diff --git a/protocol.go b/protocol.go
index 82e09356..69b23ab0 100644
--- a/protocol.go
+++ b/protocol.go
@@ -20,23 +20,23 @@ const (
 	FrameTypeMessage  int32 = 2
 )
 
-var validTopicNameRegex = regexp.MustCompile(`^[\.a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$`)
-var validChannelNameRegex = regexp.MustCompile(`^[\.a-zA-Z0-9_-]+(#ephemeral)?$`)
+var validTopicChannelNameRegex = regexp.MustCompile(`^[\.a-zA-Z0-9_-]+(#ephemeral)?$`)
 
 // IsValidTopicName checks a topic name for correctness
 func IsValidTopicName(name string) bool {
-	if len(name) > 64 || len(name) < 1 {
-		return false
-	}
-	return validTopicNameRegex.MatchString(name)
+	return isValidName(name)
 }
 
 // IsValidChannelName checks a channel name for correctness
 func IsValidChannelName(name string) bool {
+	return isValidName(name)
+}
+
+func isValidName(name string) bool {
 	if len(name) > 64 || len(name) < 1 {
 		return false
 	}
-	return validChannelNameRegex.MatchString(name)
+	return validTopicChannelNameRegex.MatchString(name)
 }
 
 // ReadResponse is a client-side utility function to read from the supplied Reader