diff --git a/containermap.go b/containermap.go
index 37a0363..1419552 100644
--- a/containermap.go
+++ b/containermap.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-	"regexp"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -100,18 +98,7 @@ func (cm *ContainerMap) Del(ids ...string) {
 func (cm *ContainerMap) All() []*Container {
 	var containers Containers
 
-	filter := config.GetVal("filterStr")
-	re := regexp.MustCompile(fmt.Sprintf(".*%s", filter))
-
 	for _, c := range cm.containers {
-		// Apply name filter
-		if re.FindAllString(c.name, 1) == nil {
-			continue
-		}
-		// Apply state filter
-		if !config.GetSwitchVal("allContainers") && c.state != "running" {
-			continue
-		}
 		containers = append(containers, c)
 	}
 
diff --git a/sort.go b/sort.go
index 3e0d86b..8adb535 100644
--- a/sort.go
+++ b/sort.go
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+
 	"github.com/bcicen/ctop/config"
 )
 
@@ -34,4 +37,23 @@ func (a Containers) Less(i, j int) bool {
 	return f(a[i], a[j])
 }
 
+func (a Containers) Filter() (filtered []*Container) {
+	filter := config.GetVal("filterStr")
+	re := regexp.MustCompile(fmt.Sprintf(".*%s", filter))
+
+	for _, c := range a {
+		// Apply name filter
+		if re.FindAllString(c.name, 1) == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		// Apply state filter
+		if !config.GetSwitchVal("allContainers") && c.state != "running" {
+			continue
+		}
+		filtered = append(filtered, c)
+	}
+
+	return filtered
+}
+
 func sumNet(c *Container) int64 { return c.metrics.NetRx + c.metrics.NetTx }