diff --git a/src/bin/new_users.rs b/src/bin/new_users.rs
index 09bb5ac..05725f4 100644
--- a/src/bin/new_users.rs
+++ b/src/bin/new_users.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,7 @@ use lettre::{
     Message, SmtpTransport, Transport,
 };
 use maud::html;
-use rand::{distributions::Alphanumeric, thread_rng, Rng};
-use skynet_ldap_backend::{db_init, get_config, read_csv, Accounts, AccountsNew, Config, Record, get_now_iso};
+use skynet_ldap_backend::{db_init, get_config, read_csv, Accounts, AccountsNew, Config, Record, get_now_iso, random_string};
 use sqlx::{Pool, Sqlite};
 
 #[async_std::main]
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ async fn main() {
             }
 
             // generate a auth key
-            let auth = generate_auth();
+            let auth = random_string(50);
 
             match send_mail(&config, &record, &auth) {
                 Ok(_) => match save_to_db(&db, &record, &auth).await {
@@ -75,11 +74,6 @@ async fn check_pending(db: &Pool<Sqlite>, mail: &str) -> bool {
     .is_empty()
 }
 
-// from https://rust-lang-nursery.github.io/rust-cookbook/algorithms/randomness.html#create-random-passwords-from-a-set-of-alphanumeric-characters
-fn generate_auth() -> String {
-    thread_rng().sample_iter(&Alphanumeric).take(30).map(char::from).collect()
-}
-
 // using https://github.com/lettre/lettre/blob/57886c367d69b4d66300b322c94bd910b1eca364/examples/maud_html.rs
 fn send_mail(config: &Config, record: &Record, auth: &str) -> Result<Response, lettre::transport::smtp::Error> {
     let recipient = &record.name_first;
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index f363e03..3a78225 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ use std::env;
 use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::time::{SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
 use chrono::{Datelike, SecondsFormat, Utc};
+use rand::distributions::Alphanumeric;
+use rand::{Rng, thread_rng};
 use tide::prelude::*;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, sqlx::FromRow)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Deserialize, Serialize, sqlx::FromRow)]
 pub struct AccountsNew {
     pub mail: String,
     pub auth_code: String,
@@ -295,3 +297,8 @@ pub fn read_csv(config: &Config) -> Result<Vec<Record>, Box<dyn std::error::Erro
 
     Ok(records)
 }
+
+// from https://rust-lang-nursery.github.io/rust-cookbook/algorithms/randomness.html#create-random-passwords-from-a-set-of-alphanumeric-characters
+pub fn random_string(len: usize) -> String {
+    thread_rng().sample_iter(&Alphanumeric).take(len).map(char::from).collect()
+}
diff --git a/src/methods/account_new.rs b/src/methods/account_new.rs
index e1c850d..aa63564 100644
--- a/src/methods/account_new.rs
+++ b/src/methods/account_new.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{get_now, Accounts, AccountsPending, State};
+use crate::{Accounts, AccountsPending, State, get_now_iso, AccountsNew, random_string};
 use ldap3::exop::PasswordModify;
 use ldap3::result::ExopResult;
 use ldap3::{LdapConn, Scope};
@@ -155,12 +155,6 @@ async fn db_pending_clear_expired(pool: &Pool<Sqlite>) -> Result<Vec<AccountsPen
     .await
 }
 
-fn create_random_string(length: usize) -> String {
-    use rand::distributions::Alphanumeric;
-    use rand::{thread_rng, Rng};
-
-    thread_rng().sample_iter(&Alphanumeric).take(length).map(char::from).collect()
-}
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
 pub struct LdapUserVerify {
@@ -267,7 +261,7 @@ async fn account_verification_new_account(ldap: &mut LdapConn, user_details: &Ac
 
     let dn = format!("uid={},ou=users,dc=skynet,dc=ie", user);
     let home_directory = format!("/home/{}", user);
-    let password_tmp = create_random_string(50);
+    let password_tmp = random_string(50);
     let labeled_uri = format!("ldap:///ou=groups,dc=skynet,dc=ie??sub?(&(objectclass=posixgroup)(memberuid={}))", user);
     let sk_mail = format!("{}@skynet.ie", user);
     let sk_created = get_sk_created();