diff --git a/freqtrade/data/btanalysis.py b/freqtrade/data/btanalysis.py
index dae891423..f6f7e5541 100644
--- a/freqtrade/data/btanalysis.py
+++ b/freqtrade/data/btanalysis.py
@@ -101,6 +101,20 @@ def load_trades_from_db(db_url: str) -> pd.DataFrame:
     return trades
 
 
+def load_trades(config) -> pd.DataFrame:
+    """
+    Based on configuration option "trade_source":
+    * loads data from DB (using `db_url`)
+    * loads data from backtestfile (`using exportfilename`)
+    """
+    if config["trade_source"] == "DB":
+        return load_trades_from_db(config["db_url"])
+    elif config["trade_source"] == "file":
+        return load_backtest_data(Path(config["exportfilename"]))
+    else:
+        return None
+
+
 def extract_trades_of_period(dataframe: pd.DataFrame, trades: pd.DataFrame) -> pd.DataFrame:
     """
     Compare trades and backtested pair DataFrames to get trades performed on backtested period
diff --git a/freqtrade/tests/data/test_btanalysis.py b/freqtrade/tests/data/test_btanalysis.py
index 4eca73934..01e5dc90d 100644
--- a/freqtrade/tests/data/test_btanalysis.py
+++ b/freqtrade/tests/data/test_btanalysis.py
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@ import pytest
 from arrow import Arrow
 from pandas import DataFrame, to_datetime
 
-from freqtrade.arguments import TimeRange, Arguments
+from freqtrade.arguments import Arguments, TimeRange
 from freqtrade.data.btanalysis import (BT_DATA_COLUMNS, create_cum_profit,
                                        extract_trades_of_period,
-                                       load_backtest_data, load_trades_from_db)
+                                       load_backtest_data, load_trades,
+                                       load_trades_from_db)
 from freqtrade.data.history import load_pair_history, make_testdata_path
 from freqtrade.tests.test_persistence import create_mock_trades
 
@@ -76,6 +77,26 @@ def test_extract_trades_of_period():
     assert trades1.iloc[-1].close_time == Arrow(2017, 11, 14, 15, 25, 0).datetime
 
 
+def test_load_trades(default_conf, mocker):
+    db_mock = mocker.patch("freqtrade.data.btanalysis.load_trades_from_db", MagicMock())
+    bt_mock = mocker.patch("freqtrade.data.btanalysis.load_backtest_data", MagicMock())
+
+    default_conf['trade_source'] = "DB"
+    load_trades(default_conf)
+
+    assert db_mock.call_count == 1
+    assert bt_mock.call_count == 0
+
+    db_mock.reset_mock()
+    bt_mock.reset_mock()
+    default_conf['trade_source'] = "file"
+    default_conf['exportfilename'] = "testfile.json"
+    load_trades(default_conf)
+
+    assert db_mock.call_count == 0
+    assert bt_mock.call_count == 1
+
+
 def test_create_cum_profit():
     filename = make_testdata_path(None) / "backtest-result_test.json"
     bt_data = load_backtest_data(filename)
diff --git a/scripts/plot_dataframe.py b/scripts/plot_dataframe.py
index 07079304e..dfd31e9ab 100755
--- a/scripts/plot_dataframe.py
+++ b/scripts/plot_dataframe.py
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ import pandas as pd
 
 from freqtrade.arguments import ARGS_PLOT_DATAFRAME, Arguments
 from freqtrade.data import history
-from freqtrade.data.btanalysis import (extract_trades_of_period,
-                                       load_backtest_data, load_trades_from_db)
+from freqtrade.data.btanalysis import extract_trades_of_period, load_trades
 from freqtrade.optimize import setup_configuration
 from freqtrade.plot.plotting import (generate_candlestick_graph,
                                      generate_plot_file,
@@ -80,10 +79,7 @@ def analyse_and_plot_pairs(config: Dict[str, Any]):
         live=config.get("live", False),
     )
 
-    if config["trade_source"] == "DB":
-        trades = load_trades_from_db(config["db_url"])
-    elif config["trade_source"] == "file":
-        trades = load_backtest_data(Path(config["exportfilename"]))
+    trades = load_trades(config)
 
     pair_counter = 0
     for pair, data in tickers.items():