diff --git a/config/flay.yml b/config/flay.yml
index 8137c434..0f268fdd 100644
--- a/config/flay.yml
+++ b/config/flay.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 ---
 threshold: 18
-total_score: 293
+total_score: 296
diff --git a/lib/mutant/helper.rb b/lib/mutant/helper.rb
index 5802bcd2..355e775c 100644
--- a/lib/mutant/helper.rb
+++ b/lib/mutant/helper.rb
@@ -33,5 +33,20 @@ module Mutant
       RUBY_VERSION == '1.8.7'
     end
 
+    # Extract option from options hash
+    #
+    # @param [Hash] options
+    # @param [Object] key
+    #
+    # @return [Object] value
+    # 
+    # @api private
+    #
+    def self.extract_option(options, key)
+      options.fetch(key) do
+        raise ArgumentError,"Missing #{key.inspect} in options"
+      end
+    end
+
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/mutant/runner.rb b/lib/mutant/runner.rb
index eadac00d..2e6be4bf 100644
--- a/lib/mutant/runner.rb
+++ b/lib/mutant/runner.rb
@@ -46,16 +46,11 @@ module Mutant
     # @api private
     #
     def initialize(options)
-      @killer = options.fetch(:killer) do
-        raise ArgumentError, 'Missing :killer in options'
-      end
-
-      @pattern = options.fetch(:pattern) do
-        raise ArgumentError, 'Missing :pattern in options'
-      end
-
+      @killer  = Helper.extract_option(options, :killer)
+      @pattern = Helper.extract_option(options, :pattern) 
       @reporter = options.fetch(:reporter, Reporter::Null)
       @errors = []
+
       run
     end