diff --git a/piker/config.py b/piker/config.py
index 12085261..a0d403d5 100644
--- a/piker/config.py
+++ b/piker/config.py
@@ -467,3 +467,51 @@ def load_accounts(
     accounts['paper'] = None
 
     return accounts
+
+
+# XXX: Recursive getting & setting
+
+def get_value(_dict, _section):
+    subs = _section.split('.')
+    if len(subs) > 1:
+        return get_value(
+            _dict[subs[0]],
+            '.'.join(subs[1:]),
+        )
+
+    else:
+        return _dict[_section]
+
+
+def set_value(_dict, _section, val):
+    subs = _section.split('.')
+    if len(subs) > 1:
+        if subs[0] not in _dict:
+            _dict[subs[0]] = {}
+
+        return set_value(
+            _dict[subs[0]],
+            '.'.join(subs[1:]),
+            val
+        )
+
+    else:
+        _dict[_section] = val
+
+
+def del_value(_dict, _section):
+    subs = _section.split('.')
+    if len(subs) > 1:
+        if subs[0] not in _dict:
+            return
+
+        return del_value(
+            _dict[subs[0]],
+            '.'.join(subs[1:])
+        )
+
+    else:
+        if _section not in _dict:
+            return
+
+        del _dict[_section]