diff --git a/fdroidserver/common.py b/fdroidserver/common.py
index ccd65f5a..7fffabb0 100644
--- a/fdroidserver/common.py
+++ b/fdroidserver/common.py
@@ -670,6 +670,14 @@ def get_build_dir(app):
     return os.path.join('build', app.id)
 
 
+def get_head_commit_id(git_repo):
+    """Get git commit ID for HEAD as a str
+
+    repo.head.commit.binsha is a bytearray stored in a str
+    """
+    return hexlify(bytearray(git_repo.head.commit.binsha)).decode()
+
+
 def setup_vcs(app):
     '''checkout code from VCS and return instance of vcs and the build dir'''
     build_dir = get_build_dir(app)
diff --git a/fdroidserver/import.py b/fdroidserver/import.py
index 68520881..42ba55e3 100644
--- a/fdroidserver/import.py
+++ b/fdroidserver/import.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-import binascii
 import git
 import glob
 import json
@@ -266,9 +265,7 @@ def main():
         raise FDroidException("Specify project url.")
 
     app.UpdateCheckMode = 'Tags'
-
-    # repo.head.commit.binsha is a bytearray stored in a str
-    build.commit = binascii.hexlify(bytearray(git_repo.head.commit.binsha)).decode()
+    build.commit = common.get_head_commit_id(git_repo)
 
     # Extract some information...
     paths = get_all_gradle_and_manifests(tmp_importer_dir)