diff --git a/remote/remote.go b/remote/remote.go
index 14895a31d..1bcbd11e9 100644
--- a/remote/remote.go
+++ b/remote/remote.go
@@ -163,19 +163,8 @@ func HaveLocalState() (bool, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
-	return ExistsFile(path)
-}
 
-// ExistsFile is used to check if a given file exists
-func ExistsFile(path string) (bool, error) {
-	_, err := os.Stat(path)
-	if err == nil {
-		return true, nil
-	}
-	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return false, nil
-	}
-	return false, err
+	return existsFile(path)
 }
 
 // ValidConfig does a purely logical validation of the remote config
@@ -405,7 +394,7 @@ func Persist(r io.Reader) error {
 	backupPath := filepath.Join(cwd, LocalDirectory, BackupHiddenStateFile)
 
 	// Backup the old file if it exists
-	if err := CopyFile(statePath, backupPath); err != nil {
+	if err := copyFile(statePath, backupPath); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Failed to backup state file '%s' to '%s': %v", statePath, backupPath, err)
 	}
 
@@ -425,9 +414,9 @@ func Persist(r io.Reader) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// CopyFile is used to copy from a source file if it exists to a destination.
+// copyFile is used to copy from a source file if it exists to a destination.
 // This is used to create a backup of the state file.
-func CopyFile(src, dst string) error {
+func copyFile(src, dst string) error {
 	srcFH, err := os.Open(src)
 	if err != nil {
 		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
@@ -446,3 +435,15 @@ func CopyFile(src, dst string) error {
 	_, err = io.Copy(dstFH, srcFH)
 	return err
 }
+
+// existsFile is used to check if a given file exists
+func existsFile(path string) (bool, error) {
+	_, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err == nil {
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	return false, err
+}