diff --git a/src/playlist_song.c b/src/playlist_song.c
index 8a3ba303e..85089a4d1 100644
--- a/src/playlist_song.c
+++ b/src/playlist_song.c
@@ -83,12 +83,31 @@ apply_song_metadata(struct song *dest, const struct song *src)
 	return tmp;
 }
 
+static struct song *
+playlist_check_load_song(struct song *song, const char *uri, bool secure)
+{
+	struct song *dest;
+
+	if (uri_has_scheme(uri)) {
+		dest = song_remote_new(uri);
+	} else if (g_path_is_absolute(uri) && secure) {
+		dest = song_file_load(uri, NULL);
+		if (dest == NULL)
+			return NULL;
+	} else {
+		dest = db_get_song(uri);
+		if (dest == NULL)
+			/* not found in database */
+			return NULL;
+	}
+
+	return apply_song_metadata(dest, song);
+}
+
 struct song *
 playlist_check_translate_song(struct song *song, const char *base_uri,
 			      bool secure)
 {
-	struct song *dest;
-
 	if (song_in_database(song))
 		/* already ok */
 		return song;
@@ -135,27 +154,8 @@ playlist_check_translate_song(struct song *song, const char *base_uri,
 	else
 		uri = g_strdup(uri);
 
-	if (uri_has_scheme(uri)) {
-		dest = song_remote_new(uri);
-		g_free(uri);
-	} else if (g_path_is_absolute(uri) && secure) {
-		dest = song_file_load(uri, NULL);
-		if (dest == NULL) {
-			song_free(song);
-			return NULL;
-		}
-	} else {
-		dest = db_get_song(uri);
-		g_free(uri);
-		if (dest == NULL) {
-			/* not found in database */
-			song_free(song);
-			return dest;
-		}
-	}
-
-	dest = apply_song_metadata(dest, song);
+	struct song *dest = playlist_check_load_song(song, uri, secure);
 	song_free(song);
-
+	g_free(uri);
 	return dest;
 }