diff --git a/service/src/service_utils/__init__.py b/service/src/service_utils/__init__.py
index 6f127c9763..d8e1a43995 100644
--- a/service/src/service_utils/__init__.py
+++ b/service/src/service_utils/__init__.py
@@ -34,19 +34,19 @@
 __license__ = "Apache License, Version 2.0"
 """ The license for the module """
 
-from . import async
+from . import asynchronous
 from . import exceptions
-from . import sync
+from . import synchronous
 from . import system
 from . import threads
 
-from .async import SelectPolling, EpollPolling, KqueuePolling, Connection
+from .asynchronous import SelectPolling, EpollPolling, KqueuePolling, Connection
 from .exceptions import ServiceUtilsException, SocketProviderNotFound, SocketUpgraderNotFound,\
     ServerRequestTimeout, ClientRequestTimeout, ServerResponseTimeout, ClientResponseTimeout,\
     RequestClosed, PortStarvationReached, ConnectionChangeFailure
-from .sync import AbstractServiceConnectionHandler, AbstractServiceConnectionlessHandler
+from .synchronous import AbstractServiceConnectionHandler, AbstractServiceConnectionlessHandler
 from .system import ServiceUtils
 from .threads import ServiceAcceptingThread, ServiceExecutionThread
 
-from .async import AbstractService as AbstractServiceAsync
-from .sync import AbstractService as AbstractServiceSync
+from .asynchronous import AbstractService as AbstractServiceAsync
+from .synchronous import AbstractService as AbstractServiceSync
diff --git a/service/src/service_utils/async.py b/service/src/service_utils/asynchronous.py
similarity index 97%
rename from service/src/service_utils/async.py
rename to service/src/service_utils/asynchronous.py
index 75a5a3c2c5..e005559fad 100644
--- a/service/src/service_utils/async.py
+++ b/service/src/service_utils/asynchronous.py
@@ -119,10 +119,10 @@ class AbstractService(object):
     """
 
     service_utils = None
-    """ The service utils """
+    """ The service utils system reference """
 
     service_utils_plugin = None
-    """ The service utils plugin """
+    """ The service utils plugin reference """
 
     stop_flag = False
     """ The flag that controls the execution of the main loop
diff --git a/service/src/service_utils/sync.py b/service/src/service_utils/synchronous.py
similarity index 100%
rename from service/src/service_utils/sync.py
rename to service/src/service_utils/synchronous.py
diff --git a/service/src/service_utils/system.py b/service/src/service_utils/system.py
index 1e6ef51220..9a7e3b0f26 100644
--- a/service/src/service_utils/system.py
+++ b/service/src/service_utils/system.py
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@
 
 import colony
 
-from . import sync
-from . import async
+from . import synchronous
+from . import asynchronous
 from . import exceptions
 
 PORT_RANGES = (
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@
 """ The ranges of port available for services """
 
 SERVICE_CLASSES_MAP = {
-    "sync" : sync.AbstractService,
-    "async" : async.AbstractService
+    "sync" : synchronous.AbstractService,
+    "async" : asynchronous.AbstractService
 }
 """ The map containing the various abstract service types """
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def generate_service(self, parameters):
         # retrieves the service type from the parameters in order
         # to retrieve the proper (abstract) service class
         service_type = parameters.get("service_type", "sync")
-        service_class = SERVICE_CLASSES_MAP.get(service_type, sync.AbstractService)
+        service_class = SERVICE_CLASSES_MAP.get(service_type, synchronous.AbstractService)
 
         # creates the service "instance" using the abstract service class
         service_instance = service_class(self, self.plugin, parameters)