diff --git a/hexlib/mq.py b/hexlib/mq.py
index ae3bcce..d4ea439 100644
--- a/hexlib/mq.py
+++ b/hexlib/mq.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import json
+from collections import namedtuple
 from functools import partial
 from itertools import islice
 from time import sleep, time
@@ -6,6 +7,34 @@ from time import sleep, time
 from orjson import orjson
 from redis import Redis
 
+RoutingKeyParts = namedtuple(
+    "RoutingKeyParts",
+    ["arc_list", "project", "subproject", "type", "category"]
+)
+
+
+def parse_routing_key(key):
+    tokens = key.split(".")
+
+    if len(tokens) == 4:
+        arc_list, project, type_, category = tokens
+        return RoutingKeyParts(
+            arc_list=arc_list,
+            project=project,
+            subproject=None,
+            type=type_,
+            category=category
+        )
+    else:
+        arc_list, project, subproject, type_, category = tokens
+        return RoutingKeyParts(
+            arc_list=arc_list,
+            project=project,
+            subproject=subproject,
+            type=type_,
+            category=category
+        )
+
 
 class MessageQueue:
     def read_messages(self, topics):
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 7da3eb3..0fa63e3 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from setuptools import setup
 
 setup(
     name="hexlib",
-    version="1.62",
+    version="1.63",
     description="Misc utility methods",
     author="simon987",
     author_email="me@simon987.net",
diff --git a/test/test_redis_mq.py b/test/test_redis_mq.py
index f12f637..2df94b9 100644
--- a/test/test_redis_mq.py
+++ b/test/test_redis_mq.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from unittest import TestCase
 
 from hexlib.env import get_redis
-from hexlib.mq import RedisMQ
+from hexlib.mq import RedisMQ, parse_routing_key, RoutingKeyParts
 
 
 class TestRedisMQ(TestCase):
@@ -47,3 +47,16 @@ class TestRedisMQ(TestCase):
 
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             mq.publish({"a": 1}, item_project="test", item_type="msg")
+
+
+class TestRoutingKey(TestCase):
+
+    def test1(self):
+        key = "arc.chan.4chan.post.b"
+        parts = parse_routing_key(key)
+        self.assertEqual(parts, RoutingKeyParts("arc", "chan", "4chan", "post", "b"))
+
+    def test2(self):
+        key = "arc.reddit.submission.birdpics"
+        parts = parse_routing_key(key)
+        self.assertEqual(parts, RoutingKeyParts("arc", "reddit", None, "submission", "birdpics"))