diff --git a/hangman.c b/hangman.c
index 6084f7d..eb50a68 100644
--- a/hangman.c
+++ b/hangman.c
@@ -287,21 +287,18 @@ int fillCurrentWord(game_state *gs, char validchar) {
 }
 
 int stackWrongCharacter(game_state *gs, char wrongchar) {
-    int i, alreadyUsed = 0;
-    for (i = 0; i < gs->wordLength; i++) {
+    for (unsigned i = 0; i < strlen(gs->wrongCharacters); i++) {
         if (gs->wrongCharacters[i] == wrongchar) {
-            alreadyUsed = 1;
+            return 0; // already used
         }
     }
 
-    if (!alreadyUsed) {
-        gs->wrongCharacters[strlen(gs->wrongCharacters)] = wrongchar;
-        drawAlphabet(gs, wrongchar);
-        drawFigure(gs, 1);
-        return 1;
-    } else {
-        return 0;
-    }
+    // not yet used
+    gs->wrongCharacters[strlen(gs->wrongCharacters)] = wrongchar;
+    drawAlphabet(gs, wrongchar);
+    drawFigure(gs, 1);
+
+    return 1;
 }
 
 int checkWin(game_state *gs) {