diff --git a/core/audio.cpp b/core/audio.cpp
index c2f6307f..a83ee1b2 100644
--- a/core/audio.cpp
+++ b/core/audio.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ static AudioDriver *cur_driver = NULL;
 
 static void save_state()
 {
-	f_cur_track.open(OPEN_WRITE);
+	file_open(&f_cur_track, OPEN_WRITE);
 	f_cur_track << cur_track->index() << std::endl;
 	f_cur_track.close();
 }
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ void audio :: init()
 	unsigned int id;
 
 	if (file_exists(&f_cur_track)) {
-		f_cur_track.open(OPEN_READ);
+		file_open(&f_cur_track, OPEN_READ);
 		f_cur_track >> id;
 		f_cur_track.close();
 		audio :: load_track(tags :: get_track(id));
diff --git a/core/deck.cpp b/core/deck.cpp
index 636a05bf..22659aa1 100644
--- a/core/deck.cpp
+++ b/core/deck.cpp
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ void deck :: init()
 	bool upgraded = false;
 	std::list<TempQueue>::iterator it;
 
-	if (!deck_file.open(OPEN_READ))
+	if (!file_open(&deck_file, OPEN_READ))
 		return;
 
 	if (file_version(&deck_file) == 0) {
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ void deck :: write()
 {
 	std::list<TempQueue>::iterator it;
 
-	if (!deck_file.open(OPEN_WRITE))
+	if (!file_open(&deck_file, OPEN_WRITE))
 		return;
 
 	deck_file << queue_deck.size() << std :: endl;
diff --git a/core/file.cpp b/core/file.cpp
index 752c4f36..10e7d40c 100644
--- a/core/file.cpp
+++ b/core/file.cpp
@@ -92,14 +92,15 @@ static bool __file_open_write(struct file *file)
 	return true;
 }
 
-bool file :: open(OpenMode mode)
+bool file_open(struct file *file, OpenMode mode)
 {
-	if ((f_name == "") || (mode == NOT_OPEN) || (f_mode != NOT_OPEN))
+	if ((file->f_name == "") || (mode == NOT_OPEN) ||
+	    (file->f_mode != NOT_OPEN))
 		return false;
 
 	if (mode == OPEN_READ)
-		return __file_open_read(this);
-	return __file_open_write(this);
+		return __file_open_read(file);
+	return __file_open_write(file);
 }
 
 void file :: close()
diff --git a/core/library.cpp b/core/library.cpp
index c83f81bf..8173d851 100644
--- a/core/library.cpp
+++ b/core/library.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ public:
 	{
 		std::vector<struct sort_info>::iterator it;
 
-		f.open(OPEN_WRITE);
+		file_open(&f, OPEN_WRITE);
 		f << _flags << " " << _sort_order.size();
 		for (it = _sort_order.begin(); it != _sort_order.end(); it++)
 			f << " " << it->field << " " << it->ascending;
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ public:
 		bool ascending;
 		unsigned int n;
 
-		if (!f.open(OPEN_READ))
+		if (!file_open(&f, OPEN_READ))
 			return;
 
 		f >> _flags >> n;
diff --git a/include/core/database.hpp b/include/core/database.hpp
index ae7be39f..7f6c8a37 100644
--- a/include/core/database.hpp
+++ b/include/core/database.hpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Database<T> :: ~Database()
 template <class T>
 void Database<T> :: save()
 {
-	if (_file.open(OPEN_WRITE) == false)
+	if (file_open(&_file, OPEN_WRITE) == false)
 		return;
 
 	_file << actual_size() << std::endl;
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ void Database<T> :: load()
 
 	if (file_exists(&_file) == false)
 		return;
-	else if (_file.open(OPEN_READ) == false)
+	else if (file_open(&_file, OPEN_READ) == false)
 		return;
 
 	_file >> db_size;
diff --git a/include/core/file.h b/include/core/file.h
index 8af9f807..27be3141 100644
--- a/include/core/file.h
+++ b/include/core/file.h
@@ -61,28 +61,6 @@ struct file : public std::fstream {
 	 */
 	~file();
 
-	/**
-	 * Call to open a file for either reading or writing.
-	 *
-	 * When opening a file for reading:
-	 * -# Check if the file exists.
-	 * -# Open the file stream.
-	 * -# Read in File::_prev_version from the start of the file.
-	 *
-	 * When opening a file for writing:
-	 * -# Create missing directories as needed.
-	 * -# Write File::_version to the start of the file.
-	 *
-	 * @param  mode  How the file should be opened.
-	 * @return True if the open was successful.
-	 * @return False under the following conditions:
-	 *         - File::_filename is unset
-	 *         - mode is ::NOT_OPEN
-	 *         - The file is already open (File::_mode != NOT_OPEN)
-	 *         - The file does not exist (mode == ::OPEN_READ)
-	 */
-	bool open(OpenMode);
-
 	/**
 	 * Close an open file and set File::mode to ::NOT_OPEN.
 	 */
@@ -108,5 +86,22 @@ const unsigned int file_version(struct file *);
 /* Returns true if the file exists on disk and false otherwise. */
 bool file_exists(struct file *);
 
+/*
+ * Call to open a file for either reading or writing.  Callers
+ * are expected to call file_close() when IO is completed.
+ *
+ * When opening a file for reading (OPEN_READ):
+ * - Check if the file exists.
+ * - Read in file->_prev_version from the start of the file.
+ *
+ * When opening a file for writing (OPEN_WRITE):
+ * - Create missing directories as needed.
+ * - Write file->_version to the start of the file.
+ *
+ * Returns true if the open was successful and false otherwise.
+ */
+bool file_open(struct file *, OpenMode);
+
+
 
 #endif /* OCARINA_CORE_FILE_H */
diff --git a/tests/core/deck.cpp b/tests/core/deck.cpp
index 7cdb631c..c46ed475 100644
--- a/tests/core/deck.cpp
+++ b/tests/core/deck.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ static void test_init()
 	/*
 	 * Test that we saved the deck in the new format
 	 */
-	f.open(OPEN_READ);
+	file_open(&f, OPEN_READ);
 	test_equal(file_version(&f), (unsigned)1);
 	f >> val; /* number of queues */
 	test_equal(val, (unsigned)2);
diff --git a/tests/core/file.cpp b/tests/core/file.cpp
index 8b6ce057..23d9c286 100644
--- a/tests/core/file.cpp
+++ b/tests/core/file.cpp
@@ -29,14 +29,15 @@ static void test_open()
 {
 	file a("", 0);
 
-	test_equal(a.open(OPEN_READ), false);
-	test_equal(a.open(OPEN_WRITE), false);
+	test_equal(file_open(&a, OPEN_READ), false);
+	test_equal(file_open(&a, OPEN_WRITE), false);
 
 	file b("file.txt", 0);
-	test_equal(b.open(NOT_OPEN), false);
-	test_equal(b.open(OPEN_READ), false);
-	test_equal(b.open(OPEN_WRITE), true);
-	test_equal(b.open(OPEN_WRITE), false);
+	test_equal(file_open(&b, NOT_OPEN), false);
+	test_equal(file_open(&b, OPEN_READ), false);
+	test_equal(file_open(&b, OPEN_WRITE), true);
+	test_equal(b.f_mode, OPEN_WRITE);
+	test_equal(file_open(&b, OPEN_WRITE), false);
 	b.close();
 
 	test_equal(test_data_file_exists("file.txt"), true);
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ static void test_io()
 {
 	file a("file.txt", 1);
 
-	test_equal(a.open(OPEN_WRITE), true);
+	test_equal(file_open(&a, OPEN_WRITE), true);
 	a << "ABCDE FGHIJ   KLMNO PQRST UVWXYZ" << std::endl;
 	a.close();
 	test_equal(file_exists(&a), true);
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ static void test_io()
 	file b("file.txt", 0);
 	std::string res;
 
-	test_equal(b.open(OPEN_READ), true);
+	test_equal(file_open(&b, OPEN_READ), true);
 	test_equal(file_version(&b), (unsigned)1);
 	b >> res;
 	test_equal(res, (std::string)"ABCDE");
diff --git a/tests/core/queue.cpp b/tests/core/queue.cpp
index 0d4acf6c..51df8c0e 100644
--- a/tests/core/queue.cpp
+++ b/tests/core/queue.cpp
@@ -287,11 +287,11 @@ void test_saving()
 
 	test_fill_q(&q);
 
-	f.open(OPEN_WRITE);
+	file_open(&f, OPEN_WRITE);
 	q.write(f);
 	f.close();
 
-	f.open(OPEN_READ);
+	file_open(&f, OPEN_READ);
 	r.read(f);
 	f.close();
 
diff --git a/tests/core/tags/album.cpp b/tests/core/tags/album.cpp
index dec65abf..24b499d2 100644
--- a/tests/core/tags/album.cpp
+++ b/tests/core/tags/album.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ static void test_album_tag()
 	test_equal(album.year(),        (unsigned int)1998);
 	test_equal(album.primary_key(), (std::string)"1998/Hyrule Symphony");
 
-	f.open(OPEN_WRITE);
+	file_open(&f, OPEN_WRITE);
 	album.write(f);
 	f.close();
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ static void test_album_tag()
 	test_equal(album.year(),        (unsigned int)0);
 	test_equal(album.primary_key(), (std::string)"0/");
 
-	f.open(OPEN_READ);
+	file_open(&f, OPEN_READ);
 	album.read(f);
 	f.close();
 
diff --git a/tests/core/tags/generic.cpp b/tests/core/tags/generic.cpp
index e8457aee..5f0d7dfb 100644
--- a/tests/core/tags/generic.cpp
+++ b/tests/core/tags/generic.cpp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ static void test_generic_tag()
 	test_equal(tag.lowercase(),   (std::string)"generic tag");
 	test_equal(tag.primary_key(), (std::string)"Generic Tag");
 
-	f.open(OPEN_WRITE);
+	file_open(&f, OPEN_WRITE);
 	tag.write(f);
 	f.close();
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ static void test_generic_tag()
 	test_equal(tag.lowercase(),   (std::string)"");
 	test_equal(tag.primary_key(), (std::string)"");
 
-	f.open(OPEN_READ);
+	file_open(&f, OPEN_READ);
 	tag.read(f);
 	f.close();
 
diff --git a/tests/core/tags/library.cpp b/tests/core/tags/library.cpp
index b2e9451f..6e0383f2 100644
--- a/tests/core/tags/library.cpp
+++ b/tests/core/tags/library.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ static void test_library_tag()
 	test_equal(library.size(), (unsigned)21);
 
 
-	f.open(OPEN_WRITE);
+	file_open(&f, OPEN_WRITE);
 	library.write(f);
 	f.close();
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ static void test_library_tag()
 	test_equal(library.size(), (unsigned)0);
 	test_equal(library.enabled(), false);
 
-	f.open(OPEN_READ);
+	file_open(&f, OPEN_READ);
 	library.read(f);
 	f.close();
 
diff --git a/tests/core/tags/track.cpp b/tests/core/tags/track.cpp
index 37625c25..cfc3a2d2 100644
--- a/tests/core/tags/track.cpp
+++ b/tests/core/tags/track.cpp
@@ -72,11 +72,11 @@ static void test_track_tag_constructor()
 
 	verify_track_tag(&a, 1);
 
-	f.open(OPEN_WRITE);
+	file_open(&f, OPEN_WRITE);
 	a.write(f);
 	f.close();
 
-	f.open(OPEN_READ);
+	file_open(&f, OPEN_READ);
 	b.read(f);
 	f.close();