diff --git a/core/commands/add.go b/core/commands/add.go
index 2d72b0af82d..8ccd2cbbe17 100644
--- a/core/commands/add.go
+++ b/core/commands/add.go
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ You can now check what blocks have been created by:
 				log.Warning("cannot determine size of input file")
 			}
 
-			_, err := NewCidBaseHandler(req).UseGlobal().Proc()
+			_, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandler(req).UseGlobal().Proc()
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/core/commands/cmdenv/cidbase.go b/core/commands/cmdenv/cidbase.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ab01057c169
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/commands/cmdenv/cidbase.go
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+package cmdenv
+
+import (
+	oldcmds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/commands"
+
+	cidenc "gx/ipfs/QmNWQygwYxgz3QzXG2ytTkrHkZ4HnnSh94ASox3JjktFcR/go-cidutil/cidenc"
+	cmds "gx/ipfs/QmPXR4tNdLbp8HsZiPMjpsgqphX9Vhw2J6Jh5MKH2ovW3D/go-ipfs-cmds"
+	cmdkit "gx/ipfs/QmSP88ryZkHSRn1fnngAaV2Vcn63WUJzAavnRM9CVdU1Ky/go-ipfs-cmdkit"
+	mbase "gx/ipfs/QmekxXDhCxCJRNuzmHreuaT3BsuJcsjcXWNrtV9C8DRHtd/go-multibase"
+)
+
+var OptionCidBase = cmdkit.StringOption("cid-base", "mbase", "Multi-base to use to encode version 1 CIDs in output.")
+var OptionOutputCidV1 = cmdkit.BoolOption("output-cidv1", "Upgrade CID version 0 to version 1 in output.")
+
+type CidBaseHandler struct {
+	base           string
+	upgrade        bool
+	upgradeDefined bool
+	args           []string
+	enc            *cidenc.Encoder
+}
+
+func NewCidBaseHandler(req *cmds.Request) *CidBaseHandler {
+	h := &CidBaseHandler{}
+	h.base, _ = req.Options["cid-base"].(string)
+	h.upgrade, h.upgradeDefined = req.Options["output-cidv1"].(bool)
+	h.args = req.Arguments
+	return h
+}
+
+func NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(req oldcmds.Request) *CidBaseHandler {
+	h := &CidBaseHandler{}
+	h.base, _, _ = req.Option("cid-base").String()
+	h.upgrade, h.upgradeDefined, _ = req.Option("output-cidv1").Bool()
+	h.args = req.Arguments()
+	return h
+}
+
+func (h *CidBaseHandler) UseGlobal() *CidBaseHandler {
+	h.enc = &cidenc.Default
+	return h
+}
+
+func (h *CidBaseHandler) Proc() (*CidBaseHandler, error) {
+	var e cidenc.Encoder = cidenc.Default
+	if h.base != "" {
+		var err error
+		e.Base, err = mbase.EncoderByName(h.base)
+		if err != nil {
+			return h, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	e.Upgrade = h.upgrade
+	if h.base != "" && !h.upgradeDefined {
+		e.Upgrade = true
+	}
+
+	if h.enc == nil {
+		h.enc = &cidenc.Encoder{}
+	}
+	*h.enc = e
+	return h, nil
+}
+
+func (h *CidBaseHandler) Encoder() cidenc.Encoder {
+	return *h.enc
+}
+
+func (h *CidBaseHandler) EncoderFromPath(p string) cidenc.Encoder {
+	if h.base == "" {
+		enc, _ := cidenc.FromPath(*h.enc, p)
+		return enc
+	} else {
+		return *h.enc
+	}
+}
+
+func (h *CidBaseHandler) EncoderWithOverride() cidenc.Interface {
+	if h.base == "" {
+		enc := cidenc.NewOverride(*h.enc)
+		enc.Add(h.args...)
+		return enc
+	} else {
+		return *h.enc
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/commands/files.go b/core/commands/files.go
index dc1265acadb..07bbf377349 100644
--- a/core/commands/files.go
+++ b/core/commands/files.go
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ var filesStatCmd = &cmds.Command{
 	},
 	Encoders: cmds.EncoderMap{
 		cmds.Text: cmds.MakeEncoder(func(req *cmds.Request, w io.Writer, v interface{}) error {
-			_, err := NewCidBaseHandler(req).UseGlobal().Proc()
+			_, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandler(req).UseGlobal().Proc()
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ Examples:
 	},
 	Marshalers: oldcmds.MarshalerMap{
 		oldcmds.Text: func(res oldcmds.Response) (io.Reader, error) {
-			_, err := NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
+			_, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
diff --git a/core/commands/filestore.go b/core/commands/filestore.go
index fd5509e669d..f45fab745af 100644
--- a/core/commands/filestore.go
+++ b/core/commands/filestore.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ The output is:
 	},
 	PostRun: cmds.PostRunMap{
 		cmds.CLI: func(res cmds.Response, re cmds.ResponseEmitter) error {
-			_, err := NewCidBaseHandler(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
+			_, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandler(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ For ERROR entries the error will also be printed to stderr.
 	},
 	Marshalers: oldCmds.MarshalerMap{
 		oldCmds.Text: func(res oldCmds.Response) (io.Reader, error) {
-			_, err := NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
+			_, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ var dupsFileStore = &oldCmds.Command{
 			return
 		}
 
-		h, err := NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(req).Proc()
+		h, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(req).Proc()
 		if err != nil {
 			res.SetError(err, cmdkit.ErrNormal)
 			return
diff --git a/core/commands/ls.go b/core/commands/ls.go
index d39ff0374bf..5f422aa8152 100644
--- a/core/commands/ls.go
+++ b/core/commands/ls.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 	cmds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/commands"
 	core "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core"
+	cmdenv "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/cmdenv"
 	e "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/e"
 	unixfs "gx/ipfs/QmPL8bYtbACcSFFiSr4s2du7Na382NxRADR8hC7D9FkEA2/go-unixfs"
 	uio "gx/ipfs/QmPL8bYtbACcSFFiSr4s2du7Na382NxRADR8hC7D9FkEA2/go-unixfs/io"
@@ -173,7 +174,7 @@ The JSON output contains type information.
 	},
 	Marshalers: cmds.MarshalerMap{
 		cmds.Text: func(res cmds.Response) (io.Reader, error) {
-			_, err := NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
+			_, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
diff --git a/core/commands/pin.go b/core/commands/pin.go
index 22776de27a8..f9bfb376dbe 100644
--- a/core/commands/pin.go
+++ b/core/commands/pin.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 	cmds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/commands"
 	core "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core"
+	cmdenv "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/cmdenv"
 	e "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/e"
 	corerepo "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/corerepo"
 	pin "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/pin"
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ var addPinCmd = &cmds.Command{
 	},
 	Marshalers: cmds.MarshalerMap{
 		cmds.Text: func(res cmds.Response) (io.Reader, error) {
-			_, err := NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
+			_, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@ collected if needed. (By default, recursively. Use -r=false for direct pins.)
 	},
 	Marshalers: cmds.MarshalerMap{
 		cmds.Text: func(res cmds.Response) (io.Reader, error) {
-			_, err := NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
+			_, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
diff --git a/core/commands/refs.go b/core/commands/refs.go
index 4088b09b4b6..b75a4afe084 100644
--- a/core/commands/refs.go
+++ b/core/commands/refs.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 	cmds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/commands"
 	"github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core"
+	cmdenv "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/cmdenv"
 	e "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/e"
 	cidenc "gx/ipfs/QmNWQygwYxgz3QzXG2ytTkrHkZ4HnnSh94ASox3JjktFcR/go-cidutil/cidenc"
 
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ NOTE: List all references recursively by using the flag '-r'.
 			format = "<src> -> <dst>"
 		}
 
-		h, err := NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(req).Proc()
+		h, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(req).Proc()
 		if err != nil {
 			res.SetError(err, cmdkit.ErrNormal)
 			return
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ Displays the hashes of all local objects.
 			return
 		}
 
-		h, err := NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(req).Proc()
+		h, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(req).Proc()
 		if err != nil {
 			res.SetError(err, cmdkit.ErrNormal)
 			return
@@ -213,7 +214,7 @@ Displays the hashes of all local objects.
 
 var refsMarshallerMap = cmds.MarshalerMap{
 	cmds.Text: func(res cmds.Response) (io.Reader, error) {
-		_, err := NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
+		_, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
diff --git a/core/commands/resolve.go b/core/commands/resolve.go
index 451cdb9cffe..dddc7e71fb5 100644
--- a/core/commands/resolve.go
+++ b/core/commands/resolve.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ Resolve the value of an IPFS DAG path:
 		name := req.Arguments[0]
 		recursive, _ := req.Options["recursive"].(bool)
 
-		h, err := NewCidBaseHandler(req).Proc()
+		h, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandler(req).Proc()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/core/commands/root.go b/core/commands/root.go
index ffc188271af..419aa5318dc 100644
--- a/core/commands/root.go
+++ b/core/commands/root.go
@@ -7,17 +7,16 @@ import (
 
 	oldcmds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/commands"
 	lgc "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/commands/legacy"
+	cmdenv "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/cmdenv"
 	dag "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/dag"
 	e "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/e"
 	name "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/name"
 	ocmd "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/object"
 	unixfs "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/unixfs"
-	cidenc "gx/ipfs/QmNWQygwYxgz3QzXG2ytTkrHkZ4HnnSh94ASox3JjktFcR/go-cidutil/cidenc"
 
 	"gx/ipfs/QmPXR4tNdLbp8HsZiPMjpsgqphX9Vhw2J6Jh5MKH2ovW3D/go-ipfs-cmds"
 	logging "gx/ipfs/QmRREK2CAZ5Re2Bd9zZFG6FeYDppUWt5cMgsoUEp3ktgSr/go-log"
 	"gx/ipfs/QmSP88ryZkHSRn1fnngAaV2Vcn63WUJzAavnRM9CVdU1Ky/go-ipfs-cmdkit"
-	mbase "gx/ipfs/QmekxXDhCxCJRNuzmHreuaT3BsuJcsjcXWNrtV9C8DRHtd/go-multibase"
 )
 
 var log = logging.Logger("core/commands")
@@ -25,9 +24,7 @@ var log = logging.Logger("core/commands")
 var ErrNotOnline = errors.New("this command must be run in online mode. Try running 'ipfs daemon' first")
 
 const (
-	ApiOption         = "api"
-	CidBaseOption     = "cid-base"
-	OutputCidV1Option = "output-cidv1"
+	ApiOption = "api"
 )
 
 var Root = &cmds.Command{
@@ -99,10 +96,11 @@ The CLI will exit with one of the following values:
 		cmdkit.BoolOption("h", "Show a short version of the command help text."),
 		cmdkit.BoolOption("local", "L", "Run the command locally, instead of using the daemon."),
 		cmdkit.StringOption(ApiOption, "Use a specific API instance (defaults to /ip4/127.0.0.1/tcp/5001)"),
-		cmdkit.StringOption(CidBaseOption, "mbase", "Multi-base to use to encode version 1 CIDs in output."),
-		cmdkit.BoolOption(OutputCidV1Option, "Upgrade CID version 0 to version 1 in output."),
 
 		// global options, added to every command
+		cmdenv.OptionCidBase,
+		cmdenv.OptionOutputCidV1,
+
 		cmds.OptionEncodingType,
 		cmds.OptionStreamChannels,
 		cmds.OptionTimeout,
@@ -228,77 +226,3 @@ func MessageTextMarshaler(res oldcmds.Response) (io.Reader, error) {
 
 	return strings.NewReader(out.Message), nil
 }
-
-type CidBaseHandler struct {
-	base           string
-	upgrade        bool
-	upgradeDefined bool
-	args           []string
-	enc            *cidenc.Encoder
-}
-
-func NewCidBaseHandler(req *cmds.Request) *CidBaseHandler {
-	h := &CidBaseHandler{}
-	h.base, _ = req.Options[CidBaseOption].(string)
-	h.upgrade, h.upgradeDefined = req.Options[OutputCidV1Option].(bool)
-	h.args = req.Arguments
-	return h
-}
-
-func NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(req oldcmds.Request) *CidBaseHandler {
-	h := &CidBaseHandler{}
-	h.base, _, _ = req.Option(CidBaseOption).String()
-	h.upgrade, h.upgradeDefined, _ = req.Option(OutputCidV1Option).Bool()
-	h.args = req.Arguments()
-	return h
-}
-
-func (h *CidBaseHandler) UseGlobal() *CidBaseHandler {
-	h.enc = &cidenc.Default
-	return h
-}
-
-func (h *CidBaseHandler) Proc() (*CidBaseHandler, error) {
-	var e cidenc.Encoder = cidenc.Default
-	if h.base != "" {
-		var err error
-		e.Base, err = mbase.EncoderByName(h.base)
-		if err != nil {
-			return h, err
-		}
-	}
-
-	e.Upgrade = h.upgrade
-	if h.base != "" && !h.upgradeDefined {
-		e.Upgrade = true
-	}
-
-	if h.enc == nil {
-		h.enc = &cidenc.Encoder{}
-	}
-	*h.enc = e
-	return h, nil
-}
-
-func (h *CidBaseHandler) Encoder() cidenc.Encoder {
-	return *h.enc
-}
-
-func (h *CidBaseHandler) EncoderFromPath(p string) cidenc.Encoder {
-	if h.base == "" {
-		enc, _ := cidenc.FromPath(*h.enc, p)
-		return enc
-	} else {
-		return *h.enc
-	}
-}
-
-func (h *CidBaseHandler) EncoderWithOverride() cidenc.Interface {
-	if h.base == "" {
-		enc := cidenc.NewOverride(*h.enc)
-		enc.Add(h.args...)
-		return enc
-	} else {
-		return *h.enc
-	}
-}
diff --git a/core/commands/tar.go b/core/commands/tar.go
index d1a6d2d68c9..1eb405cf223 100644
--- a/core/commands/tar.go
+++ b/core/commands/tar.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	cmds "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/commands"
 	core "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core"
+	cmdenv "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/cmdenv"
 	e "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/commands/e"
 	"github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreunix"
 	tar "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/tar"
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ represent it.
 	Type: coreunix.AddedObject{},
 	Marshalers: cmds.MarshalerMap{
 		cmds.Text: func(res cmds.Response) (io.Reader, error) {
-			_, err := NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
+			_, err := cmdenv.NewCidBaseHandlerLegacy(res.Request()).UseGlobal().Proc()
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}