diff --git a/nova/api/opts.py b/nova/api/opts.py
index 3d4cfcf51d..b175a506e3 100644
--- a/nova/api/opts.py
+++ b/nova/api/opts.py
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@ import nova.network.rpcapi
 import nova.network.security_group.openstack_driver
 import nova.notifications
 import nova.objects.network
-import nova.paths
 import nova.pci.request
 import nova.pci.whitelist
 import nova.quota
diff --git a/nova/compute/manager.py b/nova/compute/manager.py
index b233440535..54a88cb51c 100644
--- a/nova/compute/manager.py
+++ b/nova/compute/manager.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ from nova.compute import utils as compute_utils
 from nova.compute import vm_states
 from nova import conductor
 import nova.conf
+from nova.conf import paths
 from nova import consoleauth
 import nova.context
 from nova import exception
@@ -86,7 +87,6 @@ from nova import objects
 from nova.objects import base as obj_base
 from nova.objects import instance as obj_instance
 from nova.objects import migrate_data as migrate_data_obj
-from nova import paths
 from nova import rpc
 from nova import safe_utils
 from nova.scheduler import client as scheduler_client
diff --git a/nova/conf/__init__.py b/nova/conf/__init__.py
index ec5beba37f..dd88870828 100644
--- a/nova/conf/__init__.py
+++ b/nova/conf/__init__.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ from nova.conf import neutron
 from nova.conf import notifications
 from nova.conf import novnc
 # from nova.conf import osapi_v21
+from nova.conf import paths
 from nova.conf import pci
 from nova.conf import quota
 from nova.conf import rdp
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@ neutron.register_opts(CONF)
 notifications.register_opts(CONF)
 novnc.register_opts(CONF)
 # osapi_v21.register_opts(CONF)
+paths.register_opts(CONF)
 pci.register_opts(CONF)
 quota.register_opts(CONF)
 rdp.register_opts(CONF)
diff --git a/nova/conf/cloudpipe.py b/nova/conf/cloudpipe.py
index 39230c4044..ecf7a1a47f 100644
--- a/nova/conf/cloudpipe.py
+++ b/nova/conf/cloudpipe.py
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
 
+from nova.conf import paths
 from nova.i18n import _
-from nova import paths
 
 cloudpipe_opts = [
     cfg.StrOpt(
diff --git a/nova/conf/crypto.py b/nova/conf/crypto.py
index 060e94d9fb..116c547f4b 100644
--- a/nova/conf/crypto.py
+++ b/nova/conf/crypto.py
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ import os
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
 
+from nova.conf import paths
 from nova.i18n import _
-from nova import paths
 
 crypto_opts_group = cfg.OptGroup(
     'crypto',
diff --git a/nova/conf/network.py b/nova/conf/network.py
index f02457d0d0..e4cb57ac38 100644
--- a/nova/conf/network.py
+++ b/nova/conf/network.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
 
-from nova import paths
+from nova.conf import paths
 
 
 network_opts = [
diff --git a/nova/paths.py b/nova/conf/paths.py
similarity index 77%
rename from nova/paths.py
rename to nova/conf/paths.py
index 4f683741da..519418dbc5 100644
--- a/nova/paths.py
+++ b/nova/conf/paths.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from oslo_config import cfg
 path_opts = [
     cfg.StrOpt('pybasedir',
                default=os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
-                                                    '../')),
+                                                    '../../')),
                help='Directory where the nova python module is installed'),
     cfg.StrOpt('bindir',
                default=os.path.join(sys.prefix, 'local', 'bin'),
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@ path_opts = [
                help="Top-level directory for maintaining nova's state"),
 ]
 
-CONF = cfg.CONF
-CONF.register_opts(path_opts)
-
 
 def basedir_def(*args):
     """Return an uninterpolated path relative to $pybasedir."""
@@ -52,16 +49,27 @@ def state_path_def(*args):
     return os.path.join('$state_path', *args)
 
 
+# TODO(markus_z): This needs to be removed in a new patch. No one uses this.
 def basedir_rel(*args):
     """Return a path relative to $pybasedir."""
-    return os.path.join(CONF.pybasedir, *args)
+    return os.path.join(cfg.CONF.pybasedir, *args)
 
 
+# TODO(markus_z): This needs to be removed in a new patch. No one uses this.
 def bindir_rel(*args):
     """Return a path relative to $bindir."""
-    return os.path.join(CONF.bindir, *args)
+    return os.path.join(cfg.CONF.bindir, *args)
 
 
+# TODO(markus_z): This needs to be removed in a new patch. No one uses this.
 def state_path_rel(*args):
     """Return a path relative to $state_path."""
-    return os.path.join(CONF.state_path, *args)
+    return os.path.join(cfg.CONF.state_path, *args)
+
+
+def register_opts(conf):
+    conf.register_opts(path_opts)
+
+
+def list_opts():
+    return {"DEFAULT": path_opts}
diff --git a/nova/conf/virt.py b/nova/conf/virt.py
index 158c596870..d0b40b7c8c 100644
--- a/nova/conf/virt.py
+++ b/nova/conf/virt.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
 
-from nova import paths
+from nova.conf import paths
 
 vcpu_pin_set = cfg.StrOpt(
     'vcpu_pin_set',
diff --git a/nova/conf/xvp.py b/nova/conf/xvp.py
index e90d97796f..5f211cb435 100644
--- a/nova/conf/xvp.py
+++ b/nova/conf/xvp.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
-from nova import paths
+from nova.conf import paths
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
 
diff --git a/nova/config.py b/nova/config.py
index bdefd09f3d..ff25628c6e 100644
--- a/nova/config.py
+++ b/nova/config.py
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ from oslo_log import log
 
 from nova.common import config
 import nova.conf
+from nova.conf import paths
 from nova.db.sqlalchemy import api as sqlalchemy_api
-from nova import paths
 from nova import rpc
 from nova import version
 
diff --git a/nova/opts.py b/nova/opts.py
index 9892fe6335..c87f31d9a6 100644
--- a/nova/opts.py
+++ b/nova/opts.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import nova.db.sqlalchemy.api
 import nova.exception
 import nova.image.download.file
 import nova.netconf
-import nova.paths
 import nova.servicegroup.api
 import nova.spice
 import nova.volume
@@ -46,7 +45,6 @@ def list_opts():
              nova.db.sqlalchemy.api.db_opts,
              nova.exception.exc_log_opts,
              nova.netconf.netconf_opts,
-             nova.paths.path_opts,
              nova.volume._volume_opts,
          )),
         ('cinder', nova.volume.cinder.cinder_opts),
diff --git a/nova/tests/functional/api_paste_fixture.py b/nova/tests/functional/api_paste_fixture.py
index f7968b555b..1656189712 100644
--- a/nova/tests/functional/api_paste_fixture.py
+++ b/nova/tests/functional/api_paste_fixture.py
@@ -15,12 +15,12 @@
 import os
 
 import fixtures
-from oslo_config import cfg
 
-from nova import paths
+import nova.conf
+from nova.conf import paths
 
 
-CONF = cfg.CONF
+CONF = nova.conf.CONF
 
 
 class ApiPasteV21Fixture(fixtures.Fixture):
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/conf_fixture.py b/nova/tests/unit/conf_fixture.py
index 2b002cb490..90e9e5f17a 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/conf_fixture.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/conf_fixture.py
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ from oslo_config import fixture as config_fixture
 from oslo_policy import opts as policy_opts
 
 import nova.conf
+from nova.conf import paths
 from nova import config
 from nova import ipv6
-from nova import paths
 from nova.tests.unit import utils
 
 CONF = nova.conf.CONF
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/policy_fixture.py b/nova/tests/unit/policy_fixture.py
index 6ba189190c..49d3d65e87 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/policy_fixture.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/policy_fixture.py
@@ -15,16 +15,16 @@
 import os
 
 import fixtures
-from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_policy import policy as oslo_policy
 from oslo_serialization import jsonutils
 import six
 
-from nova import paths
+import nova.conf
+from nova.conf import paths
 import nova.policy
 from nova.tests.unit import fake_policy
 
-CONF = cfg.CONF
+CONF = nova.conf.CONF
 
 
 class RealPolicyFixture(fixtures.Fixture):
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/glusterfs.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/glusterfs.py
index f83776ef3c..e286f0d60e 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/glusterfs.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/glusterfs.py
@@ -16,13 +16,14 @@ from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log as logging
 import six
 
+import nova.conf
+from nova.conf import paths
 from nova.i18n import _LE, _LW
-from nova import paths
 from nova import utils
 from nova.virt.libvirt import utils as libvirt_utils
 from nova.virt.libvirt.volume import fs
 
-CONF = cfg.CONF
+CONF = nova.conf.CONF
 CONF.import_opt('qemu_allowed_storage_drivers',
                 'nova.virt.libvirt.volume.volume',
                 group='libvirt')
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/nfs.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/nfs.py
index d7d41050ef..caa3fe1036 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/nfs.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/nfs.py
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@ from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log as logging
 import six
 
+import nova.conf
+from nova.conf import paths
 from nova.i18n import _LE, _LW
-from nova import paths
 from nova import utils
 from nova.virt.libvirt import utils as libvirt_utils
 from nova.virt.libvirt.volume import fs
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ volume_opts = [
                     'of the nfs man page for details'),
     ]
 
-CONF = cfg.CONF
+CONF = nova.conf.CONF
 CONF.register_opts(volume_opts, 'libvirt')
 
 
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/quobyte.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/quobyte.py
index 199439be5d..52c01f4f53 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/quobyte.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/quobyte.py
@@ -22,11 +22,12 @@ from oslo_log import log as logging
 from oslo_utils import fileutils
 import six
 
+import nova.conf
+from nova.conf import paths
 from nova import exception as nova_exception
 from nova.i18n import _
 from nova.i18n import _LE
 from nova.i18n import _LI
-from nova import paths
 from nova import utils
 from nova.virt.libvirt import utils as libvirt_utils
 from nova.virt.libvirt.volume import fs
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ volume_opts = [
                help='Path to a Quobyte Client configuration file.'),
     ]
 
-CONF = cfg.CONF
+CONF = nova.conf.CONF
 CONF.register_opts(volume_opts, 'libvirt')
 
 SOURCE_PROTOCOL = 'quobyte'
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/smbfs.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/smbfs.py
index eafc10d746..d59dcf13e5 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/smbfs.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/volume/smbfs.py
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ import re
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
 
-from nova import paths
+import nova.conf
+from nova.conf import paths
 from nova.virt.libvirt import utils as libvirt_utils
 from nova.virt.libvirt.volume import fs
 from nova.virt.libvirt.volume import remotefs
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ volume_opts = [
                     'libvirt-qemu uid and gid must be specified.'),
     ]
 
-CONF = cfg.CONF
+CONF = nova.conf.CONF
 CONF.register_opts(volume_opts, 'libvirt')
 
 USERNAME_REGEX = re.compile(r"(user(?:name)?)=(?:[^ ,]+\\)?([^ ,]+)")