diff --git a/common/android.py b/common/android.py
index e88080884c2401..a4b8b836e648f1 100644
--- a/common/android.py
+++ b/common/android.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import re
 import struct
 import subprocess
+import random
 
 ANDROID = os.path.isfile('/EON')
 
@@ -17,9 +18,10 @@ def get_imei(slot):
   if slot not in ("0", "1"):
     raise ValueError("SIM slot must be 0 or 1")
 
-  ret = parse_service_call_string(["iphonesubinfo", "3" ,"i32", str(slot)])
+  ret = parse_service_call_string(service_call(["iphonesubinfo", "3" ,"i32", str(slot)]))
   if not ret:
-    ret = "000000000000000"
+    # allow non android to be identified differently
+    ret = "%015d" % random.randint(0, 1<<32)
   return ret
 
 def get_serial():
@@ -29,7 +31,7 @@ def get_serial():
   return ret
 
 def get_subscriber_info():
-  ret = parse_service_call_string(["iphonesubinfo", "7"])
+  ret = parse_service_call_string(service_call(["iphonesubinfo", "7"]))
   if ret is None or len(ret) < 8:
     return ""
   return ret
@@ -47,15 +49,23 @@ def reboot(reason=None):
     "i32", "1" # wait
   ])
 
-def parse_service_call_unpack(call, fmt):
-  r = parse_service_call_bytes(call)
+def service_call(call):
+  if not ANDROID:
+    return None
+
+  ret = subprocess.check_output(["service", "call", *call], encoding='utf8').strip()
+  if 'Parcel' not in ret:
+    return None
+
+  return parse_service_call_bytes(ret)
+
+def parse_service_call_unpack(r, fmt):
   try:
     return struct.unpack(fmt, r)[0]
   except Exception:
     return None
 
-def parse_service_call_string(call):
-  r = parse_service_call_bytes(call)
+def parse_service_call_string(r):
   try:
     r = r[8:] # Cut off length field
     r = r.decode('utf_16_be')
@@ -71,13 +81,7 @@ def parse_service_call_string(call):
   except Exception:
     return None
 
-def parse_service_call_bytes(call):
-  if not ANDROID:
-    return None
-  ret = subprocess.check_output(["service", "call", *call], encoding='utf8').strip()
-  if 'Parcel' not in ret:
-    return None
-
+def parse_service_call_bytes(ret):
   try:
     r = b""
     for hex_part in re.findall(r'[ (]([0-9a-f]{8})', ret):
diff --git a/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py b/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
index 76d4a9ed38cda0..bf3836d07f3173 100755
--- a/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
+++ b/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
@@ -204,8 +204,8 @@ def getSimInfo():
   network_type = android.getprop("gsm.network.type").split(',')
   mcc_mnc = android.getprop("gsm.sim.operator.numeric") or None
 
-  sim_id = android.parse_service_call_string(['iphonesubinfo', '11'])
-  cell_data_state = android.parse_service_call_unpack(['phone', '46'], ">q")
+  sim_id = android.parse_service_call_string(android.service_call(['iphonesubinfo', '11']))
+  cell_data_state = android.parse_service_call_unpack(android.service_call(['phone', '46']), ">q")
   cell_data_connected = (cell_data_state == 2)
 
   return {