diff --git a/freqtrade/rpc/__init__.py b/freqtrade/rpc/__init__.py
index b0670969c..23c7242dd 100644
--- a/freqtrade/rpc/__init__.py
+++ b/freqtrade/rpc/__init__.py
@@ -428,3 +428,15 @@ def rpc_performance() -> None:
         trades.append({'pair': pair, 'profit': round(rate * 100, 2), 'count': count})
 
     return (False, trades)
+
+
+def rpc_count() -> None:
+    """
+    Returns the number of trades running
+    :return: None
+    """
+    if get_state() != State.RUNNING:
+        return (True, '`trader is not running`')
+
+    trades = Trade.query.filter(Trade.is_open.is_(True)).all()
+    return (False, trades)
diff --git a/freqtrade/rpc/telegram.py b/freqtrade/rpc/telegram.py
index dec630ea2..3596ae6e8 100644
--- a/freqtrade/rpc/telegram.py
+++ b/freqtrade/rpc/telegram.py
@@ -15,12 +15,12 @@ from freqtrade.rpc.__init__ import (rpc_status_table,
                                     rpc_stop,
                                     rpc_forcesell,
                                     rpc_performance,
+                                    rpc_count,
                                     )
 
 from freqtrade import __version__, exchange
 from freqtrade.fiat_convert import CryptoToFiatConverter
 from freqtrade.persistence import Trade
-from freqtrade.misc import State, get_state
 
 
 # Remove noisy log messages
@@ -348,12 +348,11 @@ def _count(bot: Bot, update: Update) -> None:
     :param update: message update
     :return: None
     """
-    if get_state() != State.RUNNING:
-        send_msg('`trader is not running`', bot=bot)
+    (error, trades) = rpc_count()
+    if error:
+        send_msg(trades, bot=bot)
         return
 
-    trades = Trade.query.filter(Trade.is_open.is_(True)).all()
-
     message = tabulate({
         'current': [len(trades)],
         'max': [_CONF['max_open_trades']]