diff --git a/utils.js b/utils.js
index c2803729..1e4da828 100644
--- a/utils.js
+++ b/utils.js
@@ -9,3 +9,14 @@ function getYouTubeVideoID(url) { // Returns with video id else returns false
 
   return (match && match[7].length == 11) ? id : false;
 }
+
+//returns the start time of the video if there was one specified (ex. ?t=5s)
+function getYouTubeVideoStartTime(url) {
+  let searchParams = new URL(url).searchParams;
+  var startTime = searchParams.get("t");
+  if (startTime == null) {
+    startTime = searchParams.get("time_continue");
+  }
+
+  return startTime;
+}