diff --git a/python/nav/config.py b/python/nav/config.py
index b55dd402ca..4fe1f00d5e 100644
--- a/python/nav/config.py
+++ b/python/nav/config.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from nav.errors import GeneralException
-from nav.util import files, resource_bytes
+from nav.util import resource_files, resource_bytes
 from . import buildconf
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -250,11 +250,11 @@ def _config_resource_walk(source=''):
     """
     source = Path(source)
     current_path = Path('etc') / source
-    for path in files('nav').joinpath(current_path).iterdir():
+    for path in resource_files('nav').joinpath(current_path).iterdir():
         name = path.name
         full_name = current_path / name
         relative_name = str(source / name)
-        if files('nav').joinpath(full_name).is_dir():
+        if resource_files('nav').joinpath(full_name).is_dir():
             for path in _config_resource_walk(source=relative_name):
                 yield str(path)
         else:
diff --git a/python/nav/pgsync.py b/python/nav/pgsync.py
index 7ca81143cc..54d0a8c50a 100755
--- a/python/nav/pgsync.py
+++ b/python/nav/pgsync.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 from nav.db import ConnectionParameters
 from nav.colors import colorize, print_color
 from nav.colors import COLOR_CYAN, COLOR_YELLOW, COLOR_RED, COLOR_GREEN
-from nav.util import files, resource_bytes
+from nav.util import resource_files, resource_bytes
 
 
 def main():
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ def __init__(self, resource_module):
     def _find_change_scripts(self):
         changes_dir = Path('sql/changes')
         scripts = []
-        sql_path = files(self.resource_module).joinpath(changes_dir)
+        sql_path = resource_files(self.resource_module).joinpath(changes_dir)
         for path in sql_path.iterdir():
             filename = path.name
             if self.script_pattern.match(str(filename)):
diff --git a/python/nav/util.py b/python/nav/util.py
index c10f7d28f4..ece1da4558 100644
--- a/python/nav/util.py
+++ b/python/nav/util.py
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@
     from importlib_resources import files, as_file
 
 
+# rename to a better name
+resource_files = files
+del files
+
+
 def gradient(start, stop, steps):
     """Create and return a sequence of steps representing an integer
     gradient from the start value to the stop value.
@@ -517,11 +522,11 @@ def _range_to_str(x, y):
 
 
 def resource_filename(package, filename):
-    ref = files(package) / filename
+    ref = resource_files(package) / filename
     with as_file(ref) as path:
         return str(path)
 
 
 def resource_bytes(package, filename):
-    ref = files(package) / filename
+    ref = resource_files(package) / filename
     return ref.read_bytes()