diff --git a/my/core/compat.py b/my/core/compat.py
index d7937f9..48e194b 100644
--- a/my/core/compat.py
+++ b/my/core/compat.py
@@ -1,56 +1,12 @@
 '''
-Some backwards compatibility stuff/deprecation helpers
+Contains backwards compatibility helpers for different python versions.
+If something is relevant to HPI itself, please put it in .hpi_compat instead
 '''
+import os
 import sys
-from types import ModuleType
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
-from . import warnings
-from .common import LazyLogger
 
-
-logger = LazyLogger('my.core.compat')
-
-
-def pre_pip_dal_handler(
-        name: str,
-        e: ModuleNotFoundError,
-        cfg,
-        requires=[],
-) -> ModuleType:
-    '''
-    https://github.com/karlicoss/HPI/issues/79
-    '''
-    if e.name != name:
-        # the module itself was imported, so the problem is with some dependencies
-        raise e
-    try:
-        dal = _get_dal(cfg, name)
-        warnings.high(f'''
-Specifying modules' dependencies in the config or in my/config/repos is deprecated!
-Please install {' '.join(requires)} as PIP packages (see the corresponding README instructions).
-'''.strip(), stacklevel=2)
-    except ModuleNotFoundError:
-        dal = None
-
-    if dal is None:
-        # probably means there was nothing in the old config in the first place
-        # so we should raise the original exception
-        raise e
-    return dal
-
-
-def _get_dal(cfg, module_name: str):
-    mpath = getattr(cfg, module_name, None)
-    if mpath is not None:
-        from .common import import_dir
-        return import_dir(mpath, '.dal')
-    else:
-        from importlib import import_module
-        return import_module(f'my.config.repos.{module_name}.dal')
-
-
-import os
 windows = os.name == 'nt'
 
 
@@ -60,7 +16,7 @@ def sqlite_backup(*, source: sqlite3.Connection, dest: sqlite3.Connection, **kwa
     source.backup(dest, **kwargs)
 
 
-# can remove after python3.9
+# can remove after python3.9 (although need to keep the method itself for bwd compat)
 def removeprefix(text: str, prefix: str) -> str:
     if text.startswith(prefix):
         return text[len(prefix):]
diff --git a/my/core/legacy.py b/my/core/hpi_compat.py
similarity index 61%
rename from my/core/legacy.py
rename to my/core/hpi_compat.py
index 3ad121d..9ef103a 100644
--- a/my/core/legacy.py
+++ b/my/core/hpi_compat.py
@@ -1,16 +1,20 @@
-# I think 'compat' should be for python-specific compat stuff, whereas this for HPI specific backwards compatibility
+"""
+Contains various backwards compatibility/deprecation helpers relevant to HPI itself.
+(as opposed to .compat module which implements compatibility between python versions)
+"""
 import os
 import inspect
 import re
+from types import ModuleType
 from typing import List
 
-from my.core import warnings as W
+from my.core import warnings
 
 
 def handle_legacy_import(
-        parent_module_name: str,
-        legacy_submodule_name: str,
-        parent_module_path: List[str],
+    parent_module_name: str,
+    legacy_submodule_name: str,
+    parent_module_path: List[str],
 ) -> bool:
     ###
     # this is to trick mypy into treating this as a proper namespace package
@@ -19,6 +23,7 @@ def handle_legacy_import(
     # - https://github.com/karlicoss/hpi_namespace_experiment
     # - discussion here https://memex.zulipchat.com/#narrow/stream/279601-hpi/topic/extending.20HPI/near/269946944
     from pkgutil import extend_path
+
     parent_module_path[:] = extend_path(parent_module_path, parent_module_name)
     # 'this' source tree ends up first in the pythonpath when we extend_path()
     # so we need to move 'this' source tree towards the end to make sure we prioritize overlays
@@ -52,9 +57,54 @@ def handle_legacy_import(
 
     is_legacy_import = not (imported_as_parent or importing_submodule)
     if is_legacy_import and not autocompleting_module_cli:
-        W.high(f'''\
+        warnings.high(
+            f'''\
 importing {parent_module_name} is DEPRECATED! \
 Instead, import from {parent_module_name}.{legacy_submodule_name} or {parent_module_name}.all \
 See https://github.com/karlicoss/HPI/blob/master/doc/MODULE_DESIGN.org#allpy for more info.
-''')
+'''
+        )
     return is_legacy_import
+
+
+def pre_pip_dal_handler(
+    name: str,
+    e: ModuleNotFoundError,
+    cfg,
+    requires=[],
+) -> ModuleType:
+    '''
+    https://github.com/karlicoss/HPI/issues/79
+    '''
+    if e.name != name:
+        # the module itself was imported, so the problem is with some dependencies
+        raise e
+    try:
+        dal = _get_dal(cfg, name)
+        warnings.high(
+            f'''
+Specifying modules' dependencies in the config or in my/config/repos is deprecated!
+Please install {' '.join(requires)} as PIP packages (see the corresponding README instructions).
+'''.strip(),
+            stacklevel=2,
+        )
+    except ModuleNotFoundError:
+        dal = None
+
+    if dal is None:
+        # probably means there was nothing in the old config in the first place
+        # so we should raise the original exception
+        raise e
+    return dal
+
+
+def _get_dal(cfg, module_name: str):
+    mpath = getattr(cfg, module_name, None)
+    if mpath is not None:
+        from .common import import_dir
+
+        return import_dir(mpath, '.dal')
+    else:
+        from importlib import import_module
+
+        return import_module(f'my.config.repos.{module_name}.dal')
diff --git a/my/fbmessenger/__init__.py b/my/fbmessenger/__init__.py
index 3919c44..40fb235 100644
--- a/my/fbmessenger/__init__.py
+++ b/my/fbmessenger/__init__.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ REQUIRES = [
 ]
 
 
-from my.core.legacy import handle_legacy_import
+from my.core.hpi_compat import handle_legacy_import
 is_legacy_import = handle_legacy_import(
     parent_module_name=__name__,
     legacy_submodule_name='export',
diff --git a/my/github/ghexport.py b/my/github/ghexport.py
index 9eebbf0..d446c35 100644
--- a/my/github/ghexport.py
+++ b/my/github/ghexport.py
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ config = make_config(github, migration=migration)
 try:
     from ghexport import dal
 except ModuleNotFoundError as e:
-    from my.core.compat import pre_pip_dal_handler
+    from my.core.hpi_compat import pre_pip_dal_handler
+
     dal = pre_pip_dal_handler('ghexport', e, config, requires=REQUIRES)
 
 ############################
diff --git a/my/hypothesis.py b/my/hypothesis.py
index 370854a..822fe9d 100644
--- a/my/hypothesis.py
+++ b/my/hypothesis.py
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ config = make_config(hypothesis)
 try:
     from hypexport import dal
 except ModuleNotFoundError as e:
-    from .core.compat import pre_pip_dal_handler
+    from my.core.hpi_compat import pre_pip_dal_handler
+
     dal = pre_pip_dal_handler('hypexport', e, config, requires=REQUIRES)
 
 ############################
diff --git a/my/instapaper.py b/my/instapaper.py
index 1ab62c2..df1f70b 100644
--- a/my/instapaper.py
+++ b/my/instapaper.py
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ config = make_config(instapaper)
 try:
     from instapexport import dal
 except ModuleNotFoundError as e:
-    from .core.compat import pre_pip_dal_handler
+    from my.core.hpi_compat import pre_pip_dal_handler
+
     dal = pre_pip_dal_handler('instapexport', e, config, requires=REQUIRES)
 
 ############################
diff --git a/my/pocket.py b/my/pocket.py
index 912806d..2a7bdcb 100644
--- a/my/pocket.py
+++ b/my/pocket.py
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ config = make_config(pocket)
 try:
     from pockexport import dal
 except ModuleNotFoundError as e:
-    from .core.compat import pre_pip_dal_handler
+    from my.core.hpi_compat import pre_pip_dal_handler
+
     dal = pre_pip_dal_handler('pockexport', e, config, requires=REQUIRES)
 
 ############################
diff --git a/my/reddit/__init__.py b/my/reddit/__init__.py
index 22813f1..e81aaf9 100644
--- a/my/reddit/__init__.py
+++ b/my/reddit/__init__.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ REQUIRES = [
 ]
 
 
-from my.core.legacy import handle_legacy_import
+from my.core.hpi_compat import handle_legacy_import
 is_legacy_import = handle_legacy_import(
     parent_module_name=__name__,
     legacy_submodule_name='rexport',
diff --git a/my/reddit/rexport.py b/my/reddit/rexport.py
index f166ecd..a7be39b 100644
--- a/my/reddit/rexport.py
+++ b/my/reddit/rexport.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ config = make_config(reddit, migration=migration)
 try:
     from rexport import dal
 except ModuleNotFoundError as e:
-    from my.core.compat import pre_pip_dal_handler
+    from my.core.hpi_compat import pre_pip_dal_handler
 
     dal = pre_pip_dal_handler('rexport', e, config, requires=REQUIRES)
 # TODO ugh. this would import too early