diff --git a/src/common/helpers.py b/src/common/helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..40441ea7d86e4f41cb10563cf829363433dbd221
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+##	common/helpers.py
+##
+## Gajim Team:
+##	- Yann Le Boulanger <asterix@lagaule.org>
+##	- Vincent Hanquez <tab@snarc.org>
+##	- Nikos Kouremenos <kourem@gmail.com>
+##
+##	Copyright (C) 2003-2005 Gajim Team
+##
+## This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+## it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published
+## by the Free Software Foundation; version 2 only.
+##
+## This program 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.
+##
+
+def get_uf_status(self, status):
+	'''returns a userfriendly string for dnd/xa/chat
+	and capitalize()s the rest'''
+	if status == 'dnd':
+		uf_status = 'Busy'
+	elif status == 'xa':
+		uf_status = 'Not Available'
+	elif status == 'chat':
+		uf_status = 'Free for Chat'
+	else:
+		uf_status = status.capitalize()
+	return uf_status
diff --git a/src/dialogs.py b/src/dialogs.py
index aecec58a2e3b5ee24b667b53387f4ab66573a21c..3bea641906daec0a7220cfe398fc9c7833f17e7f 100644
--- a/src/dialogs.py
+++ b/src/dialogs.py
@@ -21,11 +21,14 @@ import gtk
 import gtk.glade
 import gobject
 import os
+
+from vcard import Vcard_window
+from advanced import Advanced_configuration_window
 from gajim import User
 from common import gajim
+from common import helpers
 from common import i18n
-from vcard import Vcard_window
-from advanced import Advanced_configuration_window
+
 _ = i18n._
 APP = i18n.APP
 gtk.glade.bindtextdomain (APP, i18n.DIR)
@@ -180,7 +183,7 @@ class Change_status_message_dialog:
 	def __init__(self, plugin, status):
 		self.xml = gtk.glade.XML(GTKGUI_GLADE, 'change_status_message_dialog', APP)
 		self.window = self.xml.get_widget('change_status_message_dialog')
-		uf_status = plugin.roster.get_uf_status(status)
+		uf_status = helpers.get_uf_status(status)
 		self.window.set_title(uf_status + ' Status Message')
 		
 		message_textview = self.xml.get_widget('message_textview')
diff --git a/src/roster_window.py b/src/roster_window.py
index 2a02d648142d774b5c6083d3cafac80550723431..26f8d38c95fe8bfed1de219b489900882ef5c56d 100644
--- a/src/roster_window.py
+++ b/src/roster_window.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import cell_renderer_image
 
 from gajim import User
 from common import gajim
+from common import helpers
 from common import i18n
 
 _ = i18n._
@@ -1399,19 +1400,6 @@ class Roster_window:
 				start = '*  '
 			self.window.set_title(start + 'Gajim')
 
-	def get_uf_status(self, status):
-		'''returns a userfriendly string for dnd/xa/chat
-		and capitalize()s the rest'''
-		if status == 'dnd':
-			uf_status = 'Busy'
-		elif status == 'xa':
-			uf_status = 'Not Available'
-		elif status == 'chat':
-			uf_status = 'Free for Chat'
-		else:
-			uf_status = status.capitalize()
-		return uf_status
-
 	def __init__(self, plugin):
 		self.xml = gtk.glade.XML(GTKGUI_GLADE, 'roster_window', APP)
 		self.window = self.xml.get_widget('roster_window')
@@ -1472,7 +1460,7 @@ class Roster_window:
 
 		for status in ['online', 'chat', 'away', 'xa', 'dnd', 'invisible',
 			'offline']:
-			uf_status = self.get_uf_status(status)
+			uf_status = helpers.get_uf_status(status)
 			iter = liststore.append([uf_status, self.jabber_state_images[status], status])
 		self.status_combobox.show_all()
 		self.status_combobox.set_model(liststore)
diff --git a/src/systray.py b/src/systray.py
index 2c8642667d3b1ba2888194acd4d5c111a141aa65..b8609935ba9506fc3c3470c7dd59c5fc280225b2 100644
--- a/src/systray.py
+++ b/src/systray.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import gtk.glade
 import dialogs
 
 from common import gajim
+from common import helpers
 from common import i18n
 
 try:
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@ class Systray:
 				if group in user.groups and user.show != 'offline' and \
 						user.show != 'error':
 					at_least_one = True
-					status = self.plugin.roster.get_uf_status(user.show)
+					status = helpers.get_uf_status(user.show)
 					s = user.name.replace('_', '__') + ' (' + status + ')'
 					item = gtk.MenuItem(s)
 					item.connect('activate', self.start_chat, account,\
diff --git a/src/tabbed_chat_window.py b/src/tabbed_chat_window.py
index e8820da2f6cda3b5ed7afff1e396aa363bce1f13..8c69d08e09e6a7717c8da04b4da0c789ced3d366 100644
--- a/src/tabbed_chat_window.py
+++ b/src/tabbed_chat_window.py
@@ -23,11 +23,12 @@ import pango
 import gobject
 import time
 
-from common import gajim
 import dialogs
 import history_window
 import chat
 
+from common import gajim
+from common import helpers
 from common import i18n
 
 _ = i18n._
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@ class Tabbed_chat_window(chat.Chat):
 		
 		self.redraw_tab(user.jid)
 		self.draw_widgets(user)
-		uf_status = self.plugin.roster.get_uf_status(user.show)
+		uf_status = helpers.get_uf_status(user.show)
 		self.print_conversation(_('%s is %s (%s)') % (user.name, 
 										uf_status, user.status), user.jid, 'status')