diff --git a/autoload/utility.vim b/autoload/utility.vim
index bba4fd8..28eb0c5 100644
--- a/autoload/utility.vim
+++ b/autoload/utility.vim
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ function! utility#has_unsaved_changes(file)
   return getbufvar(a:file, "&mod")
 endfunction
 
+function! utility#has_fresh_changes(file)
+  return getbufvar(a:file, 'changedtick') != getbufvar(a:file, 'gitgutter_last_tick', -1)
+endfunction
+
+function! utility#save_last_seen_change(file)
+  call setbufvar(a:file, 'gitgutter_last_tick', getbufvar(a:file, 'changedtick'))
+endfunction
+
 " https://github.com/tpope/vim-dispatch/blob/9cdd05a87f8a47120335be03dfcd8358544221cd/autoload/dispatch/windows.vim#L8-L17
 function! utility#escape(str)
   if &shellxquote ==# '"'
diff --git a/plugin/gitgutter.vim b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
index 027683a..6887e15 100644
--- a/plugin/gitgutter.vim
+++ b/plugin/gitgutter.vim
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ command GitGutterAll call GitGutterAll()
 function! GitGutter(file, realtime)
   call utility#set_file(a:file)
   if utility#is_active()
-    if !a:realtime || getbufvar(a:file, 'changedtick') != getbufvar(a:file, 'gitgutter_last_tick', -1)
+    if !a:realtime || utility#has_fresh_changes(a:file)
       let diff = diff#run_diff(a:realtime || utility#has_unsaved_changes(a:file))
       let s:hunks = diff#parse_diff(diff)
       let modified_lines = diff#process_hunks(s:hunks)
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ function! GitGutter(file, realtime)
         endif
       endif
       call sign#update_signs(a:file, modified_lines)
-      call setbufvar(a:file, 'gitgutter_last_tick', getbufvar(a:file, 'changedtick'))
+      call utility#save_last_seen_change(a:file)
     endif
   else
     call hunk#reset()