diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 842795b..704a0d8 100755
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ BINARY_NAME = batctl
 OBJ_BISECT = bisect_iv.o
 
 OBJ += bat-hosts.o
+OBJ += backbonetable.o
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_BATCTL_BISECT),y)
 OBJ += $(OBJ_BISECT)
 endif
diff --git a/backbonetable.c b/backbonetable.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2512142
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backbonetable.c
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+/* Copyright (C) 2009-2018  B.A.T.M.A.N. contributors:
+ *
+ * Marek Lindner <mareklindner@neomailbox.ch>
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of version 2 of the GNU General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+ * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
+ * General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA
+ * 02110-1301, USA
+ *
+ * License-Filename: LICENSES/preferred/GPL-2.0
+ */
+
+#include <netlink/netlink.h>
+#include <netlink/genl/genl.h>
+#include <netlink/genl/ctrl.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+#include "batadv_packet.h"
+#include "batman_adv.h"
+#include "bat-hosts.h"
+#include "debug.h"
+#include "functions.h"
+#include "main.h"
+#include "netlink.h"
+
+static const int bla_backbone_mandatory[] = {
+	BATADV_ATTR_BLA_VID,
+	BATADV_ATTR_BLA_BACKBONE,
+	BATADV_ATTR_BLA_CRC,
+	BATADV_ATTR_LAST_SEEN_MSECS,
+};
+
+static int bla_backbone_callback(struct nl_msg *msg, void *arg)
+{
+	struct nlattr *attrs[BATADV_ATTR_MAX+1];
+	struct nlmsghdr *nlh = nlmsg_hdr(msg);
+	int last_seen_msecs, last_seen_secs;
+	struct print_opts *opts = arg;
+	struct bat_host *bat_host;
+	struct genlmsghdr *ghdr;
+	uint16_t backbone_crc;
+	uint8_t *backbone;
+	uint16_t vid;
+
+	if (!genlmsg_valid_hdr(nlh, 0)) {
+		fputs("Received invalid data from kernel.\n", stderr);
+		exit(1);
+	}
+
+	ghdr = nlmsg_data(nlh);
+
+	if (ghdr->cmd != BATADV_CMD_GET_BLA_BACKBONE)
+		return NL_OK;
+
+	if (nla_parse(attrs, BATADV_ATTR_MAX, genlmsg_attrdata(ghdr, 0),
+		      genlmsg_len(ghdr), batadv_netlink_policy)) {
+		fputs("Received invalid data from kernel.\n", stderr);
+		exit(1);
+	}
+
+	if (missing_mandatory_attrs(attrs, bla_backbone_mandatory,
+				    ARRAY_SIZE(bla_backbone_mandatory))) {
+		fputs("Missing attributes from kernel\n", stderr);
+		exit(1);
+	}
+
+	/* don't show own backbones */
+	if (attrs[BATADV_ATTR_BLA_OWN])
+		return NL_OK;
+
+	vid = nla_get_u16(attrs[BATADV_ATTR_BLA_VID]);
+	backbone = nla_data(attrs[BATADV_ATTR_BLA_BACKBONE]);
+	backbone_crc = nla_get_u16(attrs[BATADV_ATTR_BLA_CRC]);
+
+	last_seen_msecs = nla_get_u32(attrs[BATADV_ATTR_LAST_SEEN_MSECS]);
+	last_seen_secs = last_seen_msecs / 1000;
+	last_seen_msecs = last_seen_msecs % 1000;
+
+	bat_host = bat_hosts_find_by_mac((char *)backbone);
+	if (!(opts->read_opt & USE_BAT_HOSTS) || !bat_host)
+		printf("%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x ",
+		       backbone[0], backbone[1], backbone[2],
+		       backbone[3], backbone[4], backbone[5]);
+	else
+		printf("%17s ", bat_host->name);
+
+	printf("on %5d %4i.%03is (0x%04x)\n",
+	       BATADV_PRINT_VID(vid), last_seen_secs, last_seen_msecs,
+	       backbone_crc);
+
+	return NL_OK;
+}
+
+static int netlink_print_bla_backbone(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface,
+				      int read_opts, float orig_timeout,
+				      float watch_interval)
+{
+	return netlink_print_common(mesh_iface, orig_iface, read_opts,
+				    orig_timeout, watch_interval,
+				    "Originator           VID   last seen (CRC   )\n",
+				    BATADV_CMD_GET_BLA_BACKBONE,
+				    bla_backbone_callback);
+}
+
+static struct debug_table_data batctl_debug_table_backbonetable = {
+	.debugfs_name = DEBUG_BACKBONETABLE,
+	.header_lines = 2,
+	.netlink_fn = netlink_print_bla_backbone,
+};
+
+COMMAND_NAMED(DEBUGTABLE, backbonetable, "bbt", handle_debug_table,
+	      COMMAND_FLAG_MESH_IFACE, &batctl_debug_table_backbonetable, "");
diff --git a/debug.c b/debug.c
index 016b148..6eba9d8 100644
--- a/debug.c
+++ b/debug.c
@@ -260,15 +260,6 @@ static struct debug_table_data batctl_debug_table_claimtable = {
 COMMAND_NAMED(DEBUGTABLE, claimtable, "cl", handle_debug_table,
 	      COMMAND_FLAG_MESH_IFACE, &batctl_debug_table_claimtable, "");
 
-static struct debug_table_data batctl_debug_table_backbonetable = {
-	.debugfs_name = DEBUG_BACKBONETABLE,
-	.header_lines = 2,
-	.netlink_fn = netlink_print_bla_backbone,
-};
-
-COMMAND_NAMED(DEBUGTABLE, backbonetable, "bbt", handle_debug_table,
-	      COMMAND_FLAG_MESH_IFACE, &batctl_debug_table_backbonetable, "");
-
 static struct debug_table_data batctl_debug_table_dat_cache = {
 	.debugfs_name = DEBUG_DAT_CACHE,
 	.header_lines = 2,
diff --git a/main.h b/main.h
index 8d91480..2656dcf 100644
--- a/main.h
+++ b/main.h
@@ -51,6 +51,14 @@ extern char module_ver_path[];
 #define BATADV_PRINT_VID(vid) (vid & BATADV_VLAN_HAS_TAG ? \
 			       (int)(vid & VLAN_VID_MASK) : -1)
 
+#define ARRAY_SIZE(x) (sizeof(x) / sizeof(*(x)))
+
+#ifndef container_of
+#define container_of(ptr, type, member) __extension__ ({ \
+	const __typeof__(((type *)0)->member) *__pmember = (ptr); \
+	(type *)((char *)__pmember - offsetof(type, member)); })
+#endif
+
 enum command_flags {
 	COMMAND_FLAG_MESH_IFACE = BIT(0),
 };
diff --git a/netlink.c b/netlink.c
index f0fd1d9..cf7ff65 100644
--- a/netlink.c
+++ b/netlink.c
@@ -43,24 +43,6 @@
 #include "functions.h"
 #include "main.h"
 
-#define ARRAY_SIZE(x) (sizeof(x) / sizeof(*(x)))
-
-#ifndef container_of
-#define container_of(ptr, type, member) __extension__ ({ \
-	const __typeof__(((type *)0)->member) *__pmember = (ptr); \
-	(type *)((char *)__pmember - offsetof(type, member)); })
-#endif
-
-struct print_opts {
-	int read_opt;
-	float orig_timeout;
-	float watch_interval;
-	nl_recvmsg_msg_cb_t callback;
-	char *remaining_header;
-	const char *static_header;
-	uint8_t nl_cmd;
-};
-
 struct nlquery_opts {
 	int err;
 };
@@ -132,8 +114,8 @@ static char algo_name_buf[256] = "";
 static int64_t mcast_flags = -EOPNOTSUPP;
 static int64_t mcast_flags_priv = -EOPNOTSUPP;
 
-static int missing_mandatory_attrs(struct nlattr *attrs[],
-				   const int mandatory[], int num)
+int missing_mandatory_attrs(struct nlattr *attrs[], const int mandatory[],
+			    int num)
 {
 	int i;
 
@@ -1055,74 +1037,6 @@ static int bla_claim_callback(struct nl_msg *msg, void *arg)
 	return NL_OK;
 }
 
-static const int bla_backbone_mandatory[] = {
-	BATADV_ATTR_BLA_VID,
-	BATADV_ATTR_BLA_BACKBONE,
-	BATADV_ATTR_BLA_CRC,
-	BATADV_ATTR_LAST_SEEN_MSECS,
-};
-
-static int bla_backbone_callback(struct nl_msg *msg, void *arg)
-{
-	struct nlattr *attrs[BATADV_ATTR_MAX+1];
-	struct nlmsghdr *nlh = nlmsg_hdr(msg);
-	int last_seen_msecs, last_seen_secs;
-	struct print_opts *opts = arg;
-	struct bat_host *bat_host;
-	struct genlmsghdr *ghdr;
-	uint16_t backbone_crc;
-	uint8_t *backbone;
-	uint16_t vid;
-
-	if (!genlmsg_valid_hdr(nlh, 0)) {
-		fputs("Received invalid data from kernel.\n", stderr);
-		exit(1);
-	}
-
-	ghdr = nlmsg_data(nlh);
-
-	if (ghdr->cmd != BATADV_CMD_GET_BLA_BACKBONE)
-		return NL_OK;
-
-	if (nla_parse(attrs, BATADV_ATTR_MAX, genlmsg_attrdata(ghdr, 0),
-		      genlmsg_len(ghdr), batadv_netlink_policy)) {
-		fputs("Received invalid data from kernel.\n", stderr);
-		exit(1);
-	}
-
-	if (missing_mandatory_attrs(attrs, bla_backbone_mandatory,
-				       ARRAY_SIZE(bla_backbone_mandatory))) {
-		fputs("Missing attributes from kernel\n", stderr);
-		exit(1);
-	}
-
-	/* don't show own backbones */
-	if (attrs[BATADV_ATTR_BLA_OWN])
-		return NL_OK;
-
-	vid = nla_get_u16(attrs[BATADV_ATTR_BLA_VID]);
-	backbone = nla_data(attrs[BATADV_ATTR_BLA_BACKBONE]);
-	backbone_crc = nla_get_u16(attrs[BATADV_ATTR_BLA_CRC]);
-
-	last_seen_msecs = nla_get_u32(attrs[BATADV_ATTR_LAST_SEEN_MSECS]);
-	last_seen_secs = last_seen_msecs / 1000;
-	last_seen_msecs = last_seen_msecs % 1000;
-
-	bat_host = bat_hosts_find_by_mac((char *)backbone);
-	if (!(opts->read_opt & USE_BAT_HOSTS) || !bat_host)
-		printf("%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x ",
-		       backbone[0], backbone[1], backbone[2],
-		       backbone[3], backbone[4], backbone[5]);
-	else
-		printf("%17s ", bat_host->name);
-
-	printf("on %5d %4i.%03is (0x%04x)\n",
-	       BATADV_PRINT_VID(vid), last_seen_secs, last_seen_msecs,
-	       backbone_crc);
-
-	return NL_OK;
-}
-
 static const int dat_cache_mandatory[] = {
 	BATADV_ATTR_DAT_CACHE_IP4ADDRESS,
 	BATADV_ATTR_DAT_CACHE_HWADDRESS,
@@ -1263,10 +1177,10 @@ static int mcast_flags_callback(struct nl_msg *msg, void *arg)
 	return NL_OK;
 }
 
-static int netlink_print_common(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface,
-				int read_opt, float orig_timeout,
-				float watch_interval, const char *header,
-				uint8_t nl_cmd, nl_recvmsg_msg_cb_t callback)
+int netlink_print_common(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface, int read_opt,
+			 float orig_timeout, float watch_interval,
+			 const char *header, uint8_t nl_cmd,
+			 nl_recvmsg_msg_cb_t callback)
 {
 	struct print_opts opts = {
 		.read_opt = read_opt,
@@ -1485,16 +1399,6 @@ int netlink_print_bla_claim(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface, int read_opts,
 				    bla_claim_callback);
 }
 
-int netlink_print_bla_backbone(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface, int read_opts,
-			       float orig_timeout, float watch_interval)
-{
-	return netlink_print_common(mesh_iface, orig_iface, read_opts,
-				    orig_timeout, watch_interval,
-				    "Originator           VID   last seen (CRC   )\n",
-				    BATADV_CMD_GET_BLA_BACKBONE,
-				    bla_backbone_callback);
-}
-
 int netlink_print_dat_cache(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface, int read_opts,
 			    float orig_timeout, float watch_interval)
 {
diff --git a/netlink.h b/netlink.h
index 089e25e..7bda0d3 100644
--- a/netlink.h
+++ b/netlink.h
@@ -26,6 +26,16 @@
 #include <netlink/genl/genl.h>
 #include <netlink/genl/ctrl.h>
 
+struct print_opts {
+	int read_opt;
+	float orig_timeout;
+	float watch_interval;
+	nl_recvmsg_msg_cb_t callback;
+	char *remaining_header;
+	const char *static_header;
+	uint8_t nl_cmd;
+};
+
 struct ether_addr;
 
 int netlink_print_routing_algos(void);
@@ -43,8 +53,6 @@ int netlink_print_gateways(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface, int read_opt,
 			   float orig_timeout, float watch_interval);
 int netlink_print_bla_claim(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface, int read_opt,
 			    float orig_timeout, float watch_interval);
-int netlink_print_bla_backbone(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface, int read_opt,
-			       float orig_timeout, float watch_interval);
 int netlink_print_dat_cache(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface, int read_opt,
 			    float orig_timeout, float watch_interval);
 int netlink_print_mcast_flags(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface, int read_opt,
@@ -58,4 +66,11 @@ int get_primarymac_netlink(const char *mesh_iface, uint8_t *primarymac);
 
 extern struct nla_policy batadv_netlink_policy[];
 
+int missing_mandatory_attrs(struct nlattr *attrs[], const int mandatory[],
+			    int num);
+int netlink_print_common(char *mesh_iface, char *orig_iface, int read_opt,
+			 float orig_timeout, float watch_interval,
+			 const char *header, uint8_t nl_cmd,
+			 nl_recvmsg_msg_cb_t callback);
+
 #endif /* _BATCTL_NETLINK_H */
