diff --git a/ambientd.c3 b/ambientd.c3
index f923461..a8fabad 100644
--- a/ambientd.c3
+++ b/ambientd.c3
@@ -74,9 +74,18 @@ fn void! write_int(String path, int value)
 	fp.write(b)!;
 }
 
-// returns the luminance value in percentage between 0 and 1
+// returns the raw luminance value
 macro get_luminance_raw() { return read_int(LUMINANCE_DEV); }
 
+// write the brightness value, on fail log on stderr
+macro write_brightness(int b)
+{
+	anyfault e = @catch(write_int(BRIGHTNESS_DEV, b));
+	if (e) {
+		io::eprintfn("Error writing brightness: %s", e);
+	}
+}
+
 fn float bezier(float t)
 {
 	const float B = 0.66;
@@ -164,16 +173,10 @@ fn int main()
 			if (brightness_now == brightness_adjusted) { return; }
 			int step = (brightness_adjusted-brightness_now)/(SMOOTH_SAMPLES-1);
 			for (int i; i < SMOOTH_SAMPLES-1; i++) {
-				anyfault e = @catch(write_int(BRIGHTNESS_DEV, brightness_now + step*i));
-				if (e) {
-					io::eprintfn("Error writing brightness: %s", e);
-				}
+				write_brightness(brightness_now + step*i);
 				thread::sleep_ms(SMOOTH_DURATION/SMOOTH_SAMPLES);
 			}
-			anyfault e = @catch(write_int(BRIGHTNESS_DEV, brightness_adjusted));
-			if (e) {
-				io::eprintfn("Error writing brightness: %s", e);
-			}
+			write_brightness(brightness_adjusted);
 		|};
 
 		thread::sleep_ms(SLEEP_DELAY);