diff --git a/coub-dl.py b/coub-dl.py
index 953bd0a..7389f8f 100644
--- a/coub-dl.py
+++ b/coub-dl.py
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ def print_opt(*args, **kwargs):
         print(*args, **kwargs)
 
 
+def get_output(*args, **kwargs):
+    return check_output(*args, **kwargs).decode().rstrip('\n')
+
+
 def run(url, files_dict, directory):
     # download streams and update FILE dict with extensions
     download_audio_stream(url, files_dict)
@@ -91,8 +95,8 @@ def download_audio_stream(url, file_dict):
 
 @call_verbose(before_message='Downloading video stream... ')
 def download_video_stream(url, file_dict):
-    url = check_output(('youtube-dl',
-                        '--get-url', url)).decode('utf-8').strip()
+    url = get_output(('youtube-dl',
+                        '--get-url', url))
 
     curl = Popen(('curl', '--silent',
                           '--write-out',
@@ -103,8 +107,8 @@ def download_video_stream(url, file_dict):
     grep = Popen(('grep', '--only-matching', '"http.*"'),
                  stdin=curl.stdout, stdout=PIPE)
 
-    url = check_output(('sed', 's/muted_//g'),
-                       stdin=grep.stdout).decode('utf-8').strip().strip('"')
+    url = get_output(('sed', 's/muted_//g'),
+                       stdin=grep.stdout).strip('"')
 
     call(('youtube-dl', '--ignore-config',
                         '--output', '{}.%(ext)s'.format(file_dict[Stream.VIDEO]),
@@ -176,7 +180,7 @@ def check_for_dependencies():
 
 def determine_output_filename(url, user_supplied, extension, files_dict):
     if user_supplied is None:
-        files_dict[File.OUTPUT] = check_output(('youtube-dl', '--get-title', url)).decode('utf-8').strip()
+        files_dict[File.OUTPUT] = get_output(('youtube-dl', '--get-title', url))
     else:
         files_dict[File.OUTPUT] = user_supplied
     files_dict[File.OUTPUT] += extension