diff --git a/context.go b/context.go
index 902eaa92c..f746d6e59 100644
--- a/context.go
+++ b/context.go
@@ -5,13 +5,12 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"runtime"
 	"strings"
-	"unicode"
 
 	"github.com/rsteube/carapace/internal/common"
 	"github.com/rsteube/carapace/internal/env"
 	"github.com/rsteube/carapace/internal/shell/zsh"
+	"github.com/rsteube/carapace/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/rsteube/carapace/third_party/github.com/drone/envsubst"
 	"github.com/rsteube/carapace/third_party/golang.org/x/sys/execabs"
 )
@@ -122,24 +121,10 @@ func expandHome(s string) (string, error) {
 	return s, nil
 }
 
-// hasVolumePrefix checks if given path has a volume prefix (only for GOOS=windows)
-func hasVolumePrefix(path string) bool {
-	switch {
-	case runtime.GOOS != "windows":
-		return false
-	case len(path) < 2:
-		return false
-	case unicode.IsLetter(rune(path[0])) && path[1] == ':':
-		return true
-	default:
-		return false
-	}
-}
-
 // Abs returns an absolute representation of path.
 func (c Context) Abs(path string) (string, error) {
 	path = filepath.ToSlash(path)
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(path, "/") && !strings.HasPrefix(path, "~") && !hasVolumePrefix(path) { // path is relative
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(path, "/") && !strings.HasPrefix(path, "~") && !util.HasVolumePrefix(path) { // path is relative
 		switch c.Dir {
 		case "":
 			path = "./" + path
@@ -153,7 +138,7 @@ func (c Context) Abs(path string) (string, error) {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	if len(path) == 2 && hasVolumePrefix(path) {
+	if len(path) == 2 && util.HasVolumePrefix(path) {
 		path += "/" // prevent `C:` -> `C:./current/working/directory`
 	}
 	result, err := filepath.Abs(path)
diff --git a/internalActions.go b/internalActions.go
index 35443c980..5b5c87456 100644
--- a/internalActions.go
+++ b/internalActions.go
@@ -9,12 +9,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/rsteube/carapace/internal/common"
 	"github.com/rsteube/carapace/internal/pflagfork"
 	"github.com/rsteube/carapace/pkg/style"
+	"github.com/rsteube/carapace/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
 func actionPath(fileSuffixes []string, dirOnly bool) Action {
 	return ActionCallback(func(c Context) Action {
-		if len(c.Value) == 2 && hasVolumePrefix(c.Value) {
+		if len(c.Value) == 2 && util.HasVolumePrefix(c.Value) {
 			// TODO should be fixed in Abs or wherever this is happening
 			return ActionValues(c.Value + "/") // prevent `C:` -> `C:.`
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/util/util.go b/pkg/util/util.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..34910afc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/util/util.go
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package util
+
+// TODO rename package update/optimize functions
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+	"unicode"
+)
+
+// FindReverse traverses the filetree upwards to find given file/directory.
+func FindReverse(path string, name string) (target string, err error) {
+	var absPath string
+	if absPath, err = filepath.Abs(path); err == nil {
+		target = absPath + "/" + name
+		if _, err = os.Stat(target); err != nil {
+			parent := filepath.Dir(absPath)
+			if parent != path {
+				return FindReverse(parent, name)
+			} else {
+				err = errors.New("could not find: " + name)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+// HasPathPrefix checks if given string has a path prefix.
+func HasPathPrefix(s string) bool {
+	return strings.HasPrefix(s, ".") ||
+		strings.HasPrefix(s, "/") ||
+		strings.HasPrefix(s, "~") ||
+		HasVolumePrefix(s)
+}
+
+// HasVolumePrefix checks if given path has a volume prefix (only for GOOS=windows).
+func HasVolumePrefix(s string) bool {
+	switch {
+	case runtime.GOOS != "windows":
+		return false
+	case len(s) < 2:
+		return false
+	case unicode.IsLetter(rune(s[0])) && s[1] == ':':
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}