diff --git a/redi/ext.py b/redi/ext.py
index 818a62f..a571471 100644
--- a/redi/ext.py
+++ b/redi/ext.py
@@ -10,17 +10,15 @@ This module contains extra stuff.
 
 
 from . import config
-from .utils import is_collection
+from . import models
+from .utils import is_collection, compress_key
 
 
-
-def expand_key(key):
-    """Expands tupled keys."""
-
-    if is_collection(key):
-        key = config.namespace_delimiter.join(key)
-
-    return key
+TYPE_MAP = {
+    'value': models.RedisListString,
+    'string': models.RedisListString,
+    'list': models.RedisList
+}
 
 
 def auto_type(key, redis=None, default=None):
@@ -29,3 +27,20 @@ def auto_type(key, redis=None, default=None):
     if redis is None:
         redis = config.redis
 
+    key = compress_key(key)
+
+    if redis.exists(key):
+
+        datatype = redis.type(key)
+
+        return TYPE_MAP.get(datatype)(key, redis=redis)
+
+    else:
+        if default:
+            try:
+                return TYPE_MAP.get(default)(key, redis=redis)
+            except KeyError:
+                raise ValueError('Provide a valid default redis type.')
+
+        return None
+