diff --git a/app/models/choice.rb b/app/models/choice.rb
index f8ca4ba..442edeb 100644
--- a/app/models/choice.rb
+++ b/app/models/choice.rb
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ class Choice < ActiveRecord::Base
   #attr_accessor :data
   
   def lose!
-    self.loss_count += 1 rescue (self.loss_count = 1)
-    self.score = compute_score
-    self.save!
+    Choice.increment_counter(:loss_count, self.id)
+    self.loss_count +=1 # reflect the update just done above, so score is correct
+    Choice.update(self.id, :score => compute_score)
   end
   
   def win!
diff --git a/spec/models/choice_spec.rb b/spec/models/choice_spec.rb
index c892bbe..11b6e48 100644
--- a/spec/models/choice_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/choice_spec.rb
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ describe Choice do
           @winning_choice.score.should be_close(67, 1)
      end
      it "should update score on a loss" do
+	  @losing_choice.reload
           @losing_choice.score.should be_close(33,1)
      end
      it "should update win count on a win" do
--
libgit2 0.21.2