diff --git a/src/wormhole/_dilation/connector.py b/src/wormhole/_dilation/connector.py
index 3d4d773..97c68eb 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/_dilation/connector.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/_dilation/connector.py
@@ -21,42 +21,9 @@ from .roles import LEADER
 
 from .._hints import (DirectTCPV1Hint, TorTCPV1Hint, RelayV1Hint,
                       parse_hint_argv, describe_hint_obj, endpoint_from_hint_obj,
-                      parse_tcp_v1_hint)
+                      encode_hint)
 
 
-def parse_hint(hint_struct):
-    hint_type = hint_struct.get("type", "")
-    if hint_type == "relay-v1":
-        # the struct can include multiple ways to reach the same relay
-        rhints = filter(lambda h: h,  # drop None (unrecognized)
-                        [parse_tcp_v1_hint(rh) for rh in hint_struct["hints"]])
-        return RelayV1Hint(rhints)
-    return parse_tcp_v1_hint(hint_struct)
-
-
-def encode_hint(h):
-    if isinstance(h, DirectTCPV1Hint):
-        return {"type": "direct-tcp-v1",
-                "priority": h.priority,
-                "hostname": h.hostname,
-                "port": h.port,  # integer
-                }
-    elif isinstance(h, RelayV1Hint):
-        rhint = {"type": "relay-v1", "hints": []}
-        for rh in h.hints:
-            rhint["hints"].append({"type": "direct-tcp-v1",
-                                   "priority": rh.priority,
-                                   "hostname": rh.hostname,
-                                   "port": rh.port})
-        return rhint
-    elif isinstance(h, TorTCPV1Hint):
-        return {"type": "tor-tcp-v1",
-                "priority": h.priority,
-                "hostname": h.hostname,
-                "port": h.port,  # integer
-                }
-    raise ValueError("unknown hint type", h)
-
 
 def HKDF(skm, outlen, salt=None, CTXinfo=b""):
     return Hkdf(salt, skm).expand(CTXinfo, outlen)
diff --git a/src/wormhole/_dilation/manager.py b/src/wormhole/_dilation/manager.py
index d9db016..18d1770 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/_dilation/manager.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/_dilation/manager.py
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ from .encode import to_be4
 from .subchannel import (SubChannel, _SubchannelAddress, _WormholeAddress,
                          ControlEndpoint, SubchannelConnectorEndpoint,
                          SubchannelListenerEndpoint)
-from .connector import Connector, parse_hint
+from .connector import Connector
+from .._hints import parse_hint
 from .roles import LEADER, FOLLOWER
 from .connection import KCM, Ping, Pong, Open, Data, Close, Ack
 from .inbound import Inbound
diff --git a/src/wormhole/_hints.py b/src/wormhole/_hints.py
index 0a44b3b..a8ee258 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/_hints.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/_hints.py
@@ -103,3 +103,36 @@ def parse_tcp_v1_hint(hint):  # hint_struct -> hint_obj
         return DirectTCPV1Hint(hint["hostname"], hint["port"], priority)
     else:
         return TorTCPV1Hint(hint["hostname"], hint["port"], priority)
+
+def parse_hint(hint_struct):
+    hint_type = hint_struct.get("type", "")
+    if hint_type == "relay-v1":
+        # the struct can include multiple ways to reach the same relay
+        rhints = filter(lambda h: h,  # drop None (unrecognized)
+                        [parse_tcp_v1_hint(rh) for rh in hint_struct["hints"]])
+        return RelayV1Hint(list(rhints))
+    return parse_tcp_v1_hint(hint_struct)
+
+
+def encode_hint(h):
+    if isinstance(h, DirectTCPV1Hint):
+        return {"type": "direct-tcp-v1",
+                "priority": h.priority,
+                "hostname": h.hostname,
+                "port": h.port,  # integer
+                }
+    elif isinstance(h, RelayV1Hint):
+        rhint = {"type": "relay-v1", "hints": []}
+        for rh in h.hints:
+            rhint["hints"].append({"type": "direct-tcp-v1",
+                                   "priority": rh.priority,
+                                   "hostname": rh.hostname,
+                                   "port": rh.port})
+        return rhint
+    elif isinstance(h, TorTCPV1Hint):
+        return {"type": "tor-tcp-v1",
+                "priority": h.priority,
+                "hostname": h.hostname,
+                "port": h.port,  # integer
+                }
+    raise ValueError("unknown hint type", h)
diff --git a/src/wormhole/test/test_hints.py b/src/wormhole/test/test_hints.py
index 92c1def..7dcffd6 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/test/test_hints.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/test/test_hints.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import mock
 from twisted.internet import endpoints, reactor
 from twisted.trial import unittest
 from .._hints import (endpoint_from_hint_obj, parse_hint_argv, parse_tcp_v1_hint,
-                      describe_hint_obj,
+                      describe_hint_obj, parse_hint, encode_hint,
                       DirectTCPV1Hint, TorTCPV1Hint, RelayV1Hint)
 
 UnknownHint = namedtuple("UnknownHint", ["stuff"])
@@ -89,6 +89,24 @@ class Hints(unittest.TestCase):
                 "port": "not a number"
             }), None)  # invalid port
 
+    def test_parse_hint(self):
+        p = parse_hint
+        self.assertEqual(p({"type": "direct-tcp-v1",
+                            "hostname": "foo",
+                            "port": 12}),
+                         DirectTCPV1Hint("foo", 12, 0.0))
+        self.assertEqual(p({"type": "relay-v1",
+                            "hints": [
+                                {"type": "direct-tcp-v1",
+                                 "hostname": "foo",
+                                 "port": 12},
+                                {"type": "unrecognized"},
+                                {"type": "direct-tcp-v1",
+                                 "hostname": "bar",
+                                 "port": 13}]}),
+                         RelayV1Hint([DirectTCPV1Hint("foo", 12, 0.0),
+                                      DirectTCPV1Hint("bar", 13, 0.0)]))
+
     def test_parse_hint_argv(self):
         def p(hint):
             stderr = io.StringIO()
@@ -147,3 +165,32 @@ class Hints(unittest.TestCase):
                          "->tor:host:1234")
         self.assertEqual(d(UnknownHint("stuff"), False, False),
                          "->%s" % str(UnknownHint("stuff")))
+
+    def test_encode_hint(self):
+        e = encode_hint
+        self.assertEqual(e(DirectTCPV1Hint("host", 1234, 1.0)),
+                         {"type": "direct-tcp-v1",
+                          "priority": 1.0,
+                          "hostname": "host",
+                          "port": 1234})
+        self.assertEqual(e(RelayV1Hint([DirectTCPV1Hint("foo", 12, 0.0),
+                                        DirectTCPV1Hint("bar", 13, 0.0)])),
+                         {"type": "relay-v1",
+                          "hints": [
+                              {"type": "direct-tcp-v1",
+                               "hostname": "foo",
+                               "port": 12,
+                               "priority": 0.0},
+                              {"type": "direct-tcp-v1",
+                               "hostname": "bar",
+                               "port": 13,
+                               "priority": 0.0},
+                              ]})
+        self.assertEqual(e(TorTCPV1Hint("host", 1234, 1.0)),
+                         {"type": "tor-tcp-v1",
+                          "priority": 1.0,
+                          "hostname": "host",
+                          "port": 1234})
+        e = self.assertRaises(ValueError, e, "not a Hint")
+        self.assertIn("unknown hint type", str(e))
+        self.assertIn("not a Hint", str(e))