diff --git a/src/data_types/composition.py b/src/data_types/composition.py
index 908bc4b..e2c0a1c 100644
--- a/src/data_types/composition.py
+++ b/src/data_types/composition.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from typing import List
 from collections import defaultdict
 
-from utils import percent, top_key, plural, precise
+from utils import percent, top_key, plural, precise, val_sum
 
 
 class Composition:
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class Composition:
             ret += [
                 f"- **answers**: {self.answers:,} ({percent(self.answers/msg_count)})"
             ]
-        total_emotes = sum(self.emotes.values())
+        total_emotes = val_sum(self.emotes)
         if total_emotes > 0:
             top_emote = top_key(self.emotes)
             ret += [
diff --git a/src/data_types/presence.py b/src/data_types/presence.py
index e48de75..e657412 100644
--- a/src/data_types/presence.py
+++ b/src/data_types/presence.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from typing import List, Optional
 from collections import defaultdict
 
 
-from utils import mention, channel_mention, plural, percent, top_key
+from utils import mention, channel_mention, plural, percent, top_key, val_sum
 
 
 class Presence:
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class Presence:
             ]
         if show_top_channel:
             top_channel = top_key(self.channel_usage)
-            channel_sum = sum(self.channel_usage.values())
+            channel_sum = val_sum(self.channel_usage)
             found_in = sorted(
                 self.channel_usage,
                 key=lambda k: self.channel_usage[k] / self.channel_total[k],
@@ -52,14 +52,14 @@ class Presence:
         if member_specific:
             if len(self.mentions) > 0:
                 top_mention = top_key(self.mentions)
-                mention_sum = sum(self.mentions.values())
+                mention_sum = val_sum(self.mentions)
                 ret += [
                     f"- **was mentioned**: {plural(mention_sum, 'time')} ({percent(mention_sum/self.mention_count)} of {type})",
                     f"- **mostly mentioned by**: {mention(top_mention)} ({plural(self.mentions[top_mention], 'time')}, {percent(self.mentions[top_mention]/mention_sum)})",
                 ]
         if len(self.mention_others) > 0:
             top_mention = top_key(self.mention_others)
-            mention_sum = sum(self.mention_others.values())
+            mention_sum = val_sum(self.mention_others)
             if member_specific:
                 ret += [
                     f"- **mentioned others**: {plural(mention_sum, 'time')} ({percent(mention_sum/self.mention_count)} of {type})",
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class Presence:
                 ]
 
         if len(self.reactions) > 0:
-            total_used = sum(self.reactions.values())
+            total_used = val_sum(self.reactions)
             top_reaction = top_key(self.reactions)
             ret += [
                 f"- **reactions**: {plural(total_used, 'time')}",
diff --git a/src/utils/utils.py b/src/utils/utils.py
index 9c84514..13e2207 100644
--- a/src/utils/utils.py
+++ b/src/utils/utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from typing import List, Dict, Union, Optional
+from typing import List, Dict, Union, Optional, Any
 import os
 import logging
 import discord
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ def top_key(d: Dict[Union[str, int], int]) -> Union[str, int]:
     return sorted(d, key=lambda k: d[k])[-1]
 
 
+def val_sum(d: Dict[Any, int]) -> int:
+    return sum(d.value())
+
+
 # MESSAGE FORMATTING