diff --git a/agent/command.c b/agent/command.c
index 421df0044..dfe292db6 100644
--- a/agent/command.c
+++ b/agent/command.c
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "cvt-openpgp.h"
 #include "../common/ssh-utils.h"
 #include "../common/asshelp.h"
+#include "../common/server-help.h"
 
 
 /* Maximum allowed size of the inquired ciphertext.  */
@@ -229,86 +230,6 @@ reset_notify (assuan_context_t ctx, char *line)
 }
 
 
-/* Skip over options in LINE.
-
-   Blanks after the options are also removed.  Options are indicated
-   by two leading dashes followed by a string consisting of non-space
-   characters.  The special option "--" indicates an explicit end of
-   options; all what follows will not be considered an option.  The
-   first no-option string also indicates the end of option parsing. */
-static char *
-skip_options (const char *line)
-{
-  while (spacep (line))
-    line++;
-  while ( *line == '-' && line[1] == '-' )
-    {
-      while (*line && !spacep (line))
-        line++;
-      while (spacep (line))
-        line++;
-    }
-  return (char*)line;
-}
-
-
-/* Check whether the option NAME appears in LINE.  An example for a
-   line with options is:
-     --algo=42 --data foo bar
-   This function would then only return true if NAME is "data".  */
-static int
-has_option (const char *line, const char *name)
-{
-  const char *s;
-  int n = strlen (name);
-
-  s = strstr (line, name);
-  if (s && s >= skip_options (line))
-    return 0;
-  return (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1)) && (!s[n] || spacep (s+n)));
-}
-
-
-/* Same as has_option but does only test for the name of the option
-   and ignores an argument, i.e. with NAME being "--hash" it would
-   return true for "--hash" as well as for "--hash=foo". */
-static int
-has_option_name (const char *line, const char *name)
-{
-  const char *s;
-  int n = strlen (name);
-
-  s = strstr (line, name);
-  if (s && s >= skip_options (line))
-    return 0;
-  return (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1))
-          && (!s[n] || spacep (s+n) || s[n] == '='));
-}
-
-
-/* Return a pointer to the argument of the option with NAME.  If such
-   an option is not given, NULL is retruned. */
-static char *
-option_value (const char *line, const char *name)
-{
-  char *s;
-  int n = strlen (name);
-
-  s = strstr (line, name);
-  if (s && s >= skip_options (line))
-    return NULL;
-  if (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1))
-      && s[n] && (spacep (s+n) || s[n] == '='))
-    {
-      s += n + 1;
-      s += strspn (s, " ");
-      if (*s && !spacep(s))
-        return s;
-    }
-  return NULL;
-}
-
-
 /* Replace all '+' by a blank in the string S. */
 static void
 plus_to_blank (char *s)
diff --git a/common/Makefile.am b/common/Makefile.am
index d09f0df76..de6a4a8fa 100644
--- a/common/Makefile.am
+++ b/common/Makefile.am
@@ -88,7 +88,8 @@ common_sources = \
 	mkdir_p.c mkdir_p.h \
 	strlist.c strlist.h \
 	call-gpg.c call-gpg.h \
-	exectool.c exectool.h
+	exectool.c exectool.h \
+	server-help.c server-help.h
 
 if HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
 common_sources += w32-reg.c w32-afunix.c w32-afunix.h
diff --git a/common/server-help.c b/common/server-help.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2a59dc63e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/server-help.c
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+/* server-help.h - Helper functions for writing Assuan servers.
+ *	Copyright (C) 2003, 2009, 2010 g10 Code GmbH
+ *
+ * This file is part of GnuPG.
+ *
+ * This file is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of either
+ *
+ *   - the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free
+ *     Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at
+ *     your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * or
+ *
+ *   - the GNU General Public License as published by the Free
+ *     Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at
+ *     your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * or both in parallel, as here.
+ *
+ * This file is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include <config.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#include "server-help.h"
+#include "util.h"
+
+/* Skip over options in LINE.
+
+   Blanks after the options are also removed.  Options are indicated
+   by two leading dashes followed by a string consisting of non-space
+   characters.  The special option "--" indicates an explicit end of
+   options; all what follows will not be considered an option.  The
+   first no-option string also indicates the end of option parsing. */
+char *
+skip_options (const char *line)
+{
+  while (spacep (line))
+    line++;
+  while (*line == '-' && line[1] == '-')
+    {
+      while (*line && !spacep (line))
+        line++;
+      while (spacep (line))
+        line++;
+    }
+  return (char*) line;
+}
+
+
+/* Check whether the option NAME appears in LINE.  */
+int
+has_option (const char *line, const char *name)
+{
+  const char *s;
+  int n = strlen (name);
+
+  s = strstr (line, name);
+  if (s && s >= skip_options (line))
+    return 0;
+  return (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1)) && (!s[n] || spacep (s+n)));
+}
+
+
+/* Same as has_option but only considers options at the begin of the
+   line.  This is useful for commands which allow arbitrary strings on
+   the line.  */
+int
+has_leading_option (const char *line, const char *name)
+{
+  const char *s;
+  int n;
+
+  if (name[0] != '-' || name[1] != '-' || !name[2] || spacep (name+2))
+    return 0;
+  n = strlen (name);
+  while ( *line == '-' && line[1] == '-' )
+    {
+      s = line;
+      while (*line && !spacep (line))
+        line++;
+      if (n == (line - s) && !strncmp (s, name, n))
+        return 1;
+      while (spacep (line))
+        line++;
+    }
+  return 0;
+}
+
+
+/* Same as has_option but does only test for the name of the option
+   and ignores an argument, i.e. with NAME being "--hash" it would
+   return a pointer for "--hash" as well as for "--hash=foo".  If
+   there is no such option NULL is returned.  The pointer returned
+   points right behind the option name, this may be an equal sign, Nul
+   or a space.  */
+const char *
+has_option_name (const char *line, const char *name)
+{
+  const char *s;
+  int n = strlen (name);
+
+  s = strstr (line, name);
+  return (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1))
+          && (!s[n] || spacep (s+n) || s[n] == '=')) ? (s+n) : NULL;
+}
+
+
+/* Return a pointer to the argument of the option with NAME.  If such
+   an option is not given, NULL is returned. */
+char *
+option_value (const char *line, const char *name)
+{
+  char *s;
+  int n = strlen (name);
+
+  s = strstr (line, name);
+  if (s && s >= skip_options (line))
+    return NULL;
+  if (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1))
+      && s[n] && (spacep (s+n) || s[n] == '='))
+    {
+      s += n + 1;
+      s += strspn (s, " ");
+      if (*s && !spacep(s))
+        return s;
+    }
+  return NULL;
+}
diff --git a/common/server-help.h b/common/server-help.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6df9e2c53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/server-help.h
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/* server-help.h - Helper functions for writing Assuan servers.
+ *	Copyright (C) 2003, 2009, 2010 g10 Code GmbH
+ *
+ * This file is part of GnuPG.
+ *
+ * This file is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of either
+ *
+ *   - the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free
+ *     Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at
+ *     your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * or
+ *
+ *   - the GNU General Public License as published by the Free
+ *     Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at
+ *     your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * or both in parallel, as here.
+ *
+ * This file is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#ifndef GNUPG_COMMON_SERVER_HELP_H
+#define GNUPG_COMMON_SERVER_HELP_H
+
+/* Skip over options in LINE.
+
+   Blanks after the options are also removed.  Options are indicated
+   by two leading dashes followed by a string consisting of non-space
+   characters.  The special option "--" indicates an explicit end of
+   options; all what follows will not be considered an option.  The
+   first no-option string also indicates the end of option parsing. */
+char *skip_options (const char *line);
+
+/* Check whether the option NAME appears in LINE.  */
+int has_option (const char *line, const char *name);
+
+/* Same as has_option but only considers options at the begin of the
+   line.  This is useful for commands which allow arbitrary strings on
+   the line.  */
+int has_leading_option (const char *line, const char *name);
+
+/* Same as has_option but does only test for the name of the option
+   and ignores an argument, i.e. with NAME being "--hash" it would
+   return a pointer for "--hash" as well as for "--hash=foo".  If
+   there is no such option NULL is returned.  The pointer returned
+   points right behind the option name, this may be an equal sign, Nul
+   or a space.  */
+const char *has_option_name (const char *line, const char *name);
+
+/* Return a pointer to the argument of the option with NAME.  If such
+   an option is not given, NULL is returned. */
+char *option_value (const char *line, const char *name);
+
+#endif	/* GNUPG_COMMON_SERVER_HELP_H */
diff --git a/dirmngr/server.c b/dirmngr/server.c
index 079450939..b97646881 100644
--- a/dirmngr/server.c
+++ b/dirmngr/server.c
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 #include "dns-stuff.h"
 #include "mbox-util.h"
 #include "zb32.h"
+#include "server-help.h"
 
 /* To avoid DoS attacks we limit the size of a certificate to
    something reasonable.  The DoS was actually only an issue back when
@@ -273,78 +274,6 @@ strcpy_escaped_plus (char *d, const unsigned char *s)
 }
 
 
-/* Check whether the option NAME appears in LINE */
-static int
-has_option (const char *line, const char *name)
-{
-  const char *s;
-  int n = strlen (name);
-
-  s = strstr (line, name);
-  return (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1)) && (!s[n] || spacep (s+n)));
-}
-
-/* Same as has_option but only considers options at the begin of the
-   line.  This is useful for commands which allow arbitrary strings on
-   the line.  */
-static int
-has_leading_option (const char *line, const char *name)
-{
-  const char *s;
-  int n;
-
-  if (name[0] != '-' || name[1] != '-' || !name[2] || spacep (name+2))
-    return 0;
-  n = strlen (name);
-  while ( *line == '-' && line[1] == '-' )
-    {
-      s = line;
-      while (*line && !spacep (line))
-        line++;
-      if (n == (line - s) && !strncmp (s, name, n))
-        return 1;
-      while (spacep (line))
-        line++;
-    }
-  return 0;
-}
-
-
-/* Same as has_option but does only test for the name of the option
-   and ignores an argument, i.e. with NAME being "--hash" it would
-   return a pointer for "--hash" as well as for "--hash=foo".  If
-   thhere is no such option NULL is returned.  The pointer returned
-   points right behind the option name, this may be an equal sign, Nul
-   or a space.  */
-/* static const char * */
-/* has_option_name (const char *line, const char *name) */
-/* { */
-/*   const char *s; */
-/*   int n = strlen (name); */
-
-/*   s = strstr (line, name); */
-/*   return (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1)) */
-/*           && (!s[n] || spacep (s+n) || s[n] == '=')) ? (s+n) : NULL; */
-/* } */
-
-
-/* Skip over options.  It is assumed that leading spaces have been
-   removed (this is the case for lines passed to a handler from
-   assuan).  Blanks after the options are also removed. */
-static char *
-skip_options (char *line)
-{
-  while ( *line == '-' && line[1] == '-' )
-    {
-      while (*line && !spacep (line))
-        line++;
-      while (spacep (line))
-        line++;
-    }
-  return line;
-}
-
-
 /* This fucntion returns true if a Tor server is running.  The sattus
    is cached for the current conenction.  */
 static int
diff --git a/g10/server.c b/g10/server.c
index 31e35a905..9ec263f12 100644
--- a/g10/server.c
+++ b/g10/server.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "util.h"
 #include "i18n.h"
 #include "options.h"
+#include "../common/server-help.h"
 #include "../common/sysutils.h"
 #include "status.h"
 
@@ -68,40 +69,6 @@ close_message_fd (ctrl_t ctrl)
     }
 }
 
-
-/* Skip over options.  Blanks after the options are also removed.  */
-static char *
-skip_options (const char *line)
-{
-  while (spacep (line))
-    line++;
-  while ( *line == '-' && line[1] == '-' )
-    {
-      while (*line && !spacep (line))
-        line++;
-      while (spacep (line))
-        line++;
-    }
-  return (char*)line;
-}
-
-
-/* Check whether the option NAME appears in LINE.  */
-static int
-has_option (const char *line, const char *name)
-{
-  const char *s;
-  int n = strlen (name);
-
-  s = strstr (line, name);
-  if (s && s >= skip_options (line))
-    return 0;
-  return (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1)) && (!s[n] || spacep (s+n)));
-}
-
-
-
-
 
 /* Called by libassuan for Assuan options.  See the Assuan manual for
    details. */
diff --git a/g13/server.c b/g13/server.c
index 60a69bc6e..33885d64b 100644
--- a/g13/server.c
+++ b/g13/server.c
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 #include "create.h"
 #include "mount.h"
 #include "suspend.h"
-
+#include "../common/server-help.h"
 
 /* The filepointer for status message used in non-server mode */
 static FILE *statusfp;
@@ -65,37 +65,6 @@ static int command_has_option (const char *cmd, const char *cmdopt);
 #define set_error(e,t) assuan_set_error (ctx, gpg_error (e), (t))
 
 
-/* Skip over options.  Blanks after the options are also removed.  */
-static char *
-skip_options (const char *line)
-{
-  while (spacep (line))
-    line++;
-  while ( *line == '-' && line[1] == '-' )
-    {
-      while (*line && !spacep (line))
-        line++;
-      while (spacep (line))
-        line++;
-    }
-  return (char*)line;
-}
-
-
-/* Check whether the option NAME appears in LINE.  */
-/* static int */
-/* has_option (const char *line, const char *name) */
-/* { */
-/*   const char *s; */
-/*   int n = strlen (name); */
-
-/*   s = strstr (line, name); */
-/*   if (s && s >= skip_options (line)) */
-/*     return 0; */
-/*   return (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1)) && (!s[n] || spacep (s+n))); */
-/* } */
-
-
 /* Helper to print a message while leaving a command.  */
 static gpg_error_t
 leave_cmd (assuan_context_t ctx, gpg_error_t err)
diff --git a/scd/command.c b/scd/command.c
index ba830dec8..4e80d76b4 100644
--- a/scd/command.c
+++ b/scd/command.c
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include "ccid-driver.h"
 #endif
 #include "asshelp.h"
+#include "server-help.h"
 
 /* Maximum length allowed as a PIN; used for INQUIRE NEEDPIN */
 #define MAXLEN_PIN 100
@@ -219,53 +220,6 @@ update_card_removed (int vrdr, int value)
 }
 
 
-/* Check whether the option NAME appears in LINE.  Returns 1 or 0. */
-static int
-has_option (const char *line, const char *name)
-{
-  const char *s;
-  int n = strlen (name);
-
-  s = strstr (line, name);
-  return (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1)) && (!s[n] || spacep (s+n)));
-}
-
-/* Same as has_option but does only test for the name of the option
-   and ignores an argument, i.e. with NAME being "--hash" it would
-   return a pointer for "--hash" as well as for "--hash=foo".  If
-   there is no such option NULL is returned.  The pointer returned
-   points right behind the option name, this may be an equal sign, Nul
-   or a space.  */
-static const char *
-has_option_name (const char *line, const char *name)
-{
-  const char *s;
-  int n = strlen (name);
-
-  s = strstr (line, name);
-  return (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1))
-          && (!s[n] || spacep (s+n) || s[n] == '=')) ? (s+n) : NULL;
-}
-
-
-/* Skip over options.  It is assumed that leading spaces have been
-   removed (this is the case for lines passed to a handler from
-   assuan).  Blanks after the options are also removed. */
-static char *
-skip_options (char *line)
-{
-  while ( *line == '-' && line[1] == '-' )
-    {
-      while (*line && !spacep (line))
-        line++;
-      while (spacep (line))
-        line++;
-    }
-  return line;
-}
-
-
-
 /* Convert the STRING into a newly allocated buffer while translating
    the hex numbers.  Stops at the first invalid character.  Blanks and
    colons are allowed to separate the hex digits.  Returns NULL on
diff --git a/sm/server.c b/sm/server.c
index e21c6a4f5..a43ff3472 100644
--- a/sm/server.c
+++ b/sm/server.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "gpgsm.h"
 #include <assuan.h>
 #include "sysutils.h"
+#include "server-help.h"
 
 #define set_error(e,t) assuan_set_error (ctx, gpg_error (e), (t))
 
@@ -95,38 +96,6 @@ strcpy_escaped_plus (char *d, const char *s)
 }
 
 
-/* Skip over options.
-   Blanks after the options are also removed. */
-static char *
-skip_options (const char *line)
-{
-  while (spacep (line))
-    line++;
-  while ( *line == '-' && line[1] == '-' )
-    {
-      while (*line && !spacep (line))
-        line++;
-      while (spacep (line))
-        line++;
-    }
-  return (char*)line;
-}
-
-
-/* Check whether the option NAME appears in LINE */
-static int
-has_option (const char *line, const char *name)
-{
-  const char *s;
-  int n = strlen (name);
-
-  s = strstr (line, name);
-  if (s && s >= skip_options (line))
-    return 0;
-  return (s && (s == line || spacep (s-1)) && (!s[n] || spacep (s+n)));
-}
-
-
 /* A write handler used by es_fopencookie to write assuan data
    lines.  */
 static gpgrt_ssize_t