diff --git a/app/controllers/diaspora_federation/webfinger_controller.rb b/app/controllers/diaspora_federation/webfinger_controller.rb
index a8f217c..56ac430 100644
--- a/app/controllers/diaspora_federation/webfinger_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/diaspora_federation/webfinger_controller.rb
@@ -9,12 +9,18 @@ module DiasporaFederation
     ##
     # this is the pre RFC 7033 webfinger
     def legacy_webfinger
-      @person = Person.find_local_by_diaspora_handle(params[:q].strip.downcase.gsub("acct:", "")) if params[:q]
+      @person = find_person(params[:q]) if params[:q]
 
       return render nothing: true, status: 404 if @person.nil?
 
       logger.info "webfinger profile request for: #{@person.diaspora_handle}"
       render "webfinger", content_type: "application/xrd+xml"
     end
+
+    private
+
+    def find_person(query)
+      DiasporaFederation.person_class.find_local_by_diaspora_handle(query.strip.downcase.gsub("acct:", ""))
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/diaspora_federation.rb b/lib/diaspora_federation.rb
index 04934e1..80dd47f 100644
--- a/lib/diaspora_federation.rb
+++ b/lib/diaspora_federation.rb
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
     # the class to use as person.
     #
     # Example:
-    #   config.person_class = Person.class.to_s
+    #   config.person_class = Person.to_s
     attr_accessor :person_class
     def person_class
       const_get(@person_class)
diff --git a/test/dummy/config/initializers/diaspora_federation.rb b/test/dummy/config/initializers/diaspora_federation.rb
index 5d67288..fa3b1f6 100644
--- a/test/dummy/config/initializers/diaspora_federation.rb
+++ b/test/dummy/config/initializers/diaspora_federation.rb
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ DiasporaFederation.configure do |config|
   config.server_uri = URI("http://localhost:3000/")
 
   # the class to be used for a person
-  config.person_class = Person.class.to_s
+  config.person_class = Person.to_s
 end