diff --git a/platformio/util.py b/platformio/util.py
index aef0e68c..4ccd1916 100644
--- a/platformio/util.py
+++ b/platformio/util.py
@@ -815,6 +815,15 @@ def merge_dicts(d1, d2, path=None):
     return d1
 
 
+def get_file_contents(path):
+    try:
+        with open(path) as f:
+            return f.read()
+    except UnicodeDecodeError:
+        with open(path, encoding="latin-1") as f:
+            return f.read()
+
+
 def ensure_udev_rules():
 
     def _rules_to_set(rules_path):
@@ -846,15 +855,6 @@ def ensure_udev_rules():
     return True
 
 
-def get_file_contents(path):
-    try:
-        with open(path) as f:
-            return f.read()
-    except UnicodeDecodeError:
-        with open(path, encoding="latin-1") as f:
-            return f.read()
-
-
 def rmtree_(path):
 
     def _onerror(_, name, __):