diff --git a/fs_add_quest_steps.lua b/fs_add_quest_steps.lua
index 773280b..a008195 100644
--- a/fs_add_quest_steps.lua
+++ b/fs_add_quest_steps.lua
@@ -8,6 +8,22 @@ local grey_if_zero = function(fs, n)
 	table.insert(fs, minetest.formspec_escape(n))
 end
 
+
+-- find out in how many quest steps this NPC or location is used;
+-- ID can either be n_<ID> or a location p_(x,y,z)
+yl_speak_up.count_used_in_quest_steps = function(id, step_data)
+	local used = 0
+	for s, d in pairs(step_data or {}) do
+		for loc_id, loc in pairs(d.where or {}) do
+			if(loc and loc.n_id and loc.n_id == id) then
+				used = used + 1
+			end
+		end
+	end
+	return used
+end
+
+
 -- This order imposed here on the quest steps is the one in which the
 -- quest steps have to be solved - as far as we can tell (the quest
 -- may be in the process of beeing created and not logicly complete yet).
@@ -341,18 +357,11 @@ yl_speak_up.quest_npc_show_table = function(formspec, table_specs, liste, step_d
 	table.insert(formspec, " description:,#FFFFFF,Owner:,")
 	local tmp = {}
 	for i, n_id in ipairs(liste or {}) do
-		-- TODO: turn this into a function
-		-- find out in how many quest steps this NPC is used
-		local used = 0
-		for s, d in pairs(step_data) do
-			for loc_id, loc in pairs(d.where or {}) do
-				-- TODO: needs to be diffrent for locations
-				if(loc and loc.n_id and loc.n_id == "n_"..n_id) then
-					used = used + 1
-				end
-			end
+		local full_id = n_id
+		if(not(is_location_list)) then
+			full_id = "n_"..tostring(n_id)
 		end
-		grey_if_zero(tmp, used)
+		grey_if_zero(tmp, yl_speak_up.count_used_in_quest_steps(full_id, step_data))
 		-- the n_id of the NPC
 		table.insert(tmp, "#AAFFAA")
 		if(is_location_list) then