diff --git a/api/commenter.go b/api/commenter.go
index a3a795b..59db6fc 100644
--- a/api/commenter.go
+++ b/api/commenter.go
@@ -13,26 +13,3 @@ type commenter struct {
 	Provider     string    `json:"provider,omitempty"`
 	JoinDate     time.Time `json:"joinDate,omitempty"`
 }
-
-func commenterIsProviderUser(provider string, email string) (bool, error) {
-	if provider == "" || email == "" {
-		return false, errorMissingField
-	}
-
-	statement := `
-    SELECT EXISTS (
-      SELECT 1
-      FROM commenters
-      WHERE email=$1 AND provider=$2
-    );
-  `
-	row := db.QueryRow(statement, email, provider)
-
-	var exists bool
-	if err := row.Scan(&exists); err != nil {
-		logger.Errorf("error checking if provider user exists: %v", err)
-		return false, errorInternal
-	}
-
-	return exists, nil
-}
diff --git a/api/commenter_get.go b/api/commenter_get.go
index 5d59ac7..8ab4db0 100644
--- a/api/commenter_get.go
+++ b/api/commenter_get.go
@@ -23,6 +23,27 @@ func commenterGetByHex(commenterHex string) (commenter, error) {
 	return c, nil
 }
 
+func commenterGetByEmail(provider string, email string) (commenter, error) {
+	if provider == "" || email == "" {
+		return commenter{}, errorMissingField
+	}
+
+	statement := `
+    SELECT commenterHex, email, name, link, photo, provider, joinDate
+    FROM commenters
+    WHERE email = $1 AND provider = $2;
+  `
+	row := db.QueryRow(statement, email, provider)
+
+	c := commenter{}
+	if err := row.Scan(&c.CommenterHex, &c.Email, &c.Name, &c.Link, &c.Photo, &c.Provider, &c.JoinDate); err != nil {
+		// TODO: is this the only error?
+		return commenter{}, errorNoSuchCommenter
+	}
+
+	return c, nil
+}
+
 func commenterGetBySession(session string) (commenter, error) {
 	if session == "" {
 		return commenter{}, errorMissingField