diff --git a/library/charsio.yap b/library/charsio.yap
index 416627bf0..0c7b67d11 100644
--- a/library/charsio.yap
+++ b/library/charsio.yap
@@ -49,13 +49,6 @@ format_to_chars(Form, Args, OUT, L0) :-
 write_to_chars(Term, OUT) :-
 	write_to_chars(Term, [], OUT).
 
-write_to_chars(Term, L0, OUT) :-
-	open_mem_write_stream(Stream),
-	write(Stream, Term),
-	peek_mem_write_stream(Stream, L0, O),
-	close(Stream),
-	O = OUT.
-
 atom_to_chars(Atom, OUT) :-
 	atom_to_chars(Atom, [], OUT).
 
@@ -88,12 +81,6 @@ number_to_chars(Number, L0, OUT) :-
 number_to_chars(Number, L0, OUT) :-
 	throw(error(type_error(number,Number),number_to_chars(Number, L0, OUT))).
 
-read_from_chars(Chars, Term) :-
-	open_mem_read_stream(Chars, Stream),
-	read(Stream, T),
-	close(Stream),
-	T = Term.
-
 open_chars_stream(Chars, Stream) :-
 	open_mem_read_stream(Chars, Stream).
 
diff --git a/pl/utils.yap b/pl/utils.yap
index f0635810e..80829018f 100644
--- a/pl/utils.yap
+++ b/pl/utils.yap
@@ -684,6 +684,23 @@ term_to_atom(Term,Atom) :-
 	charsio:write_to_chars(Term,S),
 	atom_codes(Atom,S).
 
+%
+% hack this here.
+%
+charsio:write_to_chars(Term, L0, OUT) :-
+	charsio:open_mem_write_stream(Stream),
+	prolog:write(Stream, Term),
+	charsio:peek_mem_write_stream(Stream, L0, O),
+	prolog:close(Stream),
+	O = OUT.
+
+charsio:read_from_chars(Chars, Term) :-
+	charsio:open_mem_read_stream(Chars, Stream),
+	prolog:read(Stream, T),
+	prolog:close(Stream),
+	T = Term.
+
+
 simple(V) :- var(V), !.
 simple(A) :- atom(A), !.
 simple(N) :- number(N).