diff --git a/layers/netutils/reactive/layer_netutils.py b/layers/netutils/reactive/layer_netutils.py
index 7043f19..697e83c 100644
--- a/layers/netutils/reactive/layer_netutils.py
+++ b/layers/netutils/reactive/layer_netutils.py
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 from charmhelpers.core.hookenv import (
-    config,
     status_set,
     action_get,
     action_set,
     action_fail,
-    log,
 )
 
 from charms.reactive import (
@@ -13,8 +11,7 @@
     set_state as set_flag,
     remove_state as remove_flag,
 )
-
-import subprocess
+import charms.sshproxy
 
 
 @when_not('netutils.ready')
@@ -22,6 +19,7 @@
     status_set('active', 'Ready!')
     set_flag('netutils.ready')
 
+
 @when('actions.dig')
 def dig():
     err = ''
@@ -40,7 +38,7 @@
         if nstype:
             cmd += " -t {}".format(nstype)
 
-        result, err = _run(cmd)
+        result, err = charms.sshproxy._run(cmd)
     except:
         action_fail('dig command failed:' + err)
     else:
@@ -48,11 +46,14 @@
     finally:
         remove_flag('actions.dig')
 
+
 @when('actions.nmap')
 def nmap():
     err = ''
     try:
-        result, err = _run('nmap {}'.format(action_get('destination')))
+        result, err = charms.sshproxy._run(
+            'nmap {}'.format(action_get('destination'))
+        )
     except:
         action_fail('nmap command failed:' + err)
     else:
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@
 def ping():
     err = ''
     try:
-        result, err = _run('ping -qc {} {}'.format(
+        result, err = charms.sshproxy._run('ping -qc {} {}'.format(
             action_get('count'), action_get('destination'))
         )
 
@@ -78,11 +79,15 @@
         remove_flag('actions.ping')
 
 
-
 @when('actions.traceroute')
 def traceroute():
     try:
-        result, err = _run('traceroute -m {} {}'.format(action_get('hops'), action_get('destination')))
+        result, err = charms.sshproxy._run(
+            'traceroute -m {} {}'.format(
+                    action_get('hops'),
+                    action_get('destination')
+            )
+        )
     except:
         action_fail('traceroute command failed')
     else:
@@ -90,22 +95,3 @@
         action_set({'output': result})
     finally:
         remove_flag('actions.traceroute')
-
-
-
-def _run(cmd, env=None):
-    if isinstance(cmd, str):
-        cmd = cmd.split() if ' ' in cmd else [cmd]
-
-    log(cmd)
-    p = subprocess.Popen(cmd,
-                         env=env,
-                         stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                         stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
-    stdout, stderr = p.communicate()
-    retcode = p.poll()
-    if retcode > 0:
-        raise subprocess.CalledProcessError(returncode=retcode,
-                                            cmd=cmd,
-                                            output=stderr.decode("utf-8").strip())
-    return (stdout.decode('utf-8'), stderr.decode('utf-8'))