diff --git a/capa/features/capabilities/__init__.py b/capa/capabilities/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from capa/features/capabilities/__init__.py
rename to capa/capabilities/__init__.py
diff --git a/capa/features/capabilities/common.py b/capa/capabilities/common.py
similarity index 94%
rename from capa/features/capabilities/common.py
rename to capa/capabilities/common.py
index b9252c9f..6098f789 100644
--- a/capa/features/capabilities/common.py
+++ b/capa/capabilities/common.py
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ def find_file_capabilities(ruleset: RuleSet, extractor: FeatureExtractor, functi
 def find_capabilities(
     ruleset: RuleSet, extractor: FeatureExtractor, disable_progress=None, **kwargs
 ) -> Tuple[MatchResults, Any]:
-    from capa.features.capabilities.static import find_static_capabilities
-    from capa.features.capabilities.dynamic import find_dynamic_capabilities
+    from capa.capabilities.static import find_static_capabilities
+    from capa.capabilities.dynamic import find_dynamic_capabilities
 
     if isinstance(extractor, StaticFeatureExtractor):
         # for the time being, extractors are either static or dynamic.
diff --git a/capa/features/capabilities/dynamic.py b/capa/capabilities/dynamic.py
similarity index 99%
rename from capa/features/capabilities/dynamic.py
rename to capa/capabilities/dynamic.py
index acf50546..8c503cde 100644
--- a/capa/features/capabilities/dynamic.py
+++ b/capa/capabilities/dynamic.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import capa.render.result_document as rdoc
 from capa.rules import Scope, RuleSet
 from capa.engine import FeatureSet, MatchResults
 from capa.helpers import redirecting_print_to_tqdm
-from capa.features.capabilities.common import find_file_capabilities
+from capa.capabilities.common import find_file_capabilities
 from capa.features.extractors.base_extractor import CallHandle, ThreadHandle, ProcessHandle, DynamicFeatureExtractor
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("capa")
diff --git a/capa/features/capabilities/static.py b/capa/capabilities/static.py
similarity index 99%
rename from capa/features/capabilities/static.py
rename to capa/capabilities/static.py
index 785917c0..f072ed20 100644
--- a/capa/features/capabilities/static.py
+++ b/capa/capabilities/static.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import capa.render.result_document as rdoc
 from capa.rules import Scope, RuleSet
 from capa.engine import FeatureSet, MatchResults
 from capa.helpers import redirecting_print_to_tqdm
-from capa.features.capabilities.common import find_file_capabilities
+from capa.capabilities.common import find_file_capabilities
 from capa.features.extractors.base_extractor import BBHandle, InsnHandle, FunctionHandle, StaticFeatureExtractor
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("capa")
diff --git a/capa/ghidra/capa_ghidra.py b/capa/ghidra/capa_ghidra.py
index 99beaffc..72eae7cf 100644
--- a/capa/ghidra/capa_ghidra.py
+++ b/capa/ghidra/capa_ghidra.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import capa.main
 import capa.rules
 import capa.ghidra.helpers
 import capa.render.default
+import capa.capabilities.common
 import capa.features.extractors.ghidra.extractor
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("capa_ghidra")
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ def run_headless():
     meta = capa.ghidra.helpers.collect_metadata([rules_path])
     extractor = capa.features.extractors.ghidra.extractor.GhidraFeatureExtractor()
 
-    capabilities, counts = capa.main.find_capabilities(rules, extractor, False)
+    capabilities, counts = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, extractor, False)
 
     meta.analysis.feature_counts = counts["feature_counts"]
     meta.analysis.library_functions = counts["library_functions"]
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ def run_ui():
     meta = capa.ghidra.helpers.collect_metadata([rules_path])
     extractor = capa.features.extractors.ghidra.extractor.GhidraFeatureExtractor()
 
-    capabilities, counts = capa.main.find_capabilities(rules, extractor, True)
+    capabilities, counts = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, extractor, True)
 
     meta.analysis.feature_counts = counts["feature_counts"]
     meta.analysis.library_functions = counts["library_functions"]
diff --git a/capa/ida/plugin/form.py b/capa/ida/plugin/form.py
index bc78045e..f0a4e13e 100644
--- a/capa/ida/plugin/form.py
+++ b/capa/ida/plugin/form.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import capa.version
 import capa.ida.helpers
 import capa.render.json
 import capa.features.common
+import capa.capabilities.common
 import capa.render.result_document
 import capa.features.extractors.ida.extractor
 from capa.rules import Rule
@@ -768,7 +769,7 @@ class CapaExplorerForm(idaapi.PluginForm):
 
                 try:
                     meta = capa.ida.helpers.collect_metadata([Path(settings.user[CAPA_SETTINGS_RULE_PATH])])
-                    capabilities, counts = capa.main.find_capabilities(
+                    capabilities, counts = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(
                         ruleset, self.feature_extractor, disable_progress=True
                     )
 
diff --git a/capa/main.py b/capa/main.py
index 262b6333..8a6a398a 100644
--- a/capa/main.py
+++ b/capa/main.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ from capa.features.common import (
     FORMAT_RESULT,
 )
 from capa.features.address import Address
-from capa.features.capabilities.common import find_capabilities, find_file_capabilities
+from capa.capabilities.common import find_capabilities, find_file_capabilities
 from capa.features.extractors.base_extractor import (
     SampleHashes,
     FeatureExtractor,
diff --git a/scripts/bulk-process.py b/scripts/bulk-process.py
index 3e3cdfb2..8950b893 100644
--- a/scripts/bulk-process.py
+++ b/scripts/bulk-process.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ import capa
 import capa.main
 import capa.rules
 import capa.render.json
+import capa.capabilities.common
 import capa.render.result_document as rd
 from capa.features.common import OS_AUTO
 
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ def get_capa_results(args):
             "error": f"unexpected error: {e}",
         }
 
-    capabilities, counts = capa.main.find_capabilities(rules, extractor, disable_progress=True)
+    capabilities, counts = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, extractor, disable_progress=True)
 
     meta = capa.main.collect_metadata([], path, format, os_, [], extractor, counts)
     meta.analysis.layout = capa.main.compute_layout(rules, extractor, capabilities)
diff --git a/scripts/capa_as_library.py b/scripts/capa_as_library.py
index 7311107a..61157690 100644
--- a/scripts/capa_as_library.py
+++ b/scripts/capa_as_library.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import capa.features
 import capa.render.json
 import capa.render.utils as rutils
 import capa.render.default
+import capa.capabilities.common
 import capa.render.result_document as rd
 import capa.features.freeze.features as frzf
 from capa.features.common import OS_AUTO, FORMAT_AUTO
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ def capa_details(rules_path: Path, file_path: Path, output_format="dictionary"):
     extractor = capa.main.get_extractor(
         file_path, FORMAT_AUTO, OS_AUTO, capa.main.BACKEND_VIV, [], False, disable_progress=True
     )
-    capabilities, counts = capa.main.find_capabilities(rules, extractor, disable_progress=True)
+    capabilities, counts = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, extractor, disable_progress=True)
 
     # collect metadata (used only to make rendering more complete)
     meta = capa.main.collect_metadata([], file_path, FORMAT_AUTO, OS_AUTO, [rules_path], extractor, counts)
diff --git a/scripts/lint.py b/scripts/lint.py
index 065e694b..edcf9f56 100644
--- a/scripts/lint.py
+++ b/scripts/lint.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import capa.rules
 import capa.engine
 import capa.helpers
 import capa.features.insn
+import capa.capabilities.common
 from capa.rules import Rule, RuleSet
 from capa.features.common import OS_AUTO, String, Feature, Substring
 from capa.render.result_document import RuleMetadata
@@ -366,7 +367,7 @@ def get_sample_capabilities(ctx: Context, path: Path) -> Set[str]:
         nice_path, format_, OS_AUTO, capa.main.BACKEND_VIV, DEFAULT_SIGNATURES, False, disable_progress=True
     )
 
-    capabilities, _ = capa.main.find_capabilities(ctx.rules, extractor, disable_progress=True)
+    capabilities, _ = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(ctx.rules, extractor, disable_progress=True)
     # mypy doesn't seem to be happy with the MatchResults type alias & set(...keys())?
     # so we ignore a few types here.
     capabilities = set(capabilities.keys())  # type: ignore
diff --git a/scripts/profile-time.py b/scripts/profile-time.py
index 9acd60ff..86590a80 100644
--- a/scripts/profile-time.py
+++ b/scripts/profile-time.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ import capa.helpers
 import capa.features
 import capa.features.common
 import capa.features.freeze
+import capa.capabilities.common
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("capa.profile")
 
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ def main(argv=None):
 
         def do_iteration():
             capa.perf.reset()
-            capa.main.find_capabilities(rules, extractor, disable_progress=True)
+            capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, extractor, disable_progress=True)
             pbar.update(1)
 
         samples = timeit.repeat(do_iteration, number=args.number, repeat=args.repeat)
diff --git a/scripts/show-capabilities-by-function.py b/scripts/show-capabilities-by-function.py
index 509c3a84..e987b680 100644
--- a/scripts/show-capabilities-by-function.py
+++ b/scripts/show-capabilities-by-function.py
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ import capa.exceptions
 import capa.render.utils as rutils
 import capa.render.verbose
 import capa.features.freeze
+import capa.capabilities.common
 import capa.render.result_document as rd
 from capa.helpers import get_file_taste
 from capa.features.common import FORMAT_AUTO
@@ -186,7 +187,7 @@ def main(argv=None):
             capa.helpers.log_unsupported_runtime_error()
             return -1
 
-    capabilities, counts = capa.main.find_capabilities(rules, extractor)
+    capabilities, counts = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, extractor)
 
     meta = capa.main.collect_metadata(argv, args.sample, format_, args.os, args.rules, extractor, counts)
     meta.analysis.layout = capa.main.compute_layout(rules, extractor, capabilities)
diff --git a/tests/test_capabilities.py b/tests/test_capabilities.py
index ef86d102..fe02985c 100644
--- a/tests/test_capabilities.py
+++ b/tests/test_capabilities.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.
 import textwrap
 
-import capa.features.capabilities.common
+import capa.capabilities.common
 
 
 def test_match_across_scopes_file_function(z9324d_extractor):
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def test_match_across_scopes_file_function(z9324d_extractor):
             ),
         ]
     )
-    capabilities, meta = capa.features.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
+    capabilities, meta = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
     assert "install service" in capabilities
     assert ".text section" in capabilities
     assert ".text section and install service" in capabilities
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def test_match_across_scopes(z9324d_extractor):
             ),
         ]
     )
-    capabilities, meta = capa.features.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
+    capabilities, meta = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
     assert "tight loop" in capabilities
     assert "kill thread loop" in capabilities
     assert "kill thread program" in capabilities
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def test_subscope_bb_rules(z9324d_extractor):
         ]
     )
     # tight loop at 0x403685
-    capabilities, meta = capa.features.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
+    capabilities, meta = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
     assert "test rule" in capabilities
 
 
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def test_byte_matching(z9324d_extractor):
             )
         ]
     )
-    capabilities, meta = capa.features.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
+    capabilities, meta = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
     assert "byte match test" in capabilities
 
 
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ def test_count_bb(z9324d_extractor):
             )
         ]
     )
-    capabilities, meta = capa.features.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
+    capabilities, meta = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
     assert "count bb" in capabilities
 
 
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ def test_instruction_scope(z9324d_extractor):
             )
         ]
     )
-    capabilities, meta = capa.features.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
+    capabilities, meta = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
     assert "push 1000" in capabilities
     assert 0x4071A4 in {result[0] for result in capabilities["push 1000"]}
 
@@ -278,6 +278,6 @@ def test_instruction_subscope(z9324d_extractor):
             )
         ]
     )
-    capabilities, meta = capa.features.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
+    capabilities, meta = capa.capabilities.common.find_capabilities(rules, z9324d_extractor)
     assert "push 1000 on i386" in capabilities
     assert 0x406F60 in {result[0] for result in capabilities["push 1000 on i386"]}