diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py
index ffd30f0..92b7f6e 100755
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py
@@ -160,10 +160,7 @@ class Exporter(Configurable):
         #Load user filters.  Overwrite existing filters if need be.
         if not filters is None:
             for key, user_filter in filters.iteritems():
-                if isinstance(user_filter, type) and issubclass(user_filter, MetaHasTraits):
-                    self.environment.filters[key] = user_filter(config=config)
-                else:
-                    self.environment.filters[key] = user_filter
+                self.register_filter(key, user_filter)
 
     @property
     def default_config(self):