diff --git a/atproto/models.py b/atproto/models.py
index 8cc7811..aba16cb 100644
--- a/atproto/models.py
+++ b/atproto/models.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import json
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Any
@@ -7,6 +8,16 @@ URI = "at://"
 URI_LEN = len(URI)
 
 
+def cid_from_json(data: str | None) -> str | None:
+    if not data:
+        return None
+
+    try:
+        return str(json.loads(data)["cid"])
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, AttributeError, KeyError):
+        return None
+
+
 class AtUri:
     @classmethod
     def record_uri(cls, uri: str) -> tuple[str, str, str]:
diff --git a/bluesky/output.py b/bluesky/output.py
index 3a290da..f4d5829 100644
--- a/bluesky/output.py
+++ b/bluesky/output.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from atproto.models import (
     SelfLabel,
     SelfLabels,
     StrongRef,
+    cid_from_json,
 )
 from atproto.store import get_store
 from bluesky.client import BlueskyClient
@@ -224,16 +225,10 @@ class BlueskyOutputService(BlueskyService, OutputService):
                 self.log.error("Skipping '%s': failed to fetch parent posts from db")
                 return
 
-            try:
-                root_cid_data = root_post["extra_data"]
-                root_cid = (
-                    json.loads(root_cid_data).get("cid", "") if root_cid_data else ""
-                )
-                reply_cid_data = reply_post["extra_data"]
-                reply_cid = (
-                    json.loads(reply_cid_data).get("cid", "") if reply_cid_data else ""
-                )
-            except (json.JSONDecodeError, AttributeError, KeyError):
+            root_cid = cid_from_json(root_post["extra_data"])
+            reply_cid = cid_from_json(reply_post["extra_data"])
+
+            if not root_cid or not reply_cid:
                 self.log.error("Skipping '%s': failed to parse CID from db")
                 return
 
@@ -318,30 +313,19 @@ class BlueskyOutputService(BlueskyService, OutputService):
             )
             if not quoted_post:
                 self.log.error("Skipping '%s': quoted post not found in db!")
-            else:
-                quoted_mappings = self._get_mappings(
-                    quoted_post["id"], self.url, self.did
-                )
-                if not quoted_mappings:
-                    self.log.error(
-                        "Skipping '%s': failed to find mappings for quoted post"
-                    )
-                else:
-                    bluesky_quoted_post = self._get_post(
-                        self.url, self.did, quoted_mappings[0]["identifier"]
-                    )
-                    if not bluesky_quoted_post:
-                        self.log.error(
-                            "Skipping '%s': Failed to find Bluesky quoted post!"
-                        )
-                    else:
-                        quoted_cid_data = bluesky_quoted_post["extra_data"]
-                        quoted_cid = (
-                            json.loads(quoted_cid_data).get("cid", "")
-                            if quoted_cid_data
-                            else ""
-                        )
-                        quoted_uri = quoted_mappings[0]["identifier"]
+                return
+
+            quoted_mappings = self._get_mappings(quoted_post["id"], self.url, self.did)
+            if not quoted_mappings:
+                self.log.error("Skipping '%s': failed to find mappings for quoted post")
+                return
+
+            quoted_cid = cid_from_json(quoted_mappings[0]["extra_data"])
+            if not quoted_cid:
+                self.log.error("Skipping '%s': failed to parse CID from db")
+                return
+
+            quoted_uri = quoted_mappings[0]["identifier"]
 
         splitter = TokenSplitter(max_chars=300, max_link_len=30)
         token_blocks = splitter.split(tokens)
@@ -583,9 +567,8 @@ class BlueskyOutputService(BlueskyService, OutputService):
         if not mappings:
             return
 
-        try:
-            cid = json.loads(mappings[0]["extra_data"])["cid"]
-        except (json.JSONDecodeError, AttributeError, KeyError):
+        cid = cid_from_json(mappings[0]["extra_data"])
+        if not cid:
             self.log.exception("Skipping '%s': failed to parse CID from extra_data")
             return