diff --git a/src/Mod/Draft/draftutils/utils.py b/src/Mod/Draft/draftutils/utils.py
index 0c9d4a7de3..76f58081f0 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Draft/draftutils/utils.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Draft/draftutils/utils.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import FreeCAD as App
 from draftutils import params
 from draftutils.messages import _wrn, _err, _log
 from draftutils.translate import translate
+from builtins import open
 
 # TODO: move the functions that require the graphical interface
 # This module should not import any graphical commands; those should be
@@ -1197,4 +1198,10 @@ def use_instead(function, version=""):
     else:
         _wrn(translate("draft", "This function will be deprecated. Please use '{}'.") .format(function))
 
+
+def pyopen(file, mode='r', buffering=-1, encoding=None, errors=None, newline=None, closefd=True, opener=None):
+    if encoding is None:
+        encoding = 'utf-8'
+    return open(file, mode, buffering, encoding, errors, newline, closefd, opener)
+
 ## @}
diff --git a/src/Mod/Draft/importAirfoilDAT.py b/src/Mod/Draft/importAirfoilDAT.py
index 13e3d3d047..3488ed85a6 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Draft/importAirfoilDAT.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Draft/importAirfoilDAT.py
@@ -44,8 +44,7 @@ import Draft
 import Part
 from FreeCAD import Vector
 from FreeCAD import Console as FCC
-from builtins import open as pyopen
-
+from draftutils.utils import pyopen
 
 if FreeCAD.GuiUp:
     from draftutils.translate import translate
diff --git a/src/Mod/Draft/importDXF.py b/src/Mod/Draft/importDXF.py
index 3dae1e6d2c..1c3e5933c6 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Draft/importDXF.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Draft/importDXF.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ from Draft import LinearDimension
 from draftobjects.dimension import _Dimension
 from draftutils import params
 from draftutils import utils
-from builtins import open as pyopen
+from draftutils.utils import pyopen
 
 gui = FreeCAD.GuiUp
 draftui = None
@@ -1928,7 +1928,16 @@ def addObject(shape, name="Shape", layer=None):
         newob = shape
     if layer:
         lay = locateLayer(layer)
+        # For old style layers, which are just groups
         if hasattr(lay, "Group"):
+            pass
+        # For new Draft Layers
+        elif hasattr(lay, "Proxy") and hasattr(lay.Proxy, "Group"):
+            lay = lay.Proxy
+        else:
+            lay = None
+
+        if lay != None:
             if lay not in layerObjects:
                 l = []
                 layerObjects[lay] = l
@@ -1936,6 +1945,8 @@ def addObject(shape, name="Shape", layer=None):
                 l = layerObjects[lay]
             l.append(newob)
 
+
+
     formatObject(newob)
     return newob
 
diff --git a/src/Mod/Draft/importOCA.py b/src/Mod/Draft/importOCA.py
index d88ad488ff..810cd25d8e 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Draft/importOCA.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Draft/importOCA.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ import FreeCAD, os, Part, DraftVecUtils, DraftGeomUtils
 from FreeCAD import Vector
 from FreeCAD import Console as FCC
 from draftutils import params
-from builtins import open as pyopen
+from draftutils.utils import pyopen
 
 if FreeCAD.GuiUp:
     from draftutils.translate import translate
diff --git a/src/Mod/Draft/importSVG.py b/src/Mod/Draft/importSVG.py
index c15c60b8e6..e60cbd83ba 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Draft/importSVG.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Draft/importSVG.py
@@ -61,13 +61,7 @@ from draftutils import params
 from draftutils import utils
 from draftutils.translate import translate
 from draftutils.messages import _err, _msg, _wrn
-import builtins
-#redefine pyopen as open with encoding='utf-8'
-def utf8_open(file, mode='r', buffering=-1, encoding=None, errors=None, newline=None, closefd=True, opener=None):
-    if encoding is None:
-        encoding = 'utf-8'
-    return builtins.open(file, mode, buffering, encoding, errors, newline, closefd, opener)
-pyopen = utf8_open
+from draftutils.utils import pyopen
 
 if FreeCAD.GuiUp:
     from PySide import QtWidgets