diff --git a/src/daemon.c b/src/daemon.c
index d381af4..829b47f 100644
--- a/src/daemon.c
+++ b/src/daemon.c
@@ -132,19 +132,7 @@ f2b_cmsg_process(const f2b_cmsg_t *msg, char *res, size_t ressize) {
   } else if (msg->type == CMD_JAIL_IP_STATUS) {
     f2b_jail_cmd_ip_status(res, ressize, args[0], args[1]);
   } else if (msg->type == CMD_JAIL_IP_BAN) {
-    if ((addr = f2b_addrlist_lookup(jail->ipaddrs, args[1])) == NULL) {
-      /* TODO: this is copy-paste from f2b_jail_process */
-      time_t now = time(NULL);
-      addr = f2b_ipaddr_create(args[1], jail->maxretry);
-      if (!addr) {
-        snprintf(res, ressize, "can't parse ip address: %s", args[1]);
-        return;
-      }
-      addr->lastseen = now;
-      f2b_matches_append(&addr->matches, now);
-      jail->ipaddrs = f2b_addrlist_append(jail->ipaddrs, addr);
-    }
-    f2b_jail_ban(jail, addr);
+    f2b_jail_cmd_ip_ban(res, ressize, args[0], args[1]);
   } else if (msg->type == CMD_JAIL_IP_RELEASE) {
     if ((addr = f2b_addrlist_lookup(jail->ipaddrs, args[1])) == NULL) {
       snprintf(res, ressize, "can't find ip '%s' in jail '%s'\n", args[1], args[0]);
diff --git a/src/jail.c b/src/jail.c
index ee9e8c5..911d345 100644
--- a/src/jail.c
+++ b/src/jail.c
@@ -465,3 +465,31 @@ f2b_jail_cmd_ip_status(char *res, size_t ressize, const char *name, const char *
   }
   f2b_ipaddr_status(addr, res, ressize);
 }
+
+void
+f2b_jail_cmd_ip_ban(char *res, size_t ressize, const char *name, const char *ip) {
+  f2b_jail_t *jail = NULL;
+  f2b_ipaddr_t *addr = NULL;
+
+  assert(res  != NULL);
+  assert(name != NULL);
+  assert(ip   != NULL);
+
+  if ((jail = f2b_jail_find(jails, name)) == NULL) {
+    snprintf(res, ressize, "can't find jail '%s'", name);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if ((addr = f2b_addrlist_lookup(jail->ipaddrs, ip)) == NULL) {
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+    addr = f2b_ipaddr_create(ip, jail->maxretry);
+    if (!addr) {
+      snprintf(res, ressize, "can't parse ip address: %s", ip);
+      return;
+    }
+    addr->lastseen = now;
+    f2b_matches_append(&addr->matches, now);
+    jail->ipaddrs = f2b_addrlist_append(jail->ipaddrs, addr);
+  }
+  f2b_jail_unban(jail, addr);
+}
diff --git a/src/jail.h b/src/jail.h
index 4a259d4..8050bdf 100644
--- a/src/jail.h
+++ b/src/jail.h
@@ -56,4 +56,5 @@ bool   f2b_jail_stop    (f2b_jail_t *jail);
 
 void f2b_jail_cmd_status    (char *res, size_t ressize, const char *name);
 void f2b_jail_cmd_ip_status (char *res, size_t ressize, const char *name, const char *ip);
+void f2b_jail_cmd_ip_ban    (char *res, size_t ressize, const char *name, const char *ip);
 #endif /* F2B_JAIL_H_ */