diff --git a/piker/cli.py b/piker/cli.py
index 82fdf138..94d132ee 100644
--- a/piker/cli.py
+++ b/piker/cli.py
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def show(ctx, name):
 @click.pass_context
 def load(ctx, data):
     try:
-        wl.write_sorted_json(json.loads(data), ctx.obj['path'])
+        wl.write_to_file(json.loads(data), ctx.obj['path'])
     except (json.JSONDecodeError, IndexError):
         click.echo('You have passed an invalid text respresentation of a '
                    'JSON object. Try again.')
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def load(ctx, data):
 def add(ctx, name, ticker_name):
     watchlist = wl.add_ticker(name, ticker_name,
                               ctx.obj['watchlist'])
-    wl.write_sorted_json(watchlist, ctx.obj['path'])
+    wl.write_to_file(watchlist, ctx.obj['path'])
 
 
 @watchlists.command(help='remove ticker from watchlist')
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ def add(ctx, name, ticker_name):
 @click.pass_context
 def remove(ctx, name, ticker_name):
     watchlist = wl.remove_ticker(name, ticker_name, ctx.obj['watchlist'])
-    wl.write_sorted_json(watchlist, ctx.obj['path'])
+    wl.write_to_file(watchlist, ctx.obj['path'])
 
 
 @watchlists.command(help='delete watchlist group')
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def remove(ctx, name, ticker_name):
 @click.pass_context
 def delete(ctx, name):
     watchlist = wl.delete_group(name, ctx.obj['watchlist'])
-    wl.write_sorted_json(watchlist, ctx.obj['path'])
+    wl.write_to_file(watchlist, ctx.obj['path'])
 
 
 @watchlists.command(help='merge a watchlist from another user')
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ def delete(ctx, name):
 def merge(ctx, watchlist_to_merge):
     merged_watchlist = wl.merge_watchlist(json.loads(watchlist_to_merge),
                                           ctx.obj['watchlist'])
-    wl.write_sorted_json(merged_watchlist, ctx.obj['path'])
+    wl.write_to_file(merged_watchlist, ctx.obj['path'])
 
 
 @watchlists.command(help='dump text respresentation of a watchlist to console')
diff --git a/piker/watchlists.py b/piker/watchlists.py
index 0f71a49c..6eac4052 100644
--- a/piker/watchlists.py
+++ b/piker/watchlists.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ _builtins = {
 }
 
 
-def write_sorted_json(watchlist, path):
+def write_to_file(watchlist, path):
     for key in watchlist:
         watchlist[key] = sorted(list(set(watchlist[key])))
     with open(path, 'w') as f:
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 10e5668f..44c57f0e 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def piker_dir(temp_dir):
         'pharma': ['ATE.VN'],
         'indexes': ['SPY', 'DAX', 'QQQ', 'DIA'],
     }
-    wl.write_sorted_json(watchlist, json_file_path)
+    wl.write_to_file(watchlist, json_file_path)
     yield json_file_path
 
 
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ def test_watchlists_are_merged(capfd, piker_dir):
         'pharma': ['ATE.VN', 'MALI', 'PERCOCET'],
         'drugs': ['CRACK']
     }
-    wl.write_sorted_json(orig_watchlist, piker_dir)
+    wl.write_to_file(orig_watchlist, piker_dir)
     run(f"piker watchlists -d {piker_dir} merge", list_to_merge)
     out = wl.ensure_watchlists(piker_dir)
     assert out == expected_out
diff --git a/tests/test_watchlists.py b/tests/test_watchlists.py
index f198860f..7245e989 100644
--- a/tests/test_watchlists.py
+++ b/tests/test_watchlists.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def test_watchlist_is_sorted_no_dups_and_saved_to_file(piker_dir):
     wl_temp = {'test': ['TEST.CN', 'AAA'], 'AA': ['TEST.CN', 'TEST.CN'],
                'AA': ['TEST.CN']}
     wl_sort = {'AA': ['TEST.CN'], 'test': ['AAA', 'TEST.CN']}
-    wl.write_sorted_json(wl_temp, piker_dir)
+    wl.write_to_file(wl_temp, piker_dir)
     temp_sorted = wl.ensure_watchlists(piker_dir)
     assert temp_sorted == wl_sort
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def test_watchlist_is_read_from_file(piker_dir):
     wl_temp = wl.ensure_watchlists(piker_dir)
     assert wl_temp == {}
     wl_temp2 = {"AA": ["TEST.CN"]}
-    wl.write_sorted_json(wl_temp2, piker_dir)
+    wl.write_to_file(wl_temp2, piker_dir)
     assert wl_temp2 == wl.ensure_watchlists(piker_dir)