diff --git a/utils.js b/utils.js
index e0954047..a4eba321 100644
--- a/utils.js
+++ b/utils.js
@@ -37,4 +37,15 @@ function getYouTubeVideoID(url) {
         return false;
       }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+	return 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;
+  let startTime = searchParams.get("t");
+  if (startTime == null) {
+    startTime = searchParams.get("time_continue");
+  }
+  return startTime;
+}