diff --git a/proto/.gitignore b/proto/.gitignore
deleted file mode 100644
index e692b0dd8..000000000
--- a/proto/.gitignore
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-fluent.proto
-
diff --git a/proto/BUILD.bazel b/proto/BUILD.bazel
deleted file mode 100644
index c6faa1341..000000000
--- a/proto/BUILD.bazel
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-load("@rules_python//python:defs.bzl", "py_binary")
-load("@rules_proto//proto:defs.bzl", "proto_library")
-load("@py_deps//:requirements.bzl", "requirement")
-
-py_binary(
-    name = "mypy_protobuf",
-    srcs = [requirement("mypy-protobuf").replace(":pkg", ":mypy_protobuf.py")],
-    visibility = [
-        "//visibility:public",
-    ],
-    deps = [requirement("mypy-protobuf")],
-)
-
-py_binary(
-    name = "protoc_wrapper",
-    srcs = ["protoc_wrapper.py"],
-    visibility = [
-        "//visibility:public",
-    ],
-    deps = [
-        ":mypy_protobuf",
-        "@rules_python//python/runfiles",
-    ],
-)
-
-proto_library(
-    name = "backend_proto_lib",
-    srcs = ["backend.proto"],
-    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
-)
-
-exports_files(["backend.proto"])
diff --git a/pylib/BUILD.bazel b/pylib/BUILD.bazel
index a77bc575c..fd7039906 100644
--- a/pylib/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/pylib/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,44 +1,6 @@
 load("@rules_python//python:defs.bzl", "py_binary", "py_library", "py_test")
 load("@py_deps//:requirements.bzl", "requirement")
 
-py_binary(
-    name = "genbackend",
-    srcs = [
-        "tools/genbackend.py",
-        "//pylib/anki:backend_pb2",
-    ],
-    imports = [
-        ".",
-    ],
-    visibility = [":__subpackages__"],
-    deps = [
-        requirement("black"),
-        requirement("stringcase"),
-        requirement("protobuf"),
-    ],
-)
-
-py_library(
-    name = "hookslib",
-    srcs = ["tools/hookslib.py"],
-    imports = ["tools"],
-    visibility = ["//qt:__pkg__"],
-)
-
-py_binary(
-    name = "genhooks",
-    srcs = [
-        "tools/genhooks.py",
-        "tools/hookslib.py",
-    ],
-    imports = ["."],
-    visibility = [":__subpackages__"],
-    deps = [
-        requirement("black"),
-        requirement("stringcase"),
-    ],
-)
-
 py_test(
     name = "pytest",
     srcs = glob(["tests/*.py"]),
@@ -86,10 +48,11 @@ py_test(
 
 py_test(
     name = "format",
-    srcs = glob([
-        "anki/**/*.py",
+    srcs = [
+        "//pylib/tools:py_files",
+        "//pylib/anki:py_files",
+    ] + glob([
         "tests/**/*.py",
-        "tools/*.py",
     ]),
     args = [
         "$(location .isort.cfg)",
@@ -97,7 +60,6 @@ py_test(
     data = [".isort.cfg"],
     main = "tests/run_format.py",
     deps = [
-        "//pylib/anki",
         requirement("black"),
         requirement("isort"),
     ],
diff --git a/pylib/anki/BUILD.bazel b/pylib/anki/BUILD.bazel
index 46c55ecd7..d11c8ef42 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/pylib/anki/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//rules:copy_file.bzl", "copy_file")
 load("@rules_python//python:defs.bzl", "py_library")
 load("@py_deps//:requirements.bzl", "requirement")
-load("//proto:defs.bzl", "py_proto_library_typed")
+load("//pylib:protobuf.bzl", "py_proto_library_typed")
 load("@rules_python//experimental/python:wheel.bzl", "py_package", "py_wheel")
 load("@bazel_skylib//lib:selects.bzl", "selects")
-load("@bazel_skylib//rules:copy_file.bzl", "copy_file")
 
 copy_file(
     name = "buildinfo",
@@ -15,20 +14,20 @@ copy_file(
 genrule(
     name = "rsbackend_gen",
     outs = ["rsbackend_gen.py"],
-    cmd = "$(location //pylib:genbackend) > $@",
-    tools = ["//pylib:genbackend"],
+    cmd = "$(location //pylib/tools:genbackend) > $@",
+    tools = ["//pylib/tools:genbackend"],
 )
 
 genrule(
     name = "hooks_gen",
     outs = ["hooks_gen.py"],
-    cmd = "$(location //pylib:genhooks) $@",
-    tools = ["//pylib:genhooks"],
+    cmd = "$(location //pylib/tools:genhooks) $@",
+    tools = ["//pylib/tools:genhooks"],
 )
 
 py_proto_library_typed(
     name = "backend_pb2",
-    src = "//proto:backend.proto",
+    src = "//rslib:backend.proto",
     visibility = [
         "//visibility:public",
     ],
@@ -114,3 +113,9 @@ py_wheel(
     version = "0.0.1",
     deps = [":anki_pkg"],
 )
+
+filegroup(
+    name = "py_files",
+    srcs = glob(["**/*.py"]),
+    visibility = ["//pylib:__subpackages__"],
+)
diff --git a/proto/defs.bzl b/pylib/protobuf.bzl
similarity index 92%
rename from proto/defs.bzl
rename to pylib/protobuf.bzl
index 9c30bc5a6..c1c301ae3 100644
--- a/proto/defs.bzl
+++ b/pylib/protobuf.bzl
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ py_proto_library_typed = rule(
         "protoc_wrapper": attr.label(
             executable = True,
             cfg = "exec",
-            default = Label("//proto:protoc_wrapper"),
+            default = Label("//pylib/tools:protoc_wrapper"),
         ),
         "protoc": attr.label(
             executable = True,
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ py_proto_library_typed = rule(
         "mypy_protobuf": attr.label(
             executable = True,
             cfg = "exec",
-            default = Label("//proto:mypy_protobuf"),
+            default = Label("//pylib/tools:mypy_protobuf"),
         ),
     },
 )
diff --git a/pylib/tests/run_format.py b/pylib/tests/run_format.py
index a5da0efc3..51268b273 100644
--- a/pylib/tests/run_format.py
+++ b/pylib/tests/run_format.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         args = []
     else:
         folder = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "..")
+        print(folder)
         os.chdir(folder)
         args = ["--diff", "--check"]
 
diff --git a/pylib/tools/BUILD.bazel b/pylib/tools/BUILD.bazel
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..939c157a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pylib/tools/BUILD.bazel
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+load("@rules_python//python:defs.bzl", "py_binary", "py_library")
+load("@py_deps//:requirements.bzl", "requirement")
+
+py_binary(
+    name = "mypy_protobuf",
+    srcs = [requirement("mypy-protobuf").replace(":pkg", ":mypy_protobuf.py")],
+    visibility = [
+        "//visibility:public",
+    ],
+    deps = [requirement("mypy-protobuf")],
+)
+
+py_binary(
+    name = "protoc_wrapper",
+    srcs = ["protoc_wrapper.py"],
+    visibility = [
+        "//visibility:public",
+    ],
+    deps = [
+        ":mypy_protobuf",
+        "@rules_python//python/runfiles",
+    ],
+)
+
+py_binary(
+    name = "genbackend",
+    srcs = [
+        "genbackend.py",
+        "//pylib/anki:backend_pb2",
+    ],
+    imports = [
+        ".",
+    ],
+    visibility = ["//pylib:__subpackages__"],
+    deps = [
+        requirement("black"),
+        requirement("stringcase"),
+        requirement("protobuf"),
+    ],
+)
+
+py_library(
+    name = "hookslib",
+    srcs = ["hookslib.py"],
+    imports = ["."],
+    visibility = [
+        "//pylib:__subpackages__",
+        "//qt:__pkg__",
+    ],
+)
+
+py_binary(
+    name = "genhooks",
+    srcs = [
+        "genhooks.py",
+        "hookslib.py",
+    ],
+    imports = ["."],
+    visibility = ["//pylib:__subpackages__"],
+    deps = [
+        requirement("black"),
+        requirement("stringcase"),
+    ],
+)
+
+filegroup(
+    name = "py_files",
+    srcs = glob(["*.py"]),
+    visibility = ["//pylib:__subpackages__"],
+)
diff --git a/proto/protoc_wrapper.py b/pylib/tools/protoc_wrapper.py
similarity index 78%
rename from proto/protoc_wrapper.py
rename to pylib/tools/protoc_wrapper.py
index 4f4ffec14..0c4b23dd8 100644
--- a/proto/protoc_wrapper.py
+++ b/pylib/tools/protoc_wrapper.py
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
 # Wrapper for protoc that strips the dirname from the output files,
 # and generates mypy typechecking info.
 
-import sys
-import subprocess
-import shutil
 import os
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import sys
 
 (protoc, mypy_protobuf, proto, outdir) = sys.argv[1:]
 
@@ -20,15 +20,18 @@ pb2_py = without_ext + "_pb2.py"
 pb2_pyi = without_ext + "_pb2.pyi"
 
 # invoke protoc
-subprocess.run([
-    protoc,
-    "--plugin=protoc-gen-mypy="+mypy_protobuf,
-    "--python_out=.",
-    "--mypy_out=.",
-    basename], 
+subprocess.run(
+    [
+        protoc,
+        "--plugin=protoc-gen-mypy=" + mypy_protobuf,
+        "--python_out=.",
+        "--mypy_out=.",
+        basename,
+    ],
     # mypy prints to stderr on success :-(
     stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
-    check=True)
+    check=True,
+)
 
 # move files into output
 shutil.move(pb2_py, outdir + "/" + pb2_py)
diff --git a/qt/BUILD.bazel b/qt/BUILD.bazel
index 864fce01b..ca14f591a 100644
--- a/qt/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/qt/BUILD.bazel
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ py_binary(
     imports = ["."],
     visibility = [":__subpackages__"],
     deps = [
-        "//pylib:hookslib",
+        "//pylib/tools:hookslib",
         requirement("black"),
         requirement("stringcase"),
     ],
diff --git a/rslib/BUILD.bazel b/rslib/BUILD.bazel
index 6552f7502..12fa6063f 100644
--- a/rslib/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/rslib/BUILD.bazel
@@ -25,15 +25,15 @@ cargo_build_script(
     name = "build_script",
     srcs = glob(["build/*.rs"]),
     build_script_env = {
-        "BACKEND_PROTO": "$(execpath //proto:backend.proto)",
-        "PROTOC": "$(execpath @com_google_protobuf//:protoc)",
-        "FTL_FILES": "$(execpath ftl_files.list)",
-        "BUILDINFO": "$(execpath //:buildinfo.txt)",
+        "BACKEND_PROTO": "$(location backend.proto)",
+        "PROTOC": "$(location @com_google_protobuf//:protoc)",
+        "FTL_FILES": "$(location ftl_files.list)",
+        "BUILDINFO": "$(location //:buildinfo.txt)",
     },
     crate_root = "build/main.rs",
     data = all_ftl_files + [
         "ftl_files.list",
-        "//proto:backend.proto",
+        "backend.proto",
         "//:buildinfo.txt",
         "@com_google_protobuf//:protoc",
     ],
@@ -182,3 +182,11 @@ proto_library(
     srcs = ["fluent.proto"],
     visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
 )
+
+proto_library(
+    name = "backend_proto_lib",
+    srcs = ["backend.proto"],
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
+
+exports_files(["backend.proto"])
diff --git a/proto/backend.proto b/rslib/backend.proto
similarity index 100%
rename from proto/backend.proto
rename to rslib/backend.proto
diff --git a/ts/lib/BUILD.bazel b/ts/lib/BUILD.bazel
index 5b659287d..5294681d2 100644
--- a/ts/lib/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/ts/lib/BUILD.bazel
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ protobufjs_ts_library(
 protobufjs_ts_library(
     name = "backend_proto",
     visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
-    deps = ["//proto:backend_proto_lib"],
+    deps = ["//rslib:backend_proto_lib"],
 )
 
 # Anki Library