diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index 44dea05..dcb07cd 100644
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -97,8 +97,7 @@ class IRCBot():
         try:
             this_time = self.config["times"][channel]
         except KeyError:
-            this_time = time()
-            self.config["times"][channel] = this_time
+            this_time = self.config["times"][channel] = time()
             self.write_config()
         return this_time
     
@@ -113,6 +112,10 @@ class IRCBot():
             value = self.config["counts"][channel] = 1
         self.write_config()
         return value
+    
+    def reset_count(self, channel):
+        self.config["counts"][channel] = 0
+        self.write_config()
 
     def command_loop(self):
         while True:
@@ -164,11 +167,10 @@ class IRCBot():
                     channel_time = self.check_time(channel)
                     now = time()
                     count = self.counter(channel)
-                    if now - channel_time > timeout and count < messages_within_timeout:
-                        self.config["counts"][channel] = 0
-                        self.write_config()
+                    delta = now - channel_time
+                    if delta > timeout and count < messages_within_timeout:
+                        self.reset_count(channel)
                         self.send("#bots", f"i hear activity in {channel}...")
-                        # self.send("#tildetown", f"i hear activity in {channel}...")
                     self.set_time(channel, now)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":