diff --git a/headphones/helpers.py b/headphones/helpers.py
index c690c0ff..3b614a68 100644
--- a/headphones/helpers.py
+++ b/headphones/helpers.py
@@ -597,25 +597,30 @@ def create_https_certificates(ssl_cert, ssl_key):
 
     return True
 
-def request_response(url, method="get", auto_raise=True, status_pass=None, **kwargs):
+def request_response(url, method="get", auto_raise=True, whitelist_status_code=None, **kwargs):
     """
     Convenient wrapper for `requests.get', which will capture the exceptions and
     log them. On success, the Response object is returned. In case of a
     exception, None is returned.
     """
 
-    if status_pass and type(status_pass) != list:
-        status_pass = [status_pass]
+    # Convert whitelist_status_code to a list if needed
+    if whitelist_status_code and type(whitelist_status_code) != list:
+        whitelist_status_code = [whitelist_status_code]
+
+    # Map method to the request.XXX method. This is a simple hack, but it allows
+    # requests to apply more magic per method. See it's source.
+    request_method = requests[method.lower()]
 
     try:
         # Request the URL
         logger.debug("Requesting URL via %s method: %s", method, url)
-        response = requests.request(method, url, **kwargs)
+        response = request_method(url, **kwargs)
 
         # If status code != OK, then raise exception, except if the status code
         # is white listed.
-        if status_pass and auto_raise:
-            if response.status_code not in status_pass:
+        if whitelist_status_code and auto_raise:
+            if response.status_code not in whitelist_status_code:
                 response.raise_for_status()
             else:
                 logger.debug("Response Status code %d is white listed, not raising exception", response.status_code)
diff --git a/headphones/searcher.py b/headphones/searcher.py
index 8a23ff96..3346a1c0 100644
--- a/headphones/searcher.py
+++ b/headphones/searcher.py
@@ -750,7 +750,7 @@ def getresultNZB(result):
             auth=(headphones.HPUSER, headphones.HPPASS),
             params={"username": headphones.NEWZBIN_UID, "password": headphones.NEWZBIN_PASSWORD, "reportid": result[2]},
             headers={'User-Agent': USER_AGENT},
-            status_pass=400
+            whitelist_status_code=400
         )
 
         if response.status_code == 400:
@@ -1307,12 +1307,12 @@ def preprocess(resultlist):
                 return True, result
 
             # Download the torrent file
+            headers = {}
+
             if result[3] == 'Kick Ass Torrent':
-                headers = { 'Referer': 'http://kat.ph/' }
+                headers['Referer'] = 'http://kat.ph/'
             elif result[3] == 'What.cd':
-                headers = { 'User-Agent': 'Headphones' }
-            else:
-                headers = {}
+                headers['User-Agent'] = 'Headphones'
 
             return helpers.request_content(url=result[2], headers=headers), result
 
diff --git a/headphones/transmission.py b/headphones/transmission.py
index d075f4e9..9b8027ab 100644
--- a/headphones/transmission.py
+++ b/headphones/transmission.py
@@ -133,9 +133,9 @@ def torrentAction(method, arguments):
 
     # Retrieve session id
     if username and password:
-        response = helpers.request_response(host, auth=(username, password), status_pass=409)
+        response = helpers.request_response(host, auth=(username, password), whitelist_status_code=409)
     else:
-        response = helpers.request_response(host, status, status_pass=409)
+        response = helpers.request_response(host, whitelist_status_code=409)
 
     if not response:
         logger.error("Error gettings Transmission session ID")
diff --git a/headphones/versioncheck.py b/headphones/versioncheck.py
index 2d770a08..7fb76112 100644
--- a/headphones/versioncheck.py
+++ b/headphones/versioncheck.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def checkGithub():
 
     logger.info('Comparing currently installed version with latest GitHub version')
     url = 'https://api.github.com/repos/%s/headphones/compare/%s...%s' % (headphones.GIT_USER, headphones.CURRENT_VERSION, headphones.LATEST_VERSION)
-    commits = helpers.request_json(url, timeout=20, status_pass=[404], validator=lambda x: type(x) == dict)
+    commits = helpers.request_json(url, timeout=20, whitelist_status_code=404, validator=lambda x: type(x) == dict)
 
     if not commits:
         logger.warn('Could not get commits behind from GitHub.')