diff --git a/mayan/apps/common/utils.py b/mayan/apps/common/utils.py
index 2bd5807a66..e483651420 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/common/utils.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/common/utils.py
@@ -109,19 +109,6 @@ def pretty_size_10(size):
         ])
 
 
-def return_type(value):
-    if isinstance(value, types.FunctionType):
-        return value.__doc__ if value.__doc__ else _('Function found')
-    elif isinstance(value, types.ClassType):
-        return '%s.%s' % (value.__class__.__module__, value.__class__.__name__)
-    elif isinstance(value, types.TypeType):
-        return '%s.%s' % (value.__module__, value.__name__)
-    elif isinstance(value, types.DictType) or isinstance(value, types.DictionaryType):
-        return ', '.join(list(value))
-    else:
-        return value
-
-
 def generate_choices_w_labels(choices):
     results = []
     for choice in choices:
diff --git a/mayan/apps/metadata/settings.py b/mayan/apps/metadata/settings.py
index 0ca8c1709b..a06bc26eea 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/metadata/settings.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/metadata/settings.py
@@ -31,3 +31,5 @@ register_settings(
         {'name': 'AVAILABLE_VALIDATORS', 'global_name': 'METADATA_AVAILABLE_VALIDATORS', 'default': default_available_validators},
     ]
 )
+
+# TODO: remove classes, import by string, all settings must be simple serializable types
diff --git a/mayan/apps/smart_settings/utils.py b/mayan/apps/smart_settings/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..33056e8945
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mayan/apps/smart_settings/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+import types
+
+
+def return_type(value):
+    if isinstance(value, types.FunctionType):
+        return value.__doc__ if value.__doc__ else _('Function found')
+    elif isinstance(value, types.ClassType):
+        return '%s.%s' % (value.__class__.__module__, value.__class__.__name__)
+    elif isinstance(value, types.TypeType):
+        return '%s.%s' % (value.__module__, value.__name__)
+    elif isinstance(value, types.DictType) or isinstance(value, types.DictionaryType):
+        return ', '.join(list(value))
+    else:
+        return value
diff --git a/mayan/apps/smart_settings/views.py b/mayan/apps/smart_settings/views.py
index 6714b12815..8fee01e6ae 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/smart_settings/views.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/smart_settings/views.py
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@ from django.template import RequestContext
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 from django.utils.safestring import mark_safe
 
-from common.utils import encapsulate, return_type
+from common.utils import encapsulate
 from common.widgets import exists_widget
 
 from .api import settings
+from .utils import return_type  # TODO: remove return_type, all settings must be simple types
 
 
 def setting_list(request):