diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/command.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/command.py
index d11907e3ba..3902ccca71 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/command.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/command.py
@@ -138,12 +138,6 @@ class Command:
     def reset(self):
         self.remotedatastores = bb.remotedata.RemoteDatastores(self.cooker)
 
-def split_mc_pn(pn):
-    if pn.startswith("multiconfig:"):
-        _, mc, pn = pn.split(":", 2)
-        return (mc, pn)
-    return ('', pn)
-
 class CommandsSync:
     """
     A class of synchronous commands
@@ -442,7 +436,7 @@ class CommandsSync:
     findProviders.readonly = True
 
     def findBestProvider(self, command, params):
-        (mc, pn) = split_mc_pn(params[0])
+        (mc, pn) = bb.runqueue.split_mc(params[0])
         return command.cooker.findBestProvider(pn, mc)
     findBestProvider.readonly = True
 
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/runqueue.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/runqueue.py
index 3d54c2b88a..5b7dab8d79 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/runqueue.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/runqueue.py
@@ -46,6 +46,12 @@ def split_tid(tid):
     (mc, fn, taskname, _) = split_tid_mcfn(tid)
     return (mc, fn, taskname)
 
+def split_mc(n):
+    if n.startswith("mc:"):
+        _, mc, n = n.split(":", 2)
+        return (mc, n)
+    return ('', n)
+
 def split_tid_mcfn(tid):
     if tid.startswith('mc:'):
         elems = tid.split(':')