diff --git a/src/api.py b/src/api.py
index a44455695..7e628d90d 100644
--- a/src/api.py
+++ b/src/api.py
@@ -73,13 +73,13 @@
 
 import helper_inbox
 import helper_sent
-import protocol
 import proofofwork
 import queues
 import shared
 
 import shutdown
 import state
+import network.protocol as protocol
 from addresses import (
     addBMIfNotPresent,
     decodeAddress,
diff --git a/src/class_objectProcessor.py b/src/class_objectProcessor.py
index 469ccbfab..4555e9415 100644
--- a/src/class_objectProcessor.py
+++ b/src/class_objectProcessor.py
@@ -19,10 +19,10 @@
 import helper_sent
 import highlevelcrypto
 import l10n
-import protocol
 import queues
 import shared
 import state
+import network.protocol as protocol
 from addresses import (
     decodeAddress, decodeVarint,
     encodeAddress, encodeVarint, varintDecodeError
diff --git a/src/class_singleWorker.py b/src/class_singleWorker.py
index f2821f657..f2c949e8b 100644
--- a/src/class_singleWorker.py
+++ b/src/class_singleWorker.py
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@
 import highlevelcrypto
 import l10n
 import proofofwork
-import protocol
 import queues
 import shared
 import state
 import tr
+import network.protocol as protocol
 from addresses import decodeAddress, decodeVarint, encodeVarint
 from bmconfigparser import config
 from helper_sql import sqlExecute, sqlQuery
diff --git a/src/network/bmobject.py b/src/network/bmobject.py
index 83311b9b5..8b0f02be6 100644
--- a/src/network/bmobject.py
+++ b/src/network/bmobject.py
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 import logging
 import time
 
-import protocol
 import state
+import protocol
 import connectionpool
 from network import dandelion_ins
 from highlevelcrypto import calculateInventoryHash
diff --git a/src/network/bmproto.py b/src/network/bmproto.py
index 797dab5e8..068181b55 100644
--- a/src/network/bmproto.py
+++ b/src/network/bmproto.py
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@
 # magic imports!
 import addresses
 import knownnodes
-import protocol
 import state
 import connectionpool
+import protocol
 from bmconfigparser import config
 from queues import invQueue, objectProcessorQueue, portCheckerQueue
 from randomtrackingdict import RandomTrackingDict
diff --git a/src/network/connectionchooser.py b/src/network/connectionchooser.py
index d7062d247..1696c7ae5 100644
--- a/src/network/connectionchooser.py
+++ b/src/network/connectionchooser.py
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 import random
 
 import knownnodes
-import protocol
 import state
+import protocol
 from bmconfigparser import config
 from queues import queue, portCheckerQueue
 
diff --git a/src/protocol.py b/src/network/protocol.py
similarity index 96%
rename from src/protocol.py
rename to src/network/protocol.py
index 96c980bbe..601c98cbc 100644
--- a/src/protocol.py
+++ b/src/network/protocol.py
@@ -13,16 +13,26 @@
 from binascii import hexlify
 from struct import Struct, pack, unpack
 
-import defaults
-import highlevelcrypto
-import state
-from addresses import (
-    encodeVarint, decodeVarint, decodeAddress, varintDecodeError)
-from bmconfigparser import config
-from debug import logger
-from helper_sql import sqlExecute
-from network.node import Peer
-from version import softwareVersion
+try:
+    import defaults
+    import highlevelcrypto
+    import state
+    from addresses import (
+        encodeVarint, decodeVarint, decodeAddress, varintDecodeError)
+    from bmconfigparser import config
+    from debug import logger
+    from helper_sql import sqlExecute
+    from version import softwareVersion
+except ImportError:
+    from pybitmessage import defaults, highlevelcrypto, state
+    from pybitmessage.addresses import (
+        encodeVarint, decodeVarint, decodeAddress, varintDecodeError)
+    from pybitmessage.bmconfigparser import config
+    from pybitmessage.debug import logger
+    from pybitmessage.helper_sql import sqlExecute
+    from pybitmessage.version import softwareVersion
+
+from .node import Peer
 
 # Network constants
 magic = 0xE9BEB4D9
diff --git a/src/tests/core.py b/src/tests/core.py
index fd9b0d08b..d610c0491 100644
--- a/src/tests/core.py
+++ b/src/tests/core.py
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@
 import time
 import unittest
 
-import protocol
 import state
 import helper_sent
 import helper_addressbook
+import network.protocol as protocol
 
 from bmconfigparser import config
 from helper_msgcoding import MsgEncode, MsgDecode
diff --git a/src/tests/test_api_thread.py b/src/tests/test_api_thread.py
index 6e453b192..e28f20b8a 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_api_thread.py
+++ b/src/tests/test_api_thread.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 from six.moves import queue, xmlrpc_client
 
-from pybitmessage import protocol
+from pybitmessage.network import protocol
 from pybitmessage.highlevelcrypto import calculateInventoryHash
 
 from .partial import TestPartialRun
diff --git a/src/tests/test_packets.py b/src/tests/test_packets.py
index 9dfb1d23a..e6471017e 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_packets.py
+++ b/src/tests/test_packets.py
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 from binascii import unhexlify
 from struct import pack
 
-from pybitmessage import addresses, protocol
+from pybitmessage import addresses
+from pybitmessage.network import protocol
 
 from .samples import (
     sample_addr_data, sample_object_data, sample_object_expires)
diff --git a/src/tests/test_protocol.py b/src/tests/test_protocol.py
index e3137b25a..e923b8994 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_protocol.py
+++ b/src/tests/test_protocol.py
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
 import sys
 import unittest
 
-from pybitmessage import protocol, state
+from pybitmessage import state
+from pybitmessage.network import protocol
 from pybitmessage.helper_startup import fixSocket