diff --git a/modules/quotes/quotes.js b/modules/quotes/quotes.js
index 1d0b842..0bc18c3 100644
--- a/modules/quotes/quotes.js
+++ b/modules/quotes/quotes.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ var quotes = function(dbot) {
         'interpolatedQuote': function(server, channel, key, quote, callback) {
             var quoteRefs = quote.match(/~~([\d\w\s-]*)~~/g);
             if(quoteRefs) {
-                var ref = dbot.cleanNick(quoteRefs[0].replace(/^~~/,'').replace(/~~$/,'').trim());
+                var ref = this.internalAPI.cleanRef(quoteRefs[0].replace(/^~~/,'').replace(/~~$/,'').trim());
                 if(ref === '-nicks-') {
                     dbot.api.users.getRandomChannelUser(server, channel, function(user) {
                         quote = quote.replace('~~' + ref + '~~', randomNick);
@@ -33,6 +33,14 @@ var quotes = function(dbot) {
             }
         }.bind(this),
 
+        'cleanRef': function(key) {
+            key = key.toLowerCase();
+            while(key.endsWith("_")) {
+                key = key.substring(0, key.length-1);
+            }
+            return key;
+        },
+
         'resetRemoveTimer': function(event, key, quote) {
             this.rmAllowed = false;
             setTimeout(function() {
diff --git a/run.js b/run.js
index 2af040c..ced9144 100644
--- a/run.js
+++ b/run.js
@@ -315,15 +315,4 @@ DBot.prototype.reloadModules = function() {
     this.save();
 };
 
-DBot.prototype.cleanNick = function(key) {
-    key = key.toLowerCase();
-    while(key.endsWith("_")) {
-        if(_.has(this.db.quoteArrs, key)) {
-            return key;
-        }
-        key = key.substring(0, key.length-1);
-    }
-    return key;
-}
-
 new DBot();