diff --git a/lib/exec/child.go b/lib/exec/child.go
index b80033c..4cb59a0 100644
--- a/lib/exec/child.go
+++ b/lib/exec/child.go
@@ -13,12 +13,11 @@
 	"unicode/utf8"
 
 	"v.io/v23/verror"
-	"v.io/x/ref/lib/exec/consts"
 )
 
 var (
-	ErrNoVersion          = verror.Register(pkgPath+".ErrNoVersion", verror.NoRetry, "{1:}{2:} "+consts.ExecVersionVariable+" environment variable missing{:_}")
-	ErrUnsupportedVersion = verror.Register(pkgPath+".ErrUnsupportedVersion", verror.NoRetry, "{1:}{2:} Unsupported version of v.io/x/ref/lib/exec request by "+consts.ExecVersionVariable+" environment variable{:_}")
+	ErrNoVersion          = verror.Register(pkgPath+".ErrNoVersion", verror.NoRetry, "{1:}{2:} "+ExecVersionVariable+" environment variable missing{:_}")
+	ErrUnsupportedVersion = verror.Register(pkgPath+".ErrUnsupportedVersion", verror.NoRetry, "{1:}{2:} Unsupported version of v.io/x/ref/lib/exec request by "+ExecVersionVariable+" environment variable{:_}")
 
 	errDifferentStatusSent = verror.Register(pkgPath+".errDifferentStatusSent", verror.NoRetry, "{1:}{2:} A different status: {3} has already been sent{:_}")
 	errPartialRead         = verror.Register(pkgPath+".PartialRead", verror.NoRetry, "{1:}{2:} partial read{:_}")
@@ -124,11 +123,11 @@
 func createChildHandle() (*ChildHandle, error) {
 	// TODO(cnicolaou): need to use major.minor.build format for
 	// version #s.
-	switch os.Getenv(consts.ExecVersionVariable) {
+	switch os.Getenv(ExecVersionVariable) {
 	case "":
 		return nil, verror.New(ErrNoVersion, nil)
 	case version1:
-		os.Setenv(consts.ExecVersionVariable, "")
+		os.Setenv(ExecVersionVariable, "")
 	default:
 		return nil, verror.New(ErrUnsupportedVersion, nil)
 	}
diff --git a/lib/exec/consts.go b/lib/exec/consts.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f275d78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/exec/consts.go
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// Copyright 2015 The Vanadium Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package exec
+
+// ExecVersionVariable is the name of the environment variable used by the exec
+// package to communicate the protocol version between the parent and child.  It
+// takes care to clear this variable from the child process' environment as soon
+// as it can, however, there may still be some situations where an application
+// may need to test for its presence or ensure that it doesn't appear in a set
+// of environment variables; exposing the name of this variable is intended to
+// support such situations.
+const ExecVersionVariable = "V23_EXEC_VERSION"
diff --git a/lib/exec/consts/consts.go b/lib/exec/consts/consts.go
deleted file mode 100644
index d6a1f1d..0000000
--- a/lib/exec/consts/consts.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2015 The Vanadium Authors. All rights reserved.
-// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
-// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
-
-// Package consts defines constants used by the exec library.
-package consts
-
-// The exec package uses this environment variable to communicate
-// the version of the protocol being used between the parent and child.
-// It takes care to clear this variable from the child process'
-// environment as soon as it can, however, there may still be some
-// situations where an application may need to test for its presence
-// or ensure that it doesn't appear in a set of environment variables;
-// exposing the name of this variable is intended to support such
-// situations.
-const ExecVersionVariable = "V23_EXEC_VERSION"
diff --git a/lib/exec/exec_test.go b/lib/exec/exec_test.go
index 0eaf7af..10cdb50 100644
--- a/lib/exec/exec_test.go
+++ b/lib/exec/exec_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 
 	"v.io/v23/verror"
 	vexec "v.io/x/ref/lib/exec"
-	"v.io/x/ref/lib/exec/consts"
 	// Use mock timekeeper to avoid actually sleeping during the test.
 	"v.io/x/ref/test/timekeeper"
 )
@@ -459,9 +458,9 @@
 }
 
 func verifyNoExecVariable() {
-	version := os.Getenv(consts.ExecVersionVariable)
+	version := os.Getenv(vexec.ExecVersionVariable)
 	if len(version) != 0 {
-		log.Fatalf("Version variable %q has a value: %s", consts.ExecVersionVariable, version)
+		log.Fatalf("Version variable %q has a value: %s", vexec.ExecVersionVariable, version)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -475,9 +474,9 @@
 	}
 	defer os.Exit(0)
 
-	version := os.Getenv(consts.ExecVersionVariable)
+	version := os.Getenv(vexec.ExecVersionVariable)
 	if len(version) == 0 {
-		log.Fatalf("Version variable %q has no value", consts.ExecVersionVariable)
+		log.Fatalf("Version variable %q has no value", vexec.ExecVersionVariable)
 	}
 
 	// Write errors to stderr or using log. since the parent
diff --git a/lib/exec/noprotocol_test.go b/lib/exec/noprotocol_test.go
index 78564c9..ba0444b 100644
--- a/lib/exec/noprotocol_test.go
+++ b/lib/exec/noprotocol_test.go
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 
 	"v.io/v23/verror"
 	vexec "v.io/x/ref/lib/exec"
-	"v.io/x/ref/lib/exec/consts"
 )
 
 func TestNoExecProtocol(t *testing.T) {
@@ -27,11 +26,11 @@
 	if got, want := ph.WaitForReady(time.Minute), vexec.ErrNotUsingProtocol.ID; verror.ErrorID(got) != want {
 		t.Fatalf("got %v, want %v", got, want)
 	}
-	re := regexp.MustCompile(fmt.Sprintf(".*%s=.*", consts.ExecVersionVariable))
+	re := regexp.MustCompile(fmt.Sprintf(".*%s=.*", vexec.ExecVersionVariable))
 	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(stdout)
 	for scanner.Scan() {
 		if re.MatchString(scanner.Text()) {
-			t.Fatalf("%s passed to child", consts.ExecVersionVariable)
+			t.Fatalf("%s passed to child", vexec.ExecVersionVariable)
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/lib/exec/parent.go b/lib/exec/parent.go
index d011cfb..8431820 100644
--- a/lib/exec/parent.go
+++ b/lib/exec/parent.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 
 	"v.io/x/lib/vlog"
 
-	"v.io/x/ref/lib/exec/consts"
 	"v.io/x/ref/lib/timekeeper"
 )
 
@@ -127,12 +126,12 @@
 // Start starts the child process, sharing a secret with it and
 // setting up a communication channel over which to read its status.
 func (p *ParentHandle) Start() error {
-	// Make sure that there are no instances of the consts.ExecVersionVariable
+	// Make sure that there are no instances of the ExecVersionVariable
 	// already in the environment (which can happen when a subprocess
 	// creates a subprocess etc)
 	nenv := make([]string, 0, len(p.c.Env)+1)
 	for _, e := range p.c.Env {
-		if strings.HasPrefix(e, consts.ExecVersionVariable+"=") {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(e, ExecVersionVariable+"=") {
 			continue
 		}
 		nenv = append(nenv, e)
@@ -142,7 +141,7 @@
 		return p.c.Start()
 	}
 
-	p.c.Env = append(nenv, consts.ExecVersionVariable+"="+version1)
+	p.c.Env = append(nenv, ExecVersionVariable+"="+version1)
 
 	// Create anonymous pipe for communicating data between the child
 	// and the parent.
diff --git a/test/modules/modules_test.go b/test/modules/modules_test.go
index 025a4c0..82a13cc 100644
--- a/test/modules/modules_test.go
+++ b/test/modules/modules_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 
 	"v.io/x/ref/envvar"
 	"v.io/x/ref/lib/exec"
-	execconsts "v.io/x/ref/lib/exec/consts"
 	_ "v.io/x/ref/profiles"
 	vsecurity "v.io/x/ref/security"
 	"v.io/x/ref/test"
@@ -603,7 +602,7 @@
 	}
 
 	for _, want := range childEnv {
-		if want == "\""+execconsts.ExecVersionVariable+"=\"" {
+		if want == "\""+exec.ExecVersionVariable+"=\"" {
 			continue
 		}
 		if !find(want, shEnv) {