diff --git a/src/lock-ops.mjs b/src/lock-ops.mjs
index 32891b6..32d923b 100644
--- a/src/lock-ops.mjs
+++ b/src/lock-ops.mjs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
   KIND_APP_DATA,
   MS_PER_SECOND,
 } from './constants.mjs';
-import { nowUnix } from './utils.mjs';
+import { nowUnix, mergeRelayList } from './utils.mjs';
 import { defaultHealthManager, buildRelayHealthConfig, RelayHealthManager } from './relay-health-manager.mjs';
 import { publishLock, LockPublisher, secureRandom } from './lock-publisher.mjs';
 
@@ -69,10 +69,6 @@ function relayListLabel(relays) {
   return relays.join(', ');
 }
 
-function mergeRelayList(primaryRelays, fallbackRelays) {
-  return [...new Set([...primaryRelays, ...fallbackRelays])];
-}
-
 /**
  * Queries relays for active lock events matching the criteria.
  * Uses a tiered approach: tries primary relays first, then falls back to others if needed.
diff --git a/src/lock-publisher.mjs b/src/lock-publisher.mjs
index b506f1b..99f21e7 100644
--- a/src/lock-publisher.mjs
+++ b/src/lock-publisher.mjs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   getRelayFallbacks,
   getMinActiveRelayPool,
 } from './torch-config.mjs';
+import { mergeRelayList } from './utils.mjs';
 import { defaultHealthManager, buildRelayHealthConfig } from './relay-health-manager.mjs';
 
 function withTimeout(promise, timeoutMs, timeoutMessage) {
@@ -22,10 +23,6 @@ function relayListLabel(relays) {
   return relays.join(', ');
 }
 
-function mergeRelayList(primaryRelays, fallbackRelays) {
-  return [...new Set([...primaryRelays, ...fallbackRelays])];
-}
-
 const PUBLISH_ERROR_CODES = {
   TIMEOUT: 'publish_timeout',
   DNS: 'dns_resolution',
diff --git a/src/utils.mjs b/src/utils.mjs
index af844e2..eae7ed9 100644
--- a/src/utils.mjs
+++ b/src/utils.mjs
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ export function detectPlatform() {
   return null;
 }
 
+export function mergeRelayList(primaryRelays, fallbackRelays) {
+  return [...new Set([...primaryRelays, ...fallbackRelays])];
+}
+
 export function ensureDir(dir) {
   if (!fs.existsSync(dir)) {
     fs.mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
diff --git a/test/utils.test.mjs b/test/utils.test.mjs
index b2d2785..0c59f6a 100644
--- a/test/utils.test.mjs
+++ b/test/utils.test.mjs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { describe, it, after } from 'node:test';
 import assert from 'node:assert';
 import fs from 'node:fs';
 import path from 'node:path';
-import { getIsoWeekStr, todayDateStr, nowUnix, ensureDir, detectPlatform } from '../src/utils.mjs';
+import { getIsoWeekStr, todayDateStr, nowUnix, ensureDir, detectPlatform, mergeRelayList } from '../src/utils.mjs';
 
 describe('Date Utilities', () => {
   describe('todayDateStr', () => {
@@ -59,6 +59,23 @@ describe('Date Utilities', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('Relay Utilities', () => {
+  describe('mergeRelayList', () => {
+    it('merges two lists of relays without duplicates', () => {
+      const primary = ['wss://relay1.com', 'wss://relay2.com'];
+      const fallback = ['wss://relay2.com', 'wss://relay3.com'];
+      const merged = mergeRelayList(primary, fallback);
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(merged, ['wss://relay1.com', 'wss://relay2.com', 'wss://relay3.com']);
+    });
+
+    it('handles empty lists', () => {
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(mergeRelayList([], []), []);
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(mergeRelayList(['wss://relay1.com'], []), ['wss://relay1.com']);
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(mergeRelayList([], ['wss://relay1.com']), ['wss://relay1.com']);
+    });
+  });
+});
+
 describe('Platform Utilities', () => {
   describe('detectPlatform', () => {
     const originalEnv = { ...process.env };