diff --git a/src/torch-config.mjs b/src/torch-config.mjs
index f48010f..4449166 100644
--- a/src/torch-config.mjs
+++ b/src/torch-config.mjs
@@ -196,6 +196,18 @@ function parseEnvInteger(envValue, envName) {
   return parsed;
 }
 
+function resolveIntegerConfig(envKey, configValue, defaultValue, validator, configLabel) {
+  const envValue = process.env[envKey];
+  if (envValue) {
+    const parsed = parseEnvInteger(envValue, envKey);
+    validator(parsed, envKey);
+    return parsed;
+  }
+  const value = configValue || defaultValue;
+  validator(value, `effective ${configLabel}`);
+  return value;
+}
+
 export function getRelays() {
   const config = loadTorchConfig();
   const envRelays = process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_RELAYS;
@@ -241,54 +253,46 @@ export function getTtl() {
 
 export function getQueryTimeoutMs() {
   const config = loadTorchConfig();
-  const envValue = process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS;
-  if (envValue) {
-    const parsed = parseEnvInteger(envValue, 'NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS');
-    assertTimeoutInRange(parsed, 'NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS');
-    return parsed;
-  }
-  const value = config.nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs || DEFAULT_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS;
-  assertTimeoutInRange(value, 'effective query timeout');
-  return value;
+  return resolveIntegerConfig(
+    'NOSTR_LOCK_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS',
+    config.nostrLock.queryTimeoutMs,
+    DEFAULT_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS,
+    assertTimeoutInRange,
+    'query timeout',
+  );
 }
 
 export function getPublishTimeoutMs() {
   const config = loadTorchConfig();
-  const envValue = process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS;
-  if (envValue) {
-    const parsed = parseEnvInteger(envValue, 'NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS');
-    assertTimeoutInRange(parsed, 'NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS');
-    return parsed;
-  }
-  const value = config.nostrLock.publishTimeoutMs || DEFAULT_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS;
-  assertTimeoutInRange(value, 'effective publish timeout');
-  return value;
+  return resolveIntegerConfig(
+    'NOSTR_LOCK_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS',
+    config.nostrLock.publishTimeoutMs,
+    DEFAULT_PUBLISH_TIMEOUT_MS,
+    assertTimeoutInRange,
+    'publish timeout',
+  );
 }
 
 export function getMinSuccessfulRelayPublishes() {
   const config = loadTorchConfig();
-  const envValue = process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES;
-  if (envValue) {
-    const parsed = parseEnvInteger(envValue, 'NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES');
-    assertPositiveCount(parsed, 'NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES');
-    return parsed;
-  }
-  const value = config.nostrLock.minSuccessfulRelayPublishes || DEFAULT_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES;
-  assertPositiveCount(value, 'effective min successful relay publishes');
-  return value;
+  return resolveIntegerConfig(
+    'NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES',
+    config.nostrLock.minSuccessfulRelayPublishes,
+    DEFAULT_MIN_SUCCESSFUL_PUBLISHES,
+    assertPositiveCount,
+    'min successful relay publishes',
+  );
 }
 
 export function getMinActiveRelayPool() {
   const config = loadTorchConfig();
-  const envValue = process.env.NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_ACTIVE_RELAY_POOL;
-  if (envValue) {
-    const parsed = parseEnvInteger(envValue, 'NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_ACTIVE_RELAY_POOL');
-    assertPositiveCount(parsed, 'NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_ACTIVE_RELAY_POOL');
-    return parsed;
-  }
-  const value = config.nostrLock.minActiveRelayPool || DEFAULT_MIN_ACTIVE_RELAY_POOL;
-  assertPositiveCount(value, 'effective min active relay pool');
-  return value;
+  return resolveIntegerConfig(
+    'NOSTR_LOCK_MIN_ACTIVE_RELAY_POOL',
+    config.nostrLock.minActiveRelayPool,
+    DEFAULT_MIN_ACTIVE_RELAY_POOL,
+    assertPositiveCount,
+    'min active relay pool',
+  );
 }
 
 export function getHashtag() {