diff --git a/lib/paxos.ex b/lib/paxos.ex
index b098a22..b0fba5d 100644
--- a/lib/paxos.ex
+++ b/lib/paxos.ex
@@ -455,25 +455,13 @@ defmodule Paxos do
   def propose_loop(inInst) do
     receive do
       {:timeout, inst} ->
-        if inInst == inst do
-          {:timeout}
-        else
-          propose_loop(inInst)
-        end
+        check_and_apply({:timeout}, inst, inInst, &propose_loop/1)
 
       {:abort, inst} ->
-        if inInst == inst do
-          {:abort}
-        else
-          propose_loop(inInst)
-        end
+        check_and_apply({:abort}, inst, inInst, &propose_loop/1)
 
       {:decision, inst, d} ->
-        if inInst == inst do
-          {:decision, d}
-        else
-          propose_loop(inInst)
-        end
+        check_and_apply({:decision, d}, inst, inInst, &propose_loop/1)
 
       x ->
         Process.send_after(self(), x, 500)
@@ -489,22 +477,22 @@ defmodule Paxos do
   def get_decision_loop(inInst) do
     receive do
       {:get_value_res, inst} ->
-        if inst == inInst do
-          nil
-        else
-          get_decision_loop(inInst)
-        end
+        check_and_apply(nil, inst, inInst, &get_decision_loop/1)
 
       {:get_value_res_actual, inst, v} ->
-        if inst == inInst do
-          v
-        else
-          get_decision_loop(inInst)
-        end
+        check_and_apply(v, inst, inInst, &get_decision_loop/1)
 
       x ->
         Process.send_after(self(), x, 500)
         get_decision_loop(inInst)
     end
   end
+
+  def check_and_apply(v, inst, inInst, fun) do
+    if inst == inInst do
+      v
+    else
+      fun.(inInst)
+    end
+  end
 end