diff --git a/opm/core/wells/WellCollection.cpp b/opm/core/wells/WellCollection.cpp
index 0cc7a9ce..260c156f 100644
--- a/opm/core/wells/WellCollection.cpp
+++ b/opm/core/wells/WellCollection.cpp
@@ -35,20 +35,8 @@ namespace Opm
             parent = roots_[roots_.size() - 1].get();
         }
 
-        std::shared_ptr<WellsGroupInterface> child;
+        std::shared_ptr<WellsGroupInterface> child = getAndUnRootChild(groupChild->name());
 
-        for (size_t i = 0; i < roots_.size(); ++i) {
-            if (roots_[i]->name() == groupChild->name()) {
-                child = roots_[i];
-                // We've found a new parent to the previously thought root, need to remove it
-                for(size_t j = i; j < roots_.size() - 1; ++j) {
-                    roots_[j] = roots_[j+1];
-                }
-
-                roots_.resize(roots_.size()-1);
-                break;
-            }
-        }
         if (!child.get()) {
             child = createGroupWellsGroup(groupChild, timeStep, phaseUsage);
         }
@@ -74,20 +62,8 @@ namespace Opm
             parent = roots_[roots_.size() - 1].get();
         }
 
-        std::shared_ptr<WellsGroupInterface> child;
+        std::shared_ptr<WellsGroupInterface> child = getAndUnRootChild(wellChild->name());
 
-        for (size_t i = 0; i < roots_.size(); ++i) {
-            if (roots_[i]->name() == wellChild->name()) {
-                child = roots_[i];
-                // We've found a new parent to the previously thought root, need to remove it
-                for(size_t j = i; j < roots_.size() - 1; ++j) {
-                    roots_[j] = roots_[j+1];
-                }
-
-                roots_.resize(roots_.size()-1);
-                break;
-            }
-        }
         if (!child.get()) {
             child = createWellWellsGroup(wellChild, timeStep, phaseUsage);
         }
@@ -115,20 +91,9 @@ namespace Opm
             roots_.push_back(createWellsGroup(parent_name, deck));
             parent = roots_[roots_.size() - 1].get();
         }
-        std::shared_ptr<WellsGroupInterface> child;
 
-        for (size_t i = 0; i < roots_.size(); ++i) {
-            if (roots_[i]->name() == child_name) {
-                child = roots_[i];
-                // We've found a new parent to the previously thought root, need to remove it
-                for(size_t j = i; j < roots_.size() - 1; ++j) {
-                    roots_[j] = roots_[j+1];
-                }
+        std::shared_ptr<WellsGroupInterface> child = getAndUnRootChild(child_name);
 
-                roots_.resize(roots_.size()-1);
-                break;
-            }
-        }
         if (!child.get()) {
             child = createWellsGroup(child_name, deck);
         }
@@ -147,6 +112,23 @@ namespace Opm
     }
 
 
+    std::shared_ptr<WellsGroupInterface> WellCollection::getAndUnRootChild(std::string child_name) {
+        std::shared_ptr<WellsGroupInterface> child;
+
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < roots_.size(); ++i) {
+            if (roots_[i]->name() == child_name) {
+                child = roots_[i];
+                // We've found a new parent to the previously thought root, need to remove it
+                for(size_t j = i; j < roots_.size() - 1; ++j) {
+                    roots_[j] = roots_[j+1];
+                }
+
+                roots_.resize(roots_.size()-1);
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        return child;
+    }
 
     const std::vector<WellNode*>& WellCollection::getLeafNodes() const {
         return leaf_nodes_;
diff --git a/opm/core/wells/WellCollection.hpp b/opm/core/wells/WellCollection.hpp
index 8933ff03..e017b50b 100644
--- a/opm/core/wells/WellCollection.hpp
+++ b/opm/core/wells/WellCollection.hpp
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ namespace Opm
                                               const std::vector<double>& well_surfacerates_phase);
 
     private:
+        std::shared_ptr<WellsGroupInterface> getAndUnRootChild(std::string child_name);
         // To account for the possibility of a forest
         std::vector<std::shared_ptr<WellsGroupInterface> > roots_;