diff --git a/packages/embark-utils/.npmrc b/packages/embark-utils/.npmrc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e031d3432
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/embark-utils/.npmrc
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+engine-strict = true
+package-lock = false
+save-exact = true
+scripts-prepend-node-path = true
diff --git a/packages/embark-utils/README.md b/packages/embark-utils/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6c7c39ea8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/embark-utils/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# `embark-utils`
+
+Visit [embark.status.im](https://embark.status.im/) to get started with
+[Embark](https://github.com/embark-framework/embark).
diff --git a/packages/embark-utils/package.json b/packages/embark-utils/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fa246bd52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/embark-utils/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+{
+  "name": "embark-utils",
+  "version": "4.0.0",
+  "author": "Iuri Matias <iuri.matias@gmail.com>",
+  "contributors": [],
+  "description": "Utils used by Embark",
+  "homepage": "https://github.com/embark-framework/embark/tree/master/packages/embark-utils#readme",
+  "bugs": "https://github.com/embark-framework/embark/issues",
+  "keywords": [
+    "blockchain",
+    "dapps",
+    "ethereum",
+    "ipfs",
+    "serverless",
+    "solc",
+    "solidity"
+  ],
+  "files": [
+    "dist"
+  ],
+  "license": "MIT",
+  "repository": {
+    "directory": "packages/embark-utils",
+    "type": "git",
+    "url": "https://github.com/embark-framework/embark.git"
+  },
+  "main": "./dist/index.js",
+  "scripts": {
+    "build": "cross-env BABEL_ENV=node babel src --extensions \".js,.ts\" --out-dir dist --root-mode upward --source-maps",
+    "ci": "npm run qa",
+    "clean": "npm run reset",
+    "lint": "npm-run-all lint:*",
+    "lint:js": "eslint src/",
+    "// lint:ts": "tslint -c tslint.json \"src/**/*.ts\"",
+    "package": "npm pack",
+    "// qa": "npm-run-all lint typecheck build package",
+    "qa": "npm-run-all lint build package",
+    "reset": "npx rimraf dist embark-*.tgz package",
+    "start": "npm run watch",
+    "// typecheck": "tsc",
+    "watch": "run-p watch:*",
+    "watch:build": "npm run build -- --verbose --watch",
+    "// watch:typecheck": "npm run typecheck -- --preserveWatchOutput --watch"
+  },
+  "eslintConfig": {
+    "extends": "../../.eslintrc.json"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "@babel/runtime-corejs2": "7.3.1"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@babel/cli": "7.2.3",
+    "@babel/core": "7.2.2",
+    "cross-env": "5.2.0",
+    "eslint": "5.7.0",
+    "npm-run-all": "4.1.5",
+    "rimraf": "2.6.3",
+    "tslint": "5.11.0",
+    "typescript": "3.3.1"
+  },
+  "engines": {
+    "node": ">=8.12.0",
+    "npm": ">=6.4.1",
+    "yarn": ">=1.12.3"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/embark-utils/src/index.js b/packages/embark-utils/src/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5b9d0d03c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/embark-utils/src/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+
+class Utils {
+
+  static joinPath() {
+    const path = require('path');
+    return path.join.apply(path.join, arguments);
+  }
+
+}
+
+module.exports = Utils;
+
diff --git a/packages/embark-utils/tsconfig.json b/packages/embark-utils/tsconfig.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..52d43eaaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/embark-utils/tsconfig.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+  "extends": "../../tsconfig.json",
+  "include": ["src/**/*"]
+}
diff --git a/packages/embark-utils/tslint.json b/packages/embark-utils/tslint.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0946f2096
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/embark-utils/tslint.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "extends": "../../tslint.json"
+}
diff --git a/packages/embark/package.json b/packages/embark/package.json
index f388454ab..e7a3a2273 100644
--- a/packages/embark/package.json
+++ b/packages/embark/package.json
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@
     "embark-vyper": "^4.0.0",
     "embark-profiler": "^4.0.0",
     "embark-specialconfigs": "^4.0.0",
+    "embark-utils": "^4.0.0",
     "embarkjs": "^4.0.0",
     "eth-ens-namehash": "2.0.8",
     "ethereumjs-tx": "1.3.7",
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/core/env.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/core/env.js
index 2a9bea4b7..54a126363 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/core/env.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/core/env.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 const {delimiter} = require('path');
 const findUp = require('find-up');
-const {joinPath} = require('../utils/utils.js');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 
 function anchoredValue(anchor, value) {
   if (!arguments.length) {
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/core/fs.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/core/fs.js
index 6277dfaa1..cdc8bc4b0 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/core/fs.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/core/fs.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const os = require('os');
 const parseJson = require('parse-json');
 const path = require('path');
 const utils = require('../utils/utils');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 require('colors');
 
 function mkdirpSync(...args) { return fs.mkdirpSync(...args); }
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ function access(...args) { return fs.access(...args); }
 function removeSync(...args) { return fs.removeSync(...args); }
 
 function anchoredPath(anchor, ...args) {
-  return utils.joinPath(
+  return joinPath(
     anchoredValue(anchor),
     ...args.map(path => path.replace(dappPath(), ''))
   );
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ function ipcPath(basename, usePipePathOnWindows = false) {
   if (process.platform === 'win32' && usePipePathOnWindows) {
     return `\\\\.\\pipe\\${basename}`;
   }
-  return utils.joinPath(
+  return joinPath(
     tmpDir(`embark-${utils.sha512(dappPath()).slice(0, 8)}`),
     basename
   );
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ function pkgPath(...args) { return anchoredPath(PKG_PATH, ...args); }
 
 function createWriteStream(...args) { return fs.createWriteStream(...args); }
 
-function tmpDir(...args) { return utils.joinPath(os.tmpdir(), ...args); }
+function tmpDir(...args) { return joinPath(os.tmpdir(), ...args); }
 
 function copyPreserve(sourceFilePath, targetFilePath) {
   const implementation = (sourceFilePath, targetFilePath) => {
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ function copyPreserve(sourceFilePath, targetFilePath) {
     let preserved = targetFilePath;
     while (fs.existsSync(preserved)) {
       const extname = path.extname(targetFilePath);
-      preserved = utils.joinPath(
+      preserved = joinPath(
         path.dirname(targetFilePath),
         `${path.basename(targetFilePath, extname)}.${ext}${extname}`
       );
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/core/plugin.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/core/plugin.js
index 8cc96f285..2bdd4cd48 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/core/plugin.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/core/plugin.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 const utils = require('../utils/utils.js');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 const constants = require('../constants');
 const fs = require('./fs.js');
 const deepEqual = require('deep-equal');
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@ Plugin.prototype.pathToFile = function(filename) {
   if (!this.pluginPath) {
     throw new Error('pluginPath not defined for plugin: ' + this.name);
   }
-  return utils.joinPath(this.pluginPath, filename);
+  return joinPath(this.pluginPath, filename);
 };
 
 // TODO: add deploy provider
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/blockchainProcessLauncher.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/blockchainProcessLauncher.js
index e8cdd50c5..5f4763ae8 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/blockchainProcessLauncher.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/blockchainProcessLauncher.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 const ProcessLauncher = require('../../core/processes/processLauncher');
-const utils = require('../../utils/utils.js');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 const constants = require('../../constants');
 
 class BlockchainProcessLauncher {
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class BlockchainProcessLauncher {
 
     this.blockchainProcess = new ProcessLauncher({
       name: 'blockchain',
-      modulePath: utils.joinPath(__dirname, './blockchainProcess.js'),
+      modulePath: joinPath(__dirname, './blockchainProcess.js'),
       logger: this.logger,
       events: this.events,
       embark: this.embark,
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class BlockchainProcessLauncher {
     this.events.on('logs:ethereum:disable', () => {
       this.blockchainProcess.silent = true;
     });
-    
+
     this.events.on('regularTxs:start', () => {
       this.blockchainProcess.send({action: constants.blockchain.startRegularTxs});
     });
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/codeRunner/fs.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/codeRunner/fs.js
index 9a787eec9..1e5ea982e 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/codeRunner/fs.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/codeRunner/fs.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const os = require('os');
 const parseJson = require('parse-json');
 const path = require('path');
 const utils = require('../../utils/utils');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 require('colors');
 
 function restrictPath(receiver, binding, count, args) {
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ function access(...args) { return restrictPath(fs.access, fs, 1, args); }
 function removeSync(...args) { return restrictPath(fs.removeSync, fs, 1, args); }
 
 function anchoredPath(anchor, ...args) {
-  return utils.joinPath(
+  return joinPath(
     anchoredValue(anchor),
     ...args.map(path => path.replace(dappPath(), ''))
   );
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ function ipcPath(basename, usePipePathOnWindows = false) {
   if (process.platform === 'win32' && usePipePathOnWindows) {
     return `\\\\.\\pipe\\${basename}`;
   }
-  return utils.joinPath(
+  return joinPath(
     tmpDir(`embark-${utils.sha512(dappPath()).slice(0, 8)}`),
     basename
   );
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ function pkgPath(...args) { return anchoredPath(PKG_PATH, ...args); }
 
 function createWriteStream(...args) { return restrictPath(fs.createWriteStream, fs, 1, args); }
 
-function tmpDir(...args) { return utils.joinPath(os.tmpdir(), ...args); }
+function tmpDir(...args) { return joinPath(os.tmpdir(), ...args); }
 
 function copyPreserve(sourceFilePath, targetFilePath) {
   const implementation = (sourceFilePath, targetFilePath) => {
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ function copyPreserve(sourceFilePath, targetFilePath) {
     let preserved = targetFilePath;
     while (fs.existsSync(preserved)) {
       const extname = path.extname(targetFilePath);
-      preserved = utils.joinPath(
+      preserved = joinPath(
         path.dirname(targetFilePath),
         `${path.basename(targetFilePath, extname)}.${ext}${extname}`
       );
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/code_generator/index.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/code_generator/index.js
index dd72a063d..6abff5cf9 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/code_generator/index.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/code_generator/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let async = require('async');
-const utils = require('../../utils/utils.js');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 const constants = require('../../constants');
 const path  = require('path');
 
@@ -178,8 +178,8 @@ class CodeGenerator {
   }
 
   generateArtifact(artifactInput, fileName, dirName, cb = () => {}) {
-    const dir = utils.joinPath(this.embarkConfig.generationDir, dirName);
-    const filePath = utils.joinPath(dir, fileName);
+    const dir = joinPath(this.embarkConfig.generationDir, dirName);
+    const filePath = joinPath(dir, fileName);
     if (typeof artifactInput !== 'string') {
       artifactInput = JSON.stringify(artifactInput, null, 2);
     }
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ class CodeGenerator {
           if (err) {
             return next(err);
           }
-          next(null, utils.joinPath(symlinkDir, name).replace(/\\/g, '/'));
+          next(null, joinPath(symlinkDir, name).replace(/\\/g, '/'));
         });
       },
       // Remove old symlink because they are not overwritable
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/ens/index.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/ens/index.js
index c6e7ec815..5713c8bbf 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/ens/index.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/ens/index.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 const utils = require('../../utils/utils.js');
 const namehash = require('eth-ens-namehash');
 const async = require('async');
@@ -380,8 +381,8 @@ class ENS {
           }
           this.events.emit('runcode:register', 'namehash', require('eth-ens-namehash'), () => {
             let code = `\nconst namehash = global.namehash || require('${symlinkDest}');`;
-            code += this.fs.readFileSync(utils.joinPath(__dirname, 'ENSFunctions.js')).toString();
-            code += "\n" + this.fs.readFileSync(utils.joinPath(__dirname, 'embarkjs.js')).toString();
+            code += this.fs.readFileSync(joinPath(__dirname, 'ENSFunctions.js')).toString();
+            code += "\n" + this.fs.readFileSync(joinPath(__dirname, 'embarkjs.js')).toString();
             code += "\nEmbarkJS.Names.registerProvider('ens', __embarkENS);";
 
             this.embark.addCodeToEmbarkJS(code);
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/ipfs/index.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/ipfs/index.js
index b371a7434..5ecc32a4b 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/ipfs/index.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/ipfs/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const UploadIPFS = require('./upload.js');
 const utils = require('../../utils/utils.js');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 const IpfsApi = require('ipfs-api');
 // TODO: not great, breaks module isolation
 const StorageProcessesLauncher = require('../storage/storageProcessesLauncher');
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ class IPFS {
 
           this.events.emit('runcode:register', 'IpfsApi', require('ipfs-api'), () => {
             let code = `\nconst IpfsApi = global.IpfsApi || require('${symlinkDest}');`;
-            code += "\n" + this.fs.readFileSync(utils.joinPath(__dirname, 'embarkjs.js')).toString();
+            code += "\n" + this.fs.readFileSync(joinPath(__dirname, 'embarkjs.js')).toString();
             code += "\nEmbarkJS.Storage.registerProvider('ipfs', __embarkIPFS);";
 
             this.embark.addCodeToEmbarkJS(code);
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/pipeline/index.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/pipeline/index.js
index b1e1abd08..4518d5826 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/pipeline/index.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/pipeline/index.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const path = require('path');
 const async = require('async');
 const utils = require('../../utils/utils.js');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 const ProcessLauncher = require('../../core/processes/processLauncher');
 const constants = require('../../constants');
 const WebpackConfigReader = require('../pipeline/webpackConfigReader');
@@ -197,7 +198,7 @@ class Pipeline {
         let strAssets = '';
         if (!self.useDashboard) {
           assets.forEach(key => {
-            strAssets += ('\n  ' + (utils.joinPath(self.buildDir, key)).bold.dim);
+            strAssets += ('\n  ' + (joinPath(self.buildDir, key)).bold.dim);
           });
         }
         const timer = new LongRunningProcessTimer(
@@ -218,7 +219,7 @@ class Pipeline {
         const webpackProcess = new ProcessLauncher({
           embark: self.embark,
           plugins: self.plugins,
-          modulePath: utils.joinPath(__dirname, 'webpackProcess.js'),
+          modulePath: joinPath(__dirname, 'webpackProcess.js'),
           logger: self.logger,
           events: self.events,
           exitCallback: code => {
@@ -261,7 +262,7 @@ class Pipeline {
             const isDir = targetFile.slice(-1) === '/' || targetFile.slice(-1) === '\\' || targetFile.indexOf('.') === -1;
             // if it's not a directory
             if (!isDir) {
-              self.logger.info('Pipeline: '.cyan + __("writing file") + " " + (utils.joinPath(self.buildDir, targetFile)).bold.dim);
+              self.logger.info('Pipeline: '.cyan + __("writing file") + " " + (joinPath(self.buildDir, targetFile)).bold.dim);
             }
             async.map(
               files,
@@ -276,8 +277,8 @@ class Pipeline {
                   self.logger.error('Pipeline: '.cyan + __('errors found while generating') + ' ' + targetFile);
                 }
                 let dir = targetFile.split('/').slice(0, -1).join('/');
-                self.logger.trace(`${'Pipeline:'.cyan} creating dir ` + utils.joinPath(self.buildDir, dir));
-                self.fs.mkdirpSync(utils.joinPath(self.buildDir, dir));
+                self.logger.trace(`${'Pipeline:'.cyan} creating dir ` + joinPath(self.buildDir, dir));
+                self.fs.mkdirpSync(joinPath(self.buildDir, dir));
 
                 // if it's a directory
                 if (isDir) {
@@ -289,9 +290,9 @@ class Pipeline {
 
                   async.each(contentFiles, function (file, eachCb) {
                     let filename = file.path.replace(file.basedir + '/', '');
-                    self.logger.info(`${'Pipeline:'.cyan} writing file ` + (utils.joinPath(self.buildDir, targetDir, filename)).bold.dim);
+                    self.logger.info(`${'Pipeline:'.cyan} writing file ` + (joinPath(self.buildDir, targetDir, filename)).bold.dim);
 
-                    self.fs.copy(file.path, utils.joinPath(self.buildDir, targetDir, filename), {overwrite: true}, eachCb);
+                    self.fs.copy(file.path, joinPath(self.buildDir, targetDir, filename), {overwrite: true}, eachCb);
                   }, cb);
                   return;
                 }
@@ -307,7 +308,7 @@ class Pipeline {
                   targetFile = targetFile.replace('index', 'index-temp');
                   placeholderPage = targetFile;
                 }
-                self.fs.writeFile(utils.joinPath(self.buildDir, targetFile), content, cb);
+                self.fs.writeFile(joinPath(self.buildDir, targetFile), content, cb);
               }
             );
           },
@@ -315,8 +316,8 @@ class Pipeline {
         );
       },
       function removePlaceholderPage(next) {
-        let placeholderFile = utils.joinPath(self.buildDir, placeholderPage);
-        self.fs.access(utils.joinPath(self.buildDir, placeholderPage), (err) => {
+        let placeholderFile = joinPath(self.buildDir, placeholderPage);
+        self.fs.access(joinPath(self.buildDir, placeholderPage), (err) => {
           if (err) return next(); // index-temp doesn't exist, do nothing
 
           // rename index-temp.htm/l to index.htm/l, effectively replacing our placeholder page
@@ -353,7 +354,7 @@ class Pipeline {
           // Used to enable alternate import syntax:
           // e.g. import {Token} from 'Embark/contracts'
           // e.g. import * as Contracts from 'Embark/contracts'
-          let importsHelperFile = self.fs.createWriteStream(utils.joinPath(contractsDir, 'index.js'));
+          let importsHelperFile = self.fs.createWriteStream(joinPath(contractsDir, 'index.js'));
           importsHelperFile.write('module.exports = {\n');
 
           async.eachOf(contracts, (contract, idx, eachCb) => {
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/solidity/solcW.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/solidity/solcW.js
index 9e8767db4..6060f60c9 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/solidity/solcW.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/solidity/solcW.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-let utils = require('../../utils/utils.js');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 let currentSolcVersion = require('../../../../package.json').dependencies.solc;
 const ProcessLauncher = require('../../core/processes/processLauncher.js');
 const uuid = require('uuid/v1');
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class SolcW {
     }
     this.solcProcess = new ProcessLauncher({
       embark: self.embark,
-      modulePath: utils.joinPath(__dirname, 'solcP.js'),
+      modulePath: joinPath(__dirname, 'solcP.js'),
       logger: self.logger,
       events: self.events,
       providerUrl: self.providerUrl,
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/storage/storageProcessesLauncher.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/storage/storageProcessesLauncher.js
index 87023ba82..0c7ccc2eb 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/storage/storageProcessesLauncher.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/storage/storageProcessesLauncher.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const shellJs = require('shelljs');
 const utils = require('../../utils/utils');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 const ProcessLauncher = require('../../core/processes/processLauncher');
 const constants = require('../../constants');
 const {canonicalHost} = require('../../utils/host');
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ class StorageProcessesLauncher {
     if (self.processes[storageName]) {
       return callback(__('Storage process already started'));
     }
-    const filePath = utils.joinPath(__dirname, `../${storageName}/process.js`);
+    const filePath = joinPath(__dirname, `../${storageName}/process.js`);
     this.embark.fs.access(filePath, (err) => {
       if (err) {
         return callback(__('No process file for this storage type (%s) exists. Please start the process locally.', storageName));
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/swarm/index.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/swarm/index.js
index 0ca9dd537..a4cbb5ae6 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/swarm/index.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/swarm/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const UploadSwarm = require('./upload.js');
 const utils = require('../../utils/utils.js');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 const SwarmAPI = require('swarm-api');
 // TODO: not great, breaks module isolation
 const StorageProcessesLauncher = require('../storage/storageProcessesLauncher');
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ class Swarm {
 
   addProviderToEmbarkJS() {
     let code = "";
-    code += "\n" + this.fs.readFileSync(utils.joinPath(__dirname, 'embarkjs.js')).toString();
+    code += "\n" + this.fs.readFileSync(joinPath(__dirname, 'embarkjs.js')).toString();
     code += "\nEmbarkJS.Storage.registerProvider('swarm', __embarkSwarm);";
 
     this.embark.addCodeToEmbarkJS(code);
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/webserver/index.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/webserver/index.js
index 73da5c836..26c0e47d7 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/webserver/index.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/webserver/index.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import {findNextPort} from "../../utils/network";
 
 var {canonicalHost} = require('../../utils/host.js');
 var utils = require('../../utils/utils.js');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 var Server = require('./server.js');
 const opn = require('opn');
 
@@ -151,7 +152,7 @@ class WebServer {
   buildPlaceholderPage(cb) {
     let html = Templates.embark_building_placeholder({buildingMsg: __('Embark is building, please wait...')});
     this.fs.mkdirpSync(this.buildDir); // create buildDir if it does not exist
-    this.fs.writeFile(utils.joinPath(this.buildDir, 'index.html'), html, cb);
+    this.fs.writeFile(joinPath(this.buildDir, 'index.html'), html, cb);
   }
 
   openBrowser(cb) {
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/whisper/index.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/whisper/index.js
index 2dbc7e74a..d15e43a58 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/whisper/index.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/whisper/index.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* global __ __dirname module require setTimeout */
 
-let utils = require('../../utils/utils.js');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 let Web3 = require('web3');
 const {parallel} = require('async');
 const {sendMessage, listenTo} = require('./js/communicationFunctions');
@@ -123,11 +123,11 @@ class Whisper {
       let code = "";
       if (web3Version[0] === "0") {
         self.isOldWeb3 = true;
-        code += "\n" + self.fs.readFileSync(utils.joinPath(__dirname, 'js', 'embarkjs_old_web3.js')).toString();
+        code += "\n" + self.fs.readFileSync(joinPath(__dirname, 'js', 'embarkjs_old_web3.js')).toString();
         code += "\nEmbarkJS.Messages.registerProvider('whisper', __embarkWhisperOld);";
       } else {
-        code += "\n" + self.fs.readFileSync(utils.joinPath(__dirname, 'js', 'communicationFunctions.js')).toString();
-        code += "\n" + self.fs.readFileSync(utils.joinPath(__dirname, 'js', 'embarkjs.js')).toString();
+        code += "\n" + self.fs.readFileSync(joinPath(__dirname, 'js', 'communicationFunctions.js')).toString();
+        code += "\n" + self.fs.readFileSync(joinPath(__dirname, 'js', 'embarkjs.js')).toString();
         code += "\nEmbarkJS.Messages.registerProvider('whisper', __embarkWhisperNewWeb3);";
       }
       self.embark.addCodeToEmbarkJS(code);
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/utils/template_generator.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/utils/template_generator.js
index 06dc1cf28..8905f8568 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/utils/template_generator.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/utils/template_generator.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ const findUp = require('find-up');
 const fs = require('../core/fs.js');
 const hostedGitInfo = require('hosted-git-info');
 const utils = require('./utils.js');
+import {joinPath} from 'embark-utils';
 const semver = require('semver');
 const {promisify} = require('util');
 const {execSync} = require('child_process');
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ class TemplateGenerator {
   }
 
   async downloadAndGenerate(uri, destinationFolder, name) {
-    const fspath = utils.joinPath(destinationFolder, name);
+    const fspath = joinPath(destinationFolder, name);
     this.checkPathExists(fspath);
     let ext;
     try {
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ class TemplateGenerator {
         map: file => {
           let fixed_path = file.path.split('/');
           fixed_path.shift(); // remove first directory
-          file.path = utils.joinPath(...fixed_path);
+          file.path = joinPath(...fixed_path);
           return file;
         }
       },
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ class TemplateGenerator {
   }
 
   generate(destinationFolder, name) {
-    const fspath = utils.joinPath(destinationFolder, name);
+    const fspath = joinPath(destinationFolder, name);
     this.checkPathExists(fspath);
 
     console.log(__('Initializing Embark template...').green);
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ class TemplateGenerator {
     const templatePkg = `embark-dapp-template-${this.templateName}`;
     let templateSpecifier;
     if (this.monorepoRootPath) {
-      templateSpecifier = utils.joinPath(
+      templateSpecifier = joinPath(
         this.monorepoRootPath, 'dapps/templates', this.templateName
       );
     } else {
@@ -113,12 +114,12 @@ class TemplateGenerator {
     }
 
     const tmpDir = require('fs-extra').mkdtempSync(
-      utils.joinPath(require('os').tmpdir(), `${this.templateName}-`)
+      joinPath(require('os').tmpdir(), `${this.templateName}-`)
     );
 
     execSync(`npm pack ${templateSpecifier}`, {cwd: tmpDir, stdio: 'ignore'});
     const packed = utils.filesMatchingPattern(
-      [utils.joinPath(tmpDir, '*.tgz')]
+      [joinPath(tmpDir, '*.tgz')]
     )[0];
 
     this.extract(packed, fspath, () => {
@@ -266,13 +267,13 @@ class TemplateGenerator {
       url,
       browse: decodeURIComponent(hgi.browse()),
       url_fallback,
-      filePath_fallback: fallback && utils.joinPath(".embark/templates/", folder_fallback, "archive.zip"),
+      filePath_fallback: fallback && joinPath(".embark/templates/", folder_fallback, "archive.zip"),
       browse_fallback: fallback && decodeURIComponent(hgi_fallback.browse()),
       embarkVersion
     };
     if (hgi.committish) {
       folder = `${hgi.user}/${hgi.project}/${hgi.committish}`;
-      returnObject.filePath = utils.joinPath(".embark/templates/", folder, "archive.zip");
+      returnObject.filePath = joinPath(".embark/templates/", folder, "archive.zip");
       return returnObject;
     }
     return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
@@ -287,7 +288,7 @@ class TemplateGenerator {
         }
         folder = `${hgi.user}/${hgi.project}/${body.default_branch}`;
         returnObject.url = returnObject.url.replace('/master', '/' + body.default_branch);
-        returnObject.filePath = utils.joinPath(".embark/templates/", folder, "archive.zip");
+        returnObject.filePath = joinPath(".embark/templates/", folder, "archive.zip");
         resolve(returnObject);
       });
     });
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/utils/utils.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/utils/utils.js
index 9aa85500b..92c67a379 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/utils/utils.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/utils/utils.js
@@ -5,11 +5,6 @@ const {canonicalHost} = require('./host');
 
 const balanceRegex = /([0-9]+) ?([a-zA-Z]*)/;
 
-function joinPath() {
-  const path = require('path');
-  return path.join.apply(path.join, arguments);
-}
-
 function dirname() {
   const path = require('path');
   return path.dirname.apply(path.dirname, arguments);
@@ -644,7 +639,6 @@ function urlJoin(url, path) {
 }
 
 module.exports = {
-  joinPath,
   dirname,
   filesMatchingPattern,
   fileMatchesPattern,