diff --git a/modules/Facts.py b/modules/Facts.py
index 1e87588..b66771a 100644
--- a/modules/Facts.py
+++ b/modules/Facts.py
@@ -78,24 +78,40 @@ class Facts(Module):
             if match:
                 category = match.group(1)
                 regex = match.group(2)
-                category_facts = cur.execute('SELECT * FROM facts_facts WHERE category=? AND fact REGEXP ?', (category, regex))
-                facts = category_facts.fetchall()
-                if len(facts) > 0:
-                    fact = facts[random.randint(1,len(facts))-1]
-                    return self.reply(connection, event, fact['fact'].rstrip().encode('utf-8', 'ignore'))
+                return self.reply(connection, event, self._get_fact(category, regex))
 
             match = re.search('^!facts\s+(\S+)$', what)
             if match:
                 category = match.group(1)
-                category_facts = cur.execute('SELECT * FROM facts_facts WHERE category=?', (category,))
-                facts = category_facts.fetchall()
-                if len(facts) > 0:
-                    fact = facts[random.randint(1,len(facts))-1]
-                    return self.reply(connection, event, fact['fact'].rstrip().encode('utf-8', 'ignore'))
+                return self.reply(connection, event, self._get_fact(category))
             db.close()
         except sqlite3.Error as e:
             db.close()
             return self.reply(connection, event, "sqlite error: " + str(e))
 
+    def _get_fact(self, category, search=""):
+        """Get a fact in the given category from the database."""
+
+        try:
+            db = self.get_db()
+            cur = db.cursor()
+
+            if search == "":
+                category_facts = cur.execute("SELECT * FROM facts_facts WHERE category=?", (category,))
+                facts = category_facts.fetchall()
+                db.close()
+            else:
+                category_facts = cur.execute("SELECT * FROM facts_facts WHERE category=? AND fact REGEXP ?",
+                  (category, search))
+                facts = category_facts.fetchall()
+                db.close()
+
+            if len(facts) > 0:
+                fact = facts[random.randint(1,len(facts))-1]
+                return fact['fact'].rstrip().encode('utf-8', 'ignore')
+        except sqlite3.Error as e:
+            db.close()
+            return self.reply(connection, event, "sqlite error in _get_fact: " + str(e))
+
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