diff --git a/internal/connection/connection.go b/internal/connection/connection.go
index 679d3f9..a7146d8 100644
--- a/internal/connection/connection.go
+++ b/internal/connection/connection.go
@@ -80,14 +80,7 @@ func Put(ctx context.Context, sess *oauth.ClientSession, db *sql.DB, rec Record)
 		rec.ConnectedAt = time.Now().UTC()
 	}
 
-	value := map[string]any{
-		"$type":       NSID,
-		"with":        rec.With.String(),
-		"connectedAt": rec.ConnectedAt.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
-	}
-	if rec.EventURI != "" {
-		value["event"] = rec.EventURI
-	}
+	value := buildConnectionValue(rec.With, rec.ConnectedAt, rec.EventURI)
 
 	input := map[string]any{
 		"repo":       sess.Data.AccountDID.String(),