diff --git a/DataStore.py b/DataStore.py
index 333204c..957f0f0 100644
--- a/DataStore.py
+++ b/DataStore.py
@@ -150,6 +150,11 @@ WHERE name = ? AND parentid = ?
             parentid = task.taskid
         return task
 
+    def getParentTaskByName(self, name):
+        parts = name.split(':')
+        parentname = ':'.join(parts[:-1])
+        return self.getTaskByName(parentname)
+
     def createTask(self, name, longname, parentid):
         c = self.conn.cursor()
         if parentid is not None and parentid != '':