diff --git a/synapse/api/urls.py b/synapse/api/urls.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7a6fff7d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/api/urls.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2014 matrix.org
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+"""Contains the URL paths to prefix various aspects of the server with. """
+
+CLIENT_PREFIX = "/matrix/client/api/v1"
+FEDERATION_PREFIX = "/matrix/federation/v1"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index e2489abc8..7c356e785 100644
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ from twisted.web.static import File
 from twisted.web.server import Site
 from synapse.http.server import JsonResource, RootRedirect
 from synapse.http.client import TwistedHttpClient
-from synapse.rest.base import CLIENT_PREFIX
-from synapse.federation.transport import PREFIX
+from synapse.api.urls import CLIENT_PREFIX, FEDERATION_PREFIX
 
 from daemonize import Daemonize
 
@@ -101,7 +100,7 @@ class SynapseHomeServer(HomeServer):
         # [ ("/aaa/bbb/cc", Resource1), ("/aaa/dummy", Resource2) ]
         desired_tree = [
             (CLIENT_PREFIX, self.get_resource_for_client()),
-            (PREFIX, self.get_resource_for_federation())
+            (FEDERATION_PREFIX, self.get_resource_for_federation())
         ]
         if web_client:
             logger.info("Adding the web client.")
diff --git a/synapse/federation/transport.py b/synapse/federation/transport.py
index e09dfc267..50c3df4a5 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/transport.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/transport.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ over a different (albeit still reliable) protocol.
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
+from synapse.api.urls import FEDERATION_PREFIX as PREFIX
 from synapse.util.logutils import log_function
 
 import logging
@@ -33,9 +34,6 @@ import re
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-PREFIX = "/matrix/federation/v1"
-
-
 class TransportLayer(object):
     """This is a basic implementation of the transport layer that translates
     transactions and other requests to/from HTTP.
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/directory.py b/synapse/handlers/directory.py
index df98e39f6..7c89150d9 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/directory.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/directory.py
@@ -20,17 +20,11 @@ from ._base import BaseHandler
 from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
 
 import logging
-import json
-import urllib
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-# TODO(erikj): This needs to be factored out somewere
-PREFIX = "/matrix/client/api/v1"
-
-
 class DirectoryHandler(BaseHandler):
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
diff --git a/synapse/rest/base.py b/synapse/rest/base.py
index 124b3a2e0..6a88cbe86 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/base.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/base.py
@@ -14,10 +14,9 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 """ This module contains base REST classes for constructing REST servlets. """
+from synapse.api.urls import CLIENT_PREFIX
 import re
 
-CLIENT_PREFIX = "/matrix/client/api/v1"
-
 
 def client_path_pattern(path_regex):
     """Creates a regex compiled client path with the correct client path