diff --git a/qt/preferences.py b/qt/preferences.py
index dd267388..d0b84820 100644
--- a/qt/preferences.py
+++ b/qt/preferences.py
@@ -5,17 +5,15 @@
 # http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
 
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication, QDockWidget
-from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt, QSettings, QRect, QObject, pyqtSignal, QStandardPaths
+from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt, QRect, QObject, pyqtSignal
 from PyQt5.QtGui import QColor
 
 from hscommon import trans
-from hscommon.plat import ISLINUX, ISWINDOWS
+from hscommon.plat import ISLINUX
 from core.app import AppMode
 from core.scanner import ScanType
 from hscommon.util import tryint
-from core.util import executable_folder
-
-from os import path as op
+from qt.util import create_qsettings
 
 
 def get_langnames():
@@ -70,27 +68,6 @@ def _adjust_after_deserialization(v):
     return v
 
 
-def create_qsettings():
-    # Create a QSettings instance with the correct arguments.
-    config_location = op.join(executable_folder(), "settings.ini")
-    if op.isfile(config_location):
-        settings = QSettings(config_location, QSettings.IniFormat)
-        settings.setValue("Portable", True)
-    elif ISWINDOWS:
-        # On windows use an ini file in the AppDataLocation instead of registry if possible as it
-        # makes it easier for a user to clear it out when there are issues.
-        locations = QStandardPaths.standardLocations(QStandardPaths.AppDataLocation)
-        if locations:
-            settings = QSettings(op.join(locations[0], "settings.ini"), QSettings.IniFormat)
-        else:
-            settings = QSettings()
-        settings.setValue("Portable", False)
-    else:
-        settings = QSettings()
-        settings.setValue("Portable", False)
-    return settings
-
-
 class PreferencesBase(QObject):
     prefsChanged = pyqtSignal()
 
diff --git a/qt/util.py b/qt/util.py
index 1b8057ad..ba6e0eb6 100644
--- a/qt/util.py
+++ b/qt/util.py
@@ -14,8 +14,9 @@ import logging
 
 from core.util import executable_folder
 from hscommon.util import first
+from hscommon.plat import ISWINDOWS
 
-from PyQt5.QtCore import QStandardPaths
+from PyQt5.QtCore import QStandardPaths, QSettings
 from PyQt5.QtGui import QPixmap, QIcon, QGuiApplication
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import (
     QSpacerItem,
@@ -137,3 +138,24 @@ def escape_amp(s):
     # Returns `s` with escaped ampersand (& --> &&). QAction text needs to have & escaped because
     # that character is used to define "accel keys".
     return s.replace("&", "&&")
+
+
+def create_qsettings():
+    # Create a QSettings instance with the correct arguments.
+    config_location = op.join(executable_folder(), "settings.ini")
+    if op.isfile(config_location):
+        settings = QSettings(config_location, QSettings.IniFormat)
+        settings.setValue("Portable", True)
+    elif ISWINDOWS:
+        # On windows use an ini file in the AppDataLocation instead of registry if possible as it
+        # makes it easier for a user to clear it out when there are issues.
+        locations = QStandardPaths.standardLocations(QStandardPaths.AppDataLocation)
+        if locations:
+            settings = QSettings(op.join(locations[0], "settings.ini"), QSettings.IniFormat)
+        else:
+            settings = QSettings()
+        settings.setValue("Portable", False)
+    else:
+        settings = QSettings()
+        settings.setValue("Portable", False)
+    return settings
diff --git a/run.py b/run.py
index 1c286235..d6b5d236 100644
--- a/run.py
+++ b/run.py
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@ from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication
 
 from hscommon.trans import install_gettext_trans_under_qt
 from qt.error_report_dialog import install_excepthook
-from qt.util import setup_qt_logging
-from qt.preferences import create_qsettings
+from qt.util import setup_qt_logging, create_qsettings
 from qt import dg_rc  # noqa: F401
 from qt.platform import BASE_PATH
 from core import __version__, __appname__