diff --git a/scripts/outdated.rs b/scripts/outdated.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8fd09f428
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/outdated.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
+
+use anyhow::Result;
+use anyhow::{ensure, Context as _};
+use serde::Deserialize;
+
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+struct Outdated<'a> {
+    crate_name: &'a str,
+    dependencies: Vec<Dependency<'a>>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+struct Dependency<'a> {
+    name: &'a str,
+    project: &'a str,
+    latest: &'a str,
+}
+
+pub fn list_outdated_deps() -> Result<()> {
+    let output = Command::new("cargo")
+        .args(["outdated", "--root-deps-only", "--format=json"])
+        .stderr(Stdio::inherit())
+        .stdout(Stdio::piped())
+        .output()
+        .context("couldn't exec `cargo`")?;
+    ensure!(
+        output.status.success(),
+        "command failed with {}",
+        output.status
+    );
+
+    let outdated_items = serde_json::Deserializer::from_slice(&output.stdout)
+        .into_iter::<Outdated<'_>>()
+        .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()
+        .context("failed to parse output from `cargo outdated`")?;
+    for Outdated {
+        crate_name,
+        dependencies,
+    } in outdated_items
+    {
+        for Dependency {
+            name,
+            project,
+            latest,
+        } in dependencies
+        {
+            // https://docs.github.com/en/actions/writing-workflows/choosing-what-your-workflow-does/workflow-commands-for-github-actions#setting-a-warning-message
+            println!("::warning title=outdated-dependency::dependency {name} of crate {crate_name} is at version {project}, but the latest is {latest}")
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/scripts/xtask.rs b/scripts/xtask.rs
index c60770e28..9218327f1 100644
--- a/scripts/xtask.rs
+++ b/scripts/xtask.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 //! General purpose scripts for development
 
-use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
+mod outdated;
 
-use anyhow::{ensure, Context as _};
+use anyhow::Result;
 use clap::Parser;
-use serde::Deserialize;
+use outdated::list_outdated_deps;
 
 #[derive(Parser)]
 enum Args {
@@ -18,52 +18,8 @@ enum Args {
     Outdated,
 }
 
-#[derive(Deserialize)]
-struct Outdated<'a> {
-    crate_name: &'a str,
-    dependencies: Vec<Dependency<'a>>,
-}
-
-#[derive(Deserialize)]
-struct Dependency<'a> {
-    name: &'a str,
-    project: &'a str,
-    latest: &'a str,
-}
-
-fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+fn main() -> Result<()> {
     match Args::parse() {
-        Args::Outdated => {
-            let output = Command::new("cargo")
-                .args(["outdated", "--root-deps-only", "--format=json"])
-                .stderr(Stdio::inherit())
-                .stdout(Stdio::piped())
-                .output()
-                .context("couldn't exec `cargo`")?;
-            ensure!(
-                output.status.success(),
-                "command failed with {}",
-                output.status
-            );
-            for Outdated {
-                crate_name,
-                dependencies,
-            } in serde_json::Deserializer::from_slice(&output.stdout)
-                .into_iter::<Outdated<'_>>()
-                .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()
-                .context("failed to parse output from `cargo outdated`")?
-            {
-                for Dependency {
-                    name,
-                    project,
-                    latest,
-                } in dependencies
-                {
-                    // https://docs.github.com/en/actions/writing-workflows/choosing-what-your-workflow-does/workflow-commands-for-github-actions#setting-a-warning-message
-                    println!("::warning title=outdated-dependency::dependency {name} of crate {crate_name} is at version {project}, but the latest is {latest}")
-                }
-            }
-        }
+        Args::Outdated => list_outdated_deps(),
     }
-    Ok(())
 }