--- a/hgext3rd/evolve/__init__.py	Tue Mar 07 12:10:05 2017 +0100
+++ b/hgext3rd/evolve/__init__.py	Tue Mar 07 12:27:01 2017 +0100
@@ -113,9 +113,10 @@
 from mercurial.node import nullid
 
 from . import (
+    exchange,
     exthelper,
-    exchange,
     serveronly,
+    utility,
 )
 
 
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@
 # Flags for enabling optional parts of evolve
 commandopt = 'allnewcommands'
 
-obsexcmsg = serveronly.obsexcmsg
+obsexcmsg = utility.obsexcmsg
 
 _pack = struct.pack
 _unpack = struct.unpack

--- a/hgext3rd/evolve/exchange.py	Tue Mar 07 12:10:05 2017 +0100
+++ b/hgext3rd/evolve/exchange.py	Tue Mar 07 12:27:01 2017 +0100
@@ -29,10 +29,11 @@
 from . import (
     exthelper,
     serveronly,
+    utility,
 )
 
 eh = exthelper.exthelper()
-obsexcmsg = serveronly.obsexcmsg
+obsexcmsg = utility.obsexcmsg
 
 def obsexcprg(ui, *args, **kwargs):
     topic = 'obsmarkers exchange'

--- a/hgext3rd/evolve/serveronly.py	Tue Mar 07 12:10:05 2017 +0100
+++ b/hgext3rd/evolve/serveronly.py	Tue Mar 07 12:27:01 2017 +0100
@@ -8,12 +8,16 @@
 For client side usages it is recommended to use the evolve extension for
 improved user interface.'''
 
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 testedwith = '3.3 3.4-rc'
 buglink = 'https://bz.mercurial-scm.org/'
 
 import hashlib
 import struct
 from cStringIO import StringIO
+import sys
+import os
 
 
 from mercurial import (
@@ -43,6 +47,17 @@
 
 from mercurial import pushkey
 
+try:
+    from . import utility
+except ValueError as exc:
+    if exc.message != 'Attempted relative import in non-package':
+        raise
+    # extension imported using direct path
+    sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
+    from evolve import utility
+
+obsexcmsg = utility.obsexcmsg
+
 # specific content also include the wrapping int extsetup
 def _nslist(orig, repo):
     rep = orig(repo)
@@ -53,14 +68,6 @@
 # End of simple4server specific content
 
 
-def obsexcmsg(ui, message, important=False):
-    verbose = ui.configbool('experimental', 'verbose-obsolescence-exchange',
-                            False)
-    if verbose:
-        message = 'OBSEXC: ' + message
-    if important or verbose:
-        ui.status(message)
-
 def _pushobsmarkers(repo, data):
     tr = lock = None
     try:

--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/hgext3rd/evolve/utility.py	Tue Mar 07 12:27:01 2017 +0100
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# Various utility function for the evolve extension
+#
+# Copyright 2017 Pierre-Yves David <pierre-yves.david@ens-lyon.org>
+#
+# This software may be used and distributed according to the terms of the
+# GNU General Public License version 2 or any later version.
+
+def obsexcmsg(ui, message, important=False):
+    verbose = ui.configbool('experimental', 'verbose-obsolescence-exchange',
+                            False)
+    if verbose:
+        message = 'OBSEXC: ' + message
+    if important or verbose:
+        ui.status(message)