diff --git a/store/cmd_hist.go b/store/cmd_hist.go
index 2736f32f..0e89a90e 100644
--- a/store/cmd_hist.go
+++ b/store/cmd_hist.go
@@ -15,17 +15,7 @@ func init() {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		tx, err := db.Begin()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		err = addLastAmongDup(tx)
-		if err != nil {
-			tx.Rollback()
-		} else {
-			tx.Commit()
-		}
-		return err
+		return transaction(db, addLastAmongDup)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/store/sqlutil.go b/store/sqlutil.go
index b3af9df9..ff9a934f 100644
--- a/store/sqlutil.go
+++ b/store/sqlutil.go
@@ -25,3 +25,19 @@ func hasColumn(rows *sql.Rows, colname string) (bool, error) {
 	}
 	return false, rows.Err()
 }
+
+// transaction creates a Tx and calls f on it. It commits or rollbacks the
+// transaction depending on whether f suceeded.
+func transaction(db *sql.DB, f func(*sql.Tx) error) error {
+	tx, err := db.Begin()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	err = f(tx)
+	if err != nil {
+		tx.Rollback()
+	} else {
+		tx.Commit()
+	}
+	return err
+}