diff --git a/DataStore.py b/DataStore.py
index 8f6a214..ca3c1cc 100644
--- a/DataStore.py
+++ b/DataStore.py
@@ -150,11 +150,36 @@ WHERE name = ? AND parentid = ?
             parentid = task.taskid
         return task
 
+    def getTaskByShortName(self, name):
+        if name.find(':') >= 0:
+            return self.getTaskByName(name)
+        task = None
+        c = self.conn.cursor()
+        c.execute('''
+SELECT id, name, longname, parentid
+FROM tasks
+WHERE name = ?
+''', (name,))
+        count = 0
+        for row in c:
+            count += 1
+            task = Task(*row)
+        if count > 1:
+            return None
+        c.close()
+        self.conn.commit()
+        return task
+
     def getParentTaskByName(self, name):
         parts = name.split(':')
         parentname = ':'.join(parts[:-1])
         return self.getTaskByName(parentname)
 
+    def getParentTaskByShortName(self, name):
+        parts = name.split(':')
+        parentname = ':'.join(parts[:-1])
+        return self.getTaskByShortName(parentname)
+
     def createTask(self, name, longname, parentid):
         c = self.conn.cursor()
         if parentid is not None and parentid != '':
diff --git a/dwtt b/dwtt
index c3809d6..a00055c 100755
--- a/dwtt
+++ b/dwtt
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ def main(argv):
 
 def processStart(cmd, store):
     processOut(cmd, store)
-    task = store.getTaskByName(cmd.argstr)
+    task = store.getTaskByShortName(cmd.argstr)
     if task is None:
-        parent = store.getParentTaskByName(cmd.argstr)
+        parent = store.getParentTaskByShortName(cmd.argstr)
         if parent is None:
             return 'Could not find task "%s"' % \
                     (':'.join(cmd.argstr.split(':')[:-1]))
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def processTask(cmd, store):
         store.updateTask(task.taskid, nameparts[-1], longname)
         return False
     if len(nameparts) > 1:
-        parenttask = store.getParentTaskByName(fullname)
+        parenttask = store.getParentTaskByShortName(fullname)
         if parenttask is None:
             return 'Parent task not found'
         store.createTask(nameparts[-1].strip(), longname, parenttask.taskid)