diff --git a/data.c b/data.c
index a5f46e8..0f2bd39 100644
--- a/data.c
+++ b/data.c
@@ -824,6 +824,13 @@ double timeline_mtime(snac *snac)
 }
 
 
+int timeline_get(snac *snac, const char *id, xs_dict **msg)
+/* gets a message from the timeline */
+{
+    return object_get_by_md5(id, msg, NULL);
+}
+
+
 int timeline_del(snac *snac, char *id)
 /* deletes a message from the timeline */
 {
diff --git a/html.c b/html.c
index a91ac76..2f9cf77 100644
--- a/html.c
+++ b/html.c
@@ -1256,7 +1256,7 @@ int html_get_handler(d_char *req, char *q_path, char **body, int *b_size, char *
         while (xs_list_iter(&p, &v)) {
             xs *msg  = NULL;
 
-            if (!valid_status(object_get_by_md5(v, &msg, NULL)))
+            if (!valid_status(timeline_get(&snac, v, &msg)))
                 continue;
 
             char *id = xs_dict_get(msg, "id");
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index 7c417cf..b456be7 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ int follower_check(snac *snac, const char *actor);
 d_char *follower_list(snac *snac);
 
 double timeline_mtime(snac *snac);
+int timeline_get(snac *snac, const char *id, xs_dict **msg);
 int timeline_del(snac *snac, char *id);
 d_char *timeline_simple_list(snac *snac, const char *idx_name, int skip, int show);
 d_char *timeline_list(snac *snac, const char *idx_name, int skip, int show);