diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
index ddf67b98..e99b8609 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
@@ -2,10 +2,8 @@ package commands
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"io/ioutil"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/node"
@@ -49,21 +47,6 @@ func AddNodeFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 	cmd.Flags().Bool("p2p.pex", config.P2P.PexReactor, "Enable Peer-Exchange (dev feature)")
 }
 
-func ParseGenesisFile(genDocFile string) (*types.GenesisDoc, error) {
-	jsonBlob, err := ioutil.ReadFile(genDocFile)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Couldn't read GenesisDoc file")
-	}
-	genDoc, err := types.GenesisDocFromJSON(jsonBlob)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Error reading GenesisDoc")
-	}
-	if genDoc.ChainID == "" {
-		return nil, errors.Errorf("Genesis doc %v must include non-empty chain_id", genDocFile)
-	}
-	return genDoc, nil
-}
-
 // Users wishing to:
 //	* Use an external signer for their validators
 //	* Supply an in-proc abci app
@@ -82,7 +65,7 @@ func runNode(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		time.Sleep(time.Second)
 	}
 
-	genDoc, err := ParseGenesisFile(genDocFile)
+	genDoc, err := types.GenesisDocFromFile(genDocFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/types/genesis.go b/types/genesis.go
index 721bc098..8698dacb 100644
--- a/types/genesis.go
+++ b/types/genesis.go
@@ -2,8 +2,11 @@ package types
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+
 	"github.com/tendermint/go-crypto"
 	"github.com/tendermint/go-wire/data"
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
@@ -51,8 +54,25 @@ func (genDoc *GenesisDoc) ValidatorHash() []byte {
 //------------------------------------------------------------
 // Make genesis state from file
 
+// GenesisDocFromJSON unmarshalls JSON data into a GenesisDoc.
 func GenesisDocFromJSON(jsonBlob []byte) (*GenesisDoc, error) {
 	genDoc := GenesisDoc{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal(jsonBlob, &genDoc)
 	return &genDoc, err
 }
+
+// GenesisDocFromFile reads JSON data from a file and unmarshalls it into a GenesisDoc.
+func GenesisDocFromFile(genDocFile string) (*GenesisDoc, error) {
+	jsonBlob, err := ioutil.ReadFile(genDocFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Couldn't read GenesisDoc file")
+	}
+	genDoc, err := GenesisDocFromJSON(jsonBlob)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Error reading GenesisDoc")
+	}
+	if genDoc.ChainID == "" {
+		return nil, errors.Errorf("Genesis doc %v must include non-empty chain_id", genDocFile)
+	}
+	return genDoc, nil
+}