diff --git a/src/core/identity.rs b/src/core/identity.rs
index 35a2c07..1252693 100644
--- a/src/core/identity.rs
+++ b/src/core/identity.rs
@@ -732,6 +732,13 @@ async fn cmd_promote(params : ExecBodyParams) {
 
     */
 
+    
+
+    let botlock = params.bot.read().await;
+    let id = botlock.get_identity();
+    let idlock = id.read().await;
+
+
     // [x] 1. Get trgusr (regardless of -admin flag)
 
     // let targetusr = if arg1 == Some("-admin") { arg2 } else { arg1 };
@@ -742,16 +749,22 @@ async fn cmd_promote(params : ExecBodyParams) {
             || arg1 == Some("-m") 
             || arg1 == Some("-mod") 
             { arg2 } 
+            else if let Some(a) = arg1 {
+                if a.starts_with("-") {
+                    botlock.botmgrs.chat.send_botmsg(
+                    super::chat::BotMsgType::Notif(
+                        "Invalid Argument Flag".to_string()
+                        ),
+                    params.clone(),
+                    ).await;
+                    return 
+                } else { arg1 }
+            }
             else { arg1 };
 
     // [x] 2. promote trguser
 
     // [x] Get a required lock first
-
-    let botlock = params.bot.read().await;
-    let id = botlock.get_identity();
-    let idlock = id.read().await;
-
     let rslt = match targetusr {
         Some(targetusr) => {
             botlog::debug(
@@ -934,6 +947,15 @@ async fn cmd_demote(params : ExecBodyParams) {
 
      */
 
+    
+
+    // [x] Get a required lock first
+
+    let botlock = params.bot.read().await;
+    let id = botlock.get_identity();
+    let idlock = id.read().await;
+
+
     let sendername = params.msg.clone().sender.name;
 
     let mut sender_badge_mut: Option<ChatBadge> = None;
@@ -961,6 +983,17 @@ async fn cmd_demote(params : ExecBodyParams) {
         || arg1 == Some("-m") 
         || arg1 == Some("-mod") 
         { arg2 } 
+            else if let Some(a) = arg1 {
+                if a.starts_with("-") {
+                    botlock.botmgrs.chat.send_botmsg(
+                    super::chat::BotMsgType::Notif(
+                        "Invalid Argument Flag".to_string()
+                        ),
+                    params.clone(),
+                    ).await;
+                    return 
+                } else { arg1 }
+            }
         else { arg1 };
 
     // Note : At the moment, no handling of -admin
@@ -983,12 +1016,6 @@ async fn cmd_demote(params : ExecBodyParams) {
 
      */
 
-    // [x] Get a required lock first
-
-    let botlock = params.bot.read().await;
-    let id = botlock.get_identity();
-    let idlock = id.read().await;
-
     let rslt = match targetusr {
         Some(targetusr) => {
             botlog::debug(