diff --git a/bindings/rascal/utils/__init__.py b/bindings/rascal/utils/__init__.py
index 8a9b63aeb..70cb05b88 100644
--- a/bindings/rascal/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/bindings/rascal/utils/__init__.py
@@ -7,27 +7,14 @@
     dump_obj,
     load_obj,
 )
+from .misc import is_notebook
+
+# Warning potential dependency loop: FPS imports models, which imports KRR,
+# which imports this file again
 from .fps import fps, FPSFilter
+
+# function to redirect c++'s standard output to python's one
 from ..lib._rascal.utils import ostream_redirect
-from ..lib import utils
 from copy import deepcopy
 from .cur import CURFilter
 from .scorer import get_score, print_score
-
-# function to redirect c++'s standard output to python's one
-ostream_redirect = utils.__dict__["ostream_redirect"]
-
-
-def is_notebook():
-    from IPython import get_ipython
-
-    try:
-        shell = get_ipython().__class__.__name__
-        if shell == "ZMQInteractiveShell":
-            return True  # Jupyter notebook or qtconsole
-        elif shell == "TerminalInteractiveShell":
-            return False  # Terminal running IPython
-        else:
-            return False  # Other type (?)
-    except NameError:
-        return False  # Probably standard Python interpreter
diff --git a/bindings/rascal/utils/misc.py b/bindings/rascal/utils/misc.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8d77f6c79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bindings/rascal/utils/misc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+"""Miscellaneous useful utilities"""
+
+
+def is_notebook():
+    """Is this being run inside an IPython Notebook?"""
+    from IPython import get_ipython
+
+    try:
+        shell = get_ipython().__class__.__name__
+        if shell == "ZMQInteractiveShell":
+            return True  # Jupyter notebook or qtconsole
+        elif shell == "TerminalInteractiveShell":
+            return False  # Terminal running IPython
+        else:
+            return False  # Other type (?)
+    except NameError:
+        return False  # Probably standard Python interpreter