	if (search_path != NULL)
-		expand_path = strstr(search_path, PATH_MAGIC);
-
-	/* init with default if not yet done and needed (ignoring error) */
-	if ((!search_path || expand_path) &&
-		!git_buf_len(&git_futils__dirs[which]))
-		git_futils__dir_guess[which](&git_futils__dirs[which]);
-
-	/* if $PATH is not referenced, then just set the path */
-	if (!expand_path)
-		return git_buf_sets(&git_futils__dirs[which], search_path);
-
-	/* otherwise set to join(before $PATH, old value, after $PATH) */
-	if (expand_path > search_path)
-		git_buf_set(&merge, search_path, expand_path - search_path);
-
-	if (git_buf_len(&git_futils__dirs[which]))
-		git_buf_join(&merge, GIT_PATH_LIST_SEPARATOR,
-			merge.ptr, git_futils__dirs[which].ptr);
-
-	expand_path += strlen(PATH_MAGIC);
-	if (*expand_path)
-		git_buf_join(&merge, GIT_PATH_LIST_SEPARATOR, merge.ptr, expand_path);
-
-	git_buf_swap(&git_futils__dirs[which], &merge);
-	git_buf_free(&merge);
-
-	return git_buf_oom(&git_futils__dirs[which]) ? -1 : 0;
-}
-
-static int git_futils_find_in_dirlist(
-	git_buf *path, const char *name, git_futils_dir_t which, const char *label)
-{
-	size_t len;
-	const char *scan, *next = NULL;
-	const git_buf *syspath;
-
-	GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_futils_dirs_get(&syspath, which));
-
-	for (scan = git_buf_cstr(syspath); scan; scan = next) {
-		for (next = strchr(scan, GIT_PATH_LIST_SEPARATOR);
-			 next && next > scan && next[-1] == '\\';
-			 next = strchr(next + 1, GIT_PATH_LIST_SEPARATOR))
-			/* find unescaped separator or end of string */;
-
-		len = next ? (size_t)(next++ - scan) : strlen(scan);
-		if (!len)
-			continue;
-
-		GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_buf_set(path, scan, len));
-		if (name)
-			GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_buf_joinpath(path, path->ptr, name));
-
-		if (git_path_exists(path->ptr))
-			return 0;
-	}
-
-	git_buf_clear(path);
-	giterr_set(GITERR_OS, "The %s file '%s' doesn't exist", label, name);
-	return GIT_ENOTFOUND;
-}
-
-int git_futils_find_system_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename)
-{
-	return git_futils_find_in_dirlist(
-		path, filename, GIT_FUTILS_DIR_SYSTEM, "system");
-}
-
-int git_futils_find_global_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename)
-{
-	return git_futils_find_in_dirlist(
-		path, filename, GIT_FUTILS_DIR_GLOBAL, "global");
-}
-
-int git_futils_find_xdg_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename)
-{
-	return git_futils_find_in_dirlist(
-		path, filename, GIT_FUTILS_DIR_XDG, "global/xdg");
-}
-
-int git_futils_find_template_dir(git_buf *path)
-{
-	return git_futils_find_in_dirlist(
-		path, NULL, GIT_FUTILS_DIR_TEMPLATE, "template");
-}
-
 int git_futils_fake_symlink(const char *old, const char *new)
 {
 	int retcode = GIT_ERROR;
diff --git a/src/fileops.h b/src/fileops.h
index 636c9b67d..6a65235de 100644
--- a/src/fileops.h
+++ b/src/fileops.h
@@ -267,89 +267,6 @@ extern int git_futils_mmap_ro_file(
  */
 extern void git_futils_mmap_free(git_map *map);
 
-/**
- * Find a "global" file (i.e. one in a user's home directory).
- *
- * @param path buffer to write the full path into
- * @param filename name of file to find in the home directory
- * @return 0 if found, GIT_ENOTFOUND if not found, or -1 on other OS error
- */
-extern int git_futils_find_global_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename);
-
-/**
- * Find an "XDG" file (i.e. one in user's XDG config path).
- *
- * @param path buffer to write the full path into
- * @param filename name of file to find in the home directory
- * @return 0 if found, GIT_ENOTFOUND if not found, or -1 on other OS error
- */
-extern int git_futils_find_xdg_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename);
-
-/**
- * Find a "system" file (i.e. one shared for all users of the system).
- *
- * @param path buffer to write the full path into
- * @param filename name of file to find in the home directory
- * @return 0 if found, GIT_ENOTFOUND if not found, or -1 on other OS error
- */
-extern int git_futils_find_system_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename);
-
-/**
- * Find template directory.
- *
- * @param path buffer to write the full path into
- * @return 0 if found, GIT_ENOTFOUND if not found, or -1 on other OS error
- */
-extern int git_futils_find_template_dir(git_buf *path);
-
-typedef enum {
-	GIT_FUTILS_DIR_SYSTEM = 0,
-	GIT_FUTILS_DIR_GLOBAL = 1,
-	GIT_FUTILS_DIR_XDG    = 2,
-	GIT_FUTILS_DIR_TEMPLATE = 3,
-	GIT_FUTILS_DIR__MAX   = 4,
-} git_futils_dir_t;
-
-/**
- * Configures global data for configuration file search paths.
- *
- * @return 0 on success, <0 on failure
- */
-extern int git_futils_dirs_global_init(void);
-
-/**
- * Get the search path for global/system/xdg files
- *
- * @param out pointer to git_buf containing search path
- * @param which which list of paths to return
- * @return 0 on success, <0 on failure
- */
-extern int git_futils_dirs_get(const git_buf **out, git_futils_dir_t which);
-
-/**
- * Get search path into a preallocated buffer
- *
- * @param out String buffer to write into
- * @param outlen Size of string buffer
- * @param which Which search path to return
- * @return 0 on success, GIT_EBUFS if out is too small, <0 on other failure
- */
-
-extern int git_futils_dirs_get_str(
-	char *out, size_t outlen, git_futils_dir_t which);
-
-/**
- * Set search paths for global/system/xdg files
- *
- * The first occurrence of the magic string "$PATH" in the new value will
- * be replaced with the old value of the search path.
- *
- * @param which Which search path to modify
- * @param paths New search path (separated by GIT_PATH_LIST_SEPARATOR)
- * @return 0 on success, <0 on failure (allocation error)
- */
-extern int git_futils_dirs_set(git_futils_dir_t which, const char *paths);
-
 /**
  * Create a "fake" symlink (text file containing the target path).
  *
@@ -399,9 +316,4 @@ extern int git_futils_filestamp_check(
 extern void git_futils_filestamp_set(
 	git_futils_filestamp *tgt, const git_futils_filestamp *src);
 
-/**
- * Free the configuration file search paths.
- */
-extern void git_futils_dirs_global_shutdown(void);
-
 #endif /* INCLUDE_fileops_h__ */
diff --git a/src/global.c b/src/global.c
index 7d39c6fa8..8c8f55a90 100644
--- a/src/global.c
+++ b/src/global.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "global.h"
 #include "hash.h"
-#include "fileops.h"
+#include "sysdir.h"
 #include "git2/threads.h"
 #include "thread-utils.h"
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ static int synchronized_threads_init()
 
 	/* Initialize any other subsystems that have global state */
 	if ((error = git_hash_global_init()) >= 0)
-		error = git_futils_dirs_global_init();
+		error = git_sysdir_global_init();
 
 	win32_pthread_initialize();
 
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ static void init_once(void)
 
 	/* Initialize any other subsystems that have global state */
 	if ((init_error = git_hash_global_init()) >= 0)
-		init_error = git_futils_dirs_global_init();
+		init_error = git_sysdir_global_init();
 
 	GIT_MEMORY_BARRIER;
 }
diff --git a/src/repository.c b/src/repository.c
index 8b336c215..b94973c74 100644
--- a/src/repository.c
+++ b/src/repository.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "tag.h"
 #include "blob.h"
 #include "fileops.h"
+#include "sysdir.h"
 #include "filebuf.h"
 #include "index.h"
 #include "config.h"
@@ -1264,7 +1265,7 @@ static int repo_init_structure(
 		}
 
 		if (!tdir) {
-			if (!(error = git_futils_find_template_dir(&template_buf)))
+			if (!(error = git_sysdir_find_template_dir(&template_buf)))
 				tdir = template_buf.ptr;
 			default_template = true;
 		}
diff --git a/src/settings.c b/src/settings.c
index 7c2a30377..3856735f7 100644
--- a/src/settings.c
+++ b/src/settings.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 #include <git2.h>
 #include "common.h"
-#include "fileops.h"
+#include "sysdir.h"
 #include "cache.h"
 
 void git_libgit2_version(int *major, int *minor, int *rev)
@@ -36,14 +36,14 @@ int git_libgit2_capabilities()
 extern size_t git_mwindow__window_size;
 extern size_t git_mwindow__mapped_limit;
 
-static int config_level_to_futils_dir(int config_level)
+static int config_level_to_sysdir(int config_level)
 {
 	int val = -1;
 
 	switch (config_level) {
-	case GIT_CONFIG_LEVEL_SYSTEM: val = GIT_FUTILS_DIR_SYSTEM; break;
-	case GIT_CONFIG_LEVEL_XDG:    val = GIT_FUTILS_DIR_XDG; break;
-	case GIT_CONFIG_LEVEL_GLOBAL: val = GIT_FUTILS_DIR_GLOBAL; break;
+	case GIT_CONFIG_LEVEL_SYSTEM: val = GIT_SYSDIR_SYSTEM; break;
+	case GIT_CONFIG_LEVEL_XDG:    val = GIT_SYSDIR_XDG; break;
+	case GIT_CONFIG_LEVEL_GLOBAL: val = GIT_SYSDIR_GLOBAL; break;
 	default:
 		giterr_set(
 			GITERR_INVALID, "Invalid config path selector %d", config_level);
@@ -77,17 +77,17 @@ int git_libgit2_opts(int key, ...)
 		break;
 
 	case GIT_OPT_GET_SEARCH_PATH:
-		if ((error = config_level_to_futils_dir(va_arg(ap, int))) >= 0) {
+		if ((error = config_level_to_sysdir(va_arg(ap, int))) >= 0) {
 			char *out = va_arg(ap, char *);
 			size_t outlen = va_arg(ap, size_t);
 
-			error = git_futils_dirs_get_str(out, outlen, error);
+			error = git_sysdir_get_str(out, outlen, error);
 		}
 		break;
 
 	case GIT_OPT_SET_SEARCH_PATH:
-		if ((error = config_level_to_futils_dir(va_arg(ap, int))) >= 0)
-			error = git_futils_dirs_set(error, va_arg(ap, const char *));
+		if ((error = config_level_to_sysdir(va_arg(ap, int))) >= 0)
+			error = git_sysdir_set(error, va_arg(ap, const char *));
 		break;
 
 	case GIT_OPT_SET_CACHE_OBJECT_LIMIT:
@@ -116,12 +116,12 @@ int git_libgit2_opts(int key, ...)
 			char *out = va_arg(ap, char *);
 			size_t outlen = va_arg(ap, size_t);
 
-			error = git_futils_dirs_get_str(out, outlen, GIT_FUTILS_DIR_TEMPLATE);
+			error = git_sysdir_get_str(out, outlen, GIT_SYSDIR_TEMPLATE);
 		}
 		break;
 
 	case GIT_OPT_SET_TEMPLATE_PATH:
-		error = git_futils_dirs_set(GIT_FUTILS_DIR_TEMPLATE, va_arg(ap, const char *));
+		error = git_sysdir_set(GIT_SYSDIR_TEMPLATE, va_arg(ap, const char *));
 		break;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/sysdir.c b/src/sysdir.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2e6304e35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sysdir.c
@@ -0,0 +1,244 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) the libgit2 contributors. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This file is part of libgit2, distributed under the GNU GPL v2 with
+ * a Linking Exception. For full terms see the included COPYING file.
+ */
+
+#include "common.h"
+#include "sysdir.h"
+#include "global.h"
+#include "buffer.h"
+#include "path.h"
+#include <ctype.h>
+#if GIT_WIN32
+#include "win32/findfile.h"
+#endif
+
+static int git_sysdir_guess_system_dirs(git_buf *out)
+{
+#ifdef GIT_WIN32
+	return git_win32__find_system_dirs(out, L"etc\\");
+#else
+	return git_buf_sets(out, "/etc");
+#endif
+}
+
+static int git_sysdir_guess_global_dirs(git_buf *out)
+{
+#ifdef GIT_WIN32
+	return git_win32__find_global_dirs(out);
+#else
+	return git_buf_sets(out, getenv("HOME"));
+#endif
+}
+
+static int git_sysdir_guess_xdg_dirs(git_buf *out)
+{
+#ifdef GIT_WIN32
+	return git_win32__find_xdg_dirs(out);
+#else
+	const char *env = NULL;
+
+	if ((env = getenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME")) != NULL)
+		return git_buf_joinpath(out, env, "git");
+	else if ((env = getenv("HOME")) != NULL)
+		return git_buf_joinpath(out, env, ".config/git");
+
+	git_buf_clear(out);
+	return 0;
+#endif
+}
+
+static int git_sysdir_guess_template_dirs(git_buf *out)
+{
+#ifdef GIT_WIN32
+	return git_win32__find_system_dirs(out, L"share\\git-core\\templates");
+#else
+	return git_buf_sets(out, "/usr/share/git-core/templates");
+#endif
+}
+
+typedef int (*git_sysdir_guess_cb)(git_buf *out);
+
+static git_buf git_sysdir__dirs[GIT_SYSDIR__MAX] =
+	{ GIT_BUF_INIT, GIT_BUF_INIT, GIT_BUF_INIT, GIT_BUF_INIT };
+
+static git_sysdir_guess_cb git_sysdir__dir_guess[GIT_SYSDIR__MAX] = {
+	git_sysdir_guess_system_dirs,
+	git_sysdir_guess_global_dirs,
+	git_sysdir_guess_xdg_dirs,
+	git_sysdir_guess_template_dirs,
+};
+
+static int git_sysdir__dirs_shutdown_set = 0;
+
+int git_sysdir_global_init(void)
+{
+	git_sysdir_t i;
+	const git_buf *path;
+	int error = 0;
+
+	for (i = 0; !error && i < GIT_SYSDIR__MAX; i++)
+		error = git_sysdir_get(&path, i);
+
+	return error;
+}
+
+void git_sysdir_global_shutdown(void)
+{
+	int i;
+	for (i = 0; i < GIT_SYSDIR__MAX; ++i)
+		git_buf_free(&git_sysdir__dirs[i]);
+}
+
+static int git_sysdir_check_selector(git_sysdir_t which)
+{
+	if (which < GIT_SYSDIR__MAX)
+		return 0;
+
+	giterr_set(GITERR_INVALID, "config directory selector out of range");
+	return -1;
+}
+
+
+int git_sysdir_get(const git_buf **out, git_sysdir_t which)
+{
+	assert(out);
+
+	*out = NULL;
+
+	GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_sysdir_check_selector(which));
+
+	if (!git_buf_len(&git_sysdir__dirs[which])) {
+		/* prepare shutdown if we're going to need it */
+		if (!git_sysdir__dirs_shutdown_set) {
+			git__on_shutdown(git_sysdir_global_shutdown);
+			git_sysdir__dirs_shutdown_set = 1;
+		}
+
+		GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(
+			git_sysdir__dir_guess[which](&git_sysdir__dirs[which]));
+	}
+
+	*out = &git_sysdir__dirs[which];
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int git_sysdir_get_str(
+	char *out,
+	size_t outlen,
+	git_sysdir_t which)
+{
+	const git_buf *path = NULL;
+
+	GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_sysdir_check_selector(which));
+	GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_sysdir_get(&path, which));
+
+	if (!out || path->size >= outlen) {
+		giterr_set(GITERR_NOMEMORY, "Buffer is too short for the path");
+		return GIT_EBUFS;
+	}
+
+	git_buf_copy_cstr(out, outlen, path);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+#define PATH_MAGIC "$PATH"
+
+int git_sysdir_set(git_sysdir_t which, const char *search_path)
+{
+	const char *expand_path = NULL;
+	git_buf merge = GIT_BUF_INIT;
+
+	GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_sysdir_check_selector(which));
+
+	if (search_path != NULL)
+		expand_path = strstr(search_path, PATH_MAGIC);
+
+	/* init with default if not yet done and needed (ignoring error) */
+	if ((!search_path || expand_path) &&
+		!git_buf_len(&git_sysdir__dirs[which]))
+		git_sysdir__dir_guess[which](&git_sysdir__dirs[which]);
+
+	/* if $PATH is not referenced, then just set the path */
+	if (!expand_path)
+		return git_buf_sets(&git_sysdir__dirs[which], search_path);
+
+	/* otherwise set to join(before $PATH, old value, after $PATH) */
+	if (expand_path > search_path)
+		git_buf_set(&merge, search_path, expand_path - search_path);
+
+	if (git_buf_len(&git_sysdir__dirs[which]))
+		git_buf_join(&merge, GIT_PATH_LIST_SEPARATOR,
+			merge.ptr, git_sysdir__dirs[which].ptr);
+
+	expand_path += strlen(PATH_MAGIC);
+	if (*expand_path)
+		git_buf_join(&merge, GIT_PATH_LIST_SEPARATOR, merge.ptr, expand_path);
+
+	git_buf_swap(&git_sysdir__dirs[which], &merge);
+	git_buf_free(&merge);
+
+	return git_buf_oom(&git_sysdir__dirs[which]) ? -1 : 0;
+}
+
+static int git_sysdir_find_in_dirlist(
+	git_buf *path,
+	const char *name,
+	git_sysdir_t which,
+	const char *label)
+{
+	size_t len;
+	const char *scan, *next = NULL;
+	const git_buf *syspath;
+
+	GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_sysdir_get(&syspath, which));
+
+	for (scan = git_buf_cstr(syspath); scan; scan = next) {
+		for (next = strchr(scan, GIT_PATH_LIST_SEPARATOR);
+			 next && next > scan && next[-1] == '\\';
+			 next = strchr(next + 1, GIT_PATH_LIST_SEPARATOR))
+			/* find unescaped separator or end of string */;
+
+		len = next ? (size_t)(next++ - scan) : strlen(scan);
+		if (!len)
+			continue;
+
+		GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_buf_set(path, scan, len));
+		if (name)
+			GITERR_CHECK_ERROR(git_buf_joinpath(path, path->ptr, name));
+
+		if (git_path_exists(path->ptr))
+			return 0;
+	}
+
+	git_buf_clear(path);
+	giterr_set(GITERR_OS, "The %s file '%s' doesn't exist", label, name);
+	return GIT_ENOTFOUND;
+}
+
+int git_sysdir_find_system_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename)
+{
+	return git_sysdir_find_in_dirlist(
+		path, filename, GIT_SYSDIR_SYSTEM, "system");
+}
+
+int git_sysdir_find_global_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename)
+{
+	return git_sysdir_find_in_dirlist(
+		path, filename, GIT_SYSDIR_GLOBAL, "global");
+}
+
+int git_sysdir_find_xdg_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename)
+{
+	return git_sysdir_find_in_dirlist(
+		path, filename, GIT_SYSDIR_XDG, "global/xdg");
+}
+
+int git_sysdir_find_template_dir(git_buf *path)
+{
+	return git_sysdir_find_in_dirlist(
+		path, NULL, GIT_SYSDIR_TEMPLATE, "template");
+}
+
diff --git a/src/sysdir.h b/src/sysdir.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f1bbf0bae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sysdir.h
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) the libgit2 contributors. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This file is part of libgit2, distributed under the GNU GPL v2 with
+ * a Linking Exception. For full terms see the included COPYING file.
+ */
+#ifndef INCLUDE_sysdir_h__
+#define INCLUDE_sysdir_h__
+
+#include "common.h"
+#include "posix.h"
+#include "buffer.h"
+
+/**
+ * Find a "global" file (i.e. one in a user's home directory).
+ *
+ * @param path buffer to write the full path into
+ * @param filename name of file to find in the home directory
+ * @return 0 if found, GIT_ENOTFOUND if not found, or -1 on other OS error
+ */
+extern int git_sysdir_find_global_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename);
+
+/**
+ * Find an "XDG" file (i.e. one in user's XDG config path).
+ *
+ * @param path buffer to write the full path into
+ * @param filename name of file to find in the home directory
+ * @return 0 if found, GIT_ENOTFOUND if not found, or -1 on other OS error
+ */
+extern int git_sysdir_find_xdg_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename);
+
+/**
+ * Find a "system" file (i.e. one shared for all users of the system).
+ *
+ * @param path buffer to write the full path into
+ * @param filename name of file to find in the home directory
+ * @return 0 if found, GIT_ENOTFOUND if not found, or -1 on other OS error
+ */
+extern int git_sysdir_find_system_file(git_buf *path, const char *filename);
+
+/**
+ * Find template directory.
+ *
+ * @param path buffer to write the full path into
+ * @return 0 if found, GIT_ENOTFOUND if not found, or -1 on other OS error
+ */
+extern int git_sysdir_find_template_dir(git_buf *path);
+
+typedef enum {
+	GIT_SYSDIR_SYSTEM = 0,
+	GIT_SYSDIR_GLOBAL = 1,
+	GIT_SYSDIR_XDG    = 2,
+	GIT_SYSDIR_TEMPLATE = 3,
+	GIT_SYSDIR__MAX   = 4,
+} git_sysdir_t;
+
+/**
+ * Configures global data for configuration file search paths.
+ *
+ * @return 0 on success, <0 on failure
+ */
+extern int git_sysdir_global_init(void);
+
+/**
+ * Get the search path for global/system/xdg files
+ *
+ * @param out pointer to git_buf containing search path
+ * @param which which list of paths to return
+ * @return 0 on success, <0 on failure
+ */
+extern int git_sysdir_get(const git_buf **out, git_sysdir_t which);
+
+/**
+ * Get search path into a preallocated buffer
+ *
+ * @param out String buffer to write into
+ * @param outlen Size of string buffer
+ * @param which Which search path to return
+ * @return 0 on success, GIT_EBUFS if out is too small, <0 on other failure
+ */
+
+extern int git_sysdir_get_str(char *out, size_t outlen, git_sysdir_t which);
+
+/**
+ * Set search paths for global/system/xdg files
+ *
+ * The first occurrence of the magic string "$PATH" in the new value will
+ * be replaced with the old value of the search path.
+ *
+ * @param which Which search path to modify
+ * @param paths New search path (separated by GIT_PATH_LIST_SEPARATOR)
+ * @return 0 on success, <0 on failure (allocation error)
+ */
+extern int git_sysdir_set(git_sysdir_t which, const char *paths);
+
+/**
+ * Free the configuration file search paths.
+ */
+extern void git_sysdir_global_shutdown(void);
+
+#endif /* INCLUDE_sysdir_h__ */
diff --git a/tests/core/env.c b/tests/core/env.c
index 0fa6472d7..a32f5ed3e 100644
--- a/tests/core/env.c
+++ b/tests/core/env.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "clar_libgit2.h"
 #include "fileops.h"
+#include "sysdir.h"
 #include "path.h"
 
 #ifdef GIT_WIN32
@@ -41,12 +42,12 @@ void test_core_env__initialize(void)
 
 static void reset_global_search_path(void)
 {
-	cl_git_pass(git_futils_dirs_set(GIT_FUTILS_DIR_GLOBAL, NULL));
+	cl_git_pass(git_sysdir_set(GIT_SYSDIR_GLOBAL, NULL));
 }
 
 static void reset_system_search_path(void)
 {
-	cl_git_pass(git_futils_dirs_set(GIT_FUTILS_DIR_SYSTEM, NULL));
+	cl_git_pass(git_sysdir_set(GIT_SYSDIR_SYSTEM, NULL));
 }
 
 void test_core_env__cleanup(void)
@@ -120,18 +121,18 @@ void test_core_env__0(void)
 		git_buf_rtruncate_at_char(&path, '/');
 
 		cl_assert_equal_i(
-			GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_futils_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
+			GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_sysdir_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
 
 		setenv_and_check("HOME", path.ptr);
 		reset_global_search_path();
 
-		cl_git_pass(git_futils_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
+		cl_git_pass(git_sysdir_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
 
 		cl_setenv("HOME", env_save[0]);
 		reset_global_search_path();
 
 		cl_assert_equal_i(
-			GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_futils_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
+			GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_sysdir_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
 
 #ifdef GIT_WIN32
 		setenv_and_check("HOMEDRIVE", NULL);
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ void test_core_env__0(void)
 		setenv_and_check("USERPROFILE", path.ptr);
 		reset_global_search_path();
 
-		cl_git_pass(git_futils_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
+		cl_git_pass(git_sysdir_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
 
 		{
 			int root = git_path_root(path.ptr);
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ void test_core_env__0(void)
 				reset_global_search_path();
 
 				cl_assert_equal_i(
-					GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_futils_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
+					GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_sysdir_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
 
 				old = path.ptr[root];
 				path.ptr[root] = '\0';
@@ -159,7 +160,7 @@ void test_core_env__0(void)
 				setenv_and_check("HOMEPATH", &path.ptr[root]);
 				reset_global_search_path();
 
-				cl_git_pass(git_futils_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
+				cl_git_pass(git_sysdir_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
 			}
 		}
 #endif
@@ -177,7 +178,7 @@ void test_core_env__1(void)
 	git_buf path = GIT_BUF_INIT;
 
 	cl_assert_equal_i(
-		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_futils_find_global_file(&path, "nonexistentfile"));
+		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_sysdir_find_global_file(&path, "nonexistentfile"));
 
 	cl_git_pass(cl_setenv("HOME", "doesnotexist"));
 #ifdef GIT_WIN32
@@ -187,7 +188,7 @@ void test_core_env__1(void)
 	reset_global_search_path();
 
 	cl_assert_equal_i(
-		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_futils_find_global_file(&path, "nonexistentfile"));
+		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_sysdir_find_global_file(&path, "nonexistentfile"));
 
 	cl_git_pass(cl_setenv("HOME", NULL));
 #ifdef GIT_WIN32
@@ -198,17 +199,17 @@ void test_core_env__1(void)
 	reset_system_search_path();
 
 	cl_assert_equal_i(
-		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_futils_find_global_file(&path, "nonexistentfile"));
+		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_sysdir_find_global_file(&path, "nonexistentfile"));
 
 	cl_assert_equal_i(
-		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_futils_find_system_file(&path, "nonexistentfile"));
+		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_sysdir_find_system_file(&path, "nonexistentfile"));
 
 #ifdef GIT_WIN32
 	cl_git_pass(cl_setenv("PROGRAMFILES", NULL));
 	reset_system_search_path();
 
 	cl_assert_equal_i(
-		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_futils_find_system_file(&path, "nonexistentfile"));
+		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_sysdir_find_system_file(&path, "nonexistentfile"));
 #endif
 
 	git_buf_free(&path);
@@ -242,13 +243,13 @@ static void check_global_searchpath(
 		cl_assert_equal_s(out, path);
 
 	/* find file using new path */
-	cl_git_pass(git_futils_find_global_file(temp, file));
+	cl_git_pass(git_sysdir_find_global_file(temp, file));
 
 	/* reset path and confirm file not found */
 	cl_git_pass(git_libgit2_opts(
 		GIT_OPT_SET_SEARCH_PATH, GIT_CONFIG_LEVEL_GLOBAL, NULL));
 	cl_assert_equal_i(
-		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_futils_find_global_file(temp, file));
+		GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_sysdir_find_global_file(temp, file));
 }
 
 void test_core_env__2(void)
@@ -285,7 +286,7 @@ void test_core_env__2(void)
 
 		/* default should be NOTFOUND */
 		cl_assert_equal_i(
-			GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_futils_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
+			GIT_ENOTFOUND, git_sysdir_find_global_file(&found, testfile));
 
 		/* try plain, append $PATH, and prepend $PATH */
 		check_global_searchpath(path.ptr,  0, testfile, &found);
diff --git a/tests/repo/config.c b/tests/repo/config.c
index e77acc8c5..2e7be37aa 100644
--- a/tests/repo/config.c
+++ b/tests/repo/config.c
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "clar_libgit2.h"
+#include "sysdir.h"
 #include "fileops.h"
 #include <ctype.h>
 
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ void test_repo_config__open_missing_global(void)
 	git_config_free(config);
 	git_repository_free(repo);
 
-	git_futils_dirs_global_shutdown();
+	git_sysdir_global_shutdown();
 }
 
 void test_repo_config__open_missing_global_with_separators(void)
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ void test_repo_config__open_missing_global_with_separators(void)
 	git_config_free(config);
 	git_repository_free(repo);
 
-	git_futils_dirs_global_shutdown();
+	git_sysdir_global_shutdown();
 }
 
 #include "repository.h"
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ void test_repo_config__read_no_configs(void)
 	cl_assert_equal_i(GIT_ABBREV_DEFAULT, val);
 	git_repository_free(repo);
 
-	git_futils_dirs_global_shutdown();
+	git_sysdir_global_shutdown();
 
 	/* with just system */
 
@@ -204,5 +205,5 @@ void test_repo_config__read_no_configs(void)
 	cl_assert(!git_path_exists("empty_standard_repo/.git/config"));
 	cl_assert(!git_path_exists("alternate/3/.gitconfig"));
 
-	git_futils_dirs_global_shutdown();
+	git_sysdir_global_shutdown();
 }
diff --git a/tests/repo/open.c b/tests/repo/open.c
index 7cfe041c2..f7420bd3a 100644
--- a/tests/repo/open.c
+++ b/tests/repo/open.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "clar_libgit2.h"
 #include "fileops.h"
+#include "sysdir.h"
 #include <ctype.h>
 
 void test_repo_open__cleanup(void)
@@ -323,7 +324,7 @@ void test_repo_open__no_config(void)
 	git_repository_free(repo);
 	cl_fixture_cleanup("empty_standard_repo");
 
-	git_futils_dirs_global_shutdown();
+	git_sysdir_global_shutdown();
 }
 
 void test_repo_open__force_bare(void)